A Truly Centered Person

A buddhist monk was wandering the Earth, and as he travelled 
through the streets of a small ward, he came upon the most 
horrible noise, what sounded like a young man screaming in 
tremendous pain.  

The monk walked toward the noise, and after wending his way 
through several streets, came upon a house and martial arts 
dojo surrounded by a tall wooden fence.  The gates that 
entered the home were open and the monk peered in, curious 
as to what and whom was the source of the noise.

He looked in, and saw to his dismay, a young man with long 
hair trying to flee a mallet-wielding young girl who was 
clearly attempting to inflict severe injury upon the boy.

"Well, all existence is suffering, so said Buddha," thought 
the monk.  The monk stepped inside the gate, put down his 
small pack, and quietly rapped on the gate.

"Excuse me," he said aloud.

In mid-swing, the girl stopped and looked up, surprised to 
see her unexpected visitor.  At first she snarled, but 
when she realized this short man was unfamiliar to her, she 
wore a smile for him.

"Oh, hello!  I didn't see you come in.  Welcome to our dojo, 
is there something I can help you with?"  

The boy sighed with relief, a difficult task while writhing 
in agony upon the grass of the compound.  Still, he was 
apparently grateful for the appearance of the monk.  The 
boy sat up, rubbing his head while watching the short 
discussion between the monk and the girl.

"Yes, miss, I would simply like to ask you a question.  If 
you knew the world were to end in an hour, what would you 
do?"

The girl was surprised to hear the question, and seemed to 
be horrified upon realizing what she was doing to the boy.  
She stood in quiet contemplation for several minutes, 
occasionally looking at the home, but mostly at the boy to 
whom she smiled very warmly.  She then turned to the monk 
and with a look of conviction upon her face, bowed to him, 
and then proceeded to again pick up her mallet.

The look on the boy's face was one of pure horror, as was 
his scream.

As the monk turned and walked away, he smiled to himself, 
and thought aloud:

"Now, there is a truly centered person."

  --  End  -- 



"Go back to Dragon Half."
                         - Nagha, _Slayers_ The Movie