Written By: Sky Yang
A rich man asked a zen master to write something for the continued prosperity of his family so that it can be treasured from generation to generation.
The zen master wrote on a large sheet of paper, “Father dies, Son dies, Grandson dies.”
The rich man became furious upon reading the writing. “I asked you to write something for the happiness of my family! Why do you make such a joke as this?!”
“No joke was intended,” explained the master. ” if your son dies before yourself, this would grieve you greatly. If your grandson should pass away before your son, both of you would be devastated.”
He went on and said, “If your family, generation after generation, passes away in the order I have named, it will be the natural course of life. I call this True Prosperity.”