Whose Smell ?

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hsihu, Formosa February 19, 1996
(Originally in English)

 There was a couple that had a long marriage and no children, and perhaps they were a little bit lonely. So the wife said she wanted a dog to keep her company, and the husband said, "A dog? Am I not enough for you?" He compared himself with a dog! So the wife said, "Oh, yes, but it's different. I'm thinking of something lively. You know, he can walk me to the shop, and things like that, while you are not here. I love you. It's just that a dog is different. You aren't comparing yourself to a dog, are you?" So the husband said, "All right. All right. But what will he eat?" "Oh," the wife said, "whatever we eat, he can eat. Dogs eat anything." That's why they are dogs. So anyhow, the husband asked, "And then, so where shall he stay?" and the wife replied, "He can stay in here with us, in the house. Our house is big enough." And the husband was still very skeptical and reluctant and asked, "But where will he sleep?" The wife answered, "He can sleep in bed with us, no?" And so the husband asked, "Well, how about the smell? " So the wife said, "Well, if I can get used to it, so can he."