The Zenith of Zen

Rengetsu had reached the zenith of Zen.

One evening, as she was wandering the hills on a pilgrimage, she stopped in a remote village to seek refuge. But the villagers, seeing only an old hag, slammed the door in her face and kicked her out of town. They mistook the wise old woman for a poor beggar.

It was a chilly night and Rengetsu was hungry and had no safe haven. So she climbed a hill and curled up under a cherry tree and went to sleep. But it got so cold that she woke up- to set her eyes on the cherry tree in bloom set against a full moon. Struck by so much beauty she bowed in the direction of the village below and sent the villagers this little prayer:

From under these fragrant flowers on the night of this magnificent moon I thank you for refusing to shelter me.

The password to open heaven’s gates is one little word: YES, to life.