Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hsihu Center, Formosa September 13, 1992
(Originally in Chinese)

There was a disciple who was responsible for brewing and serving tea for his master. His master had a precious antique teapot, which the master loved very much. Once, perhaps because he was too deep in samadhi and his limbs became weak, the disciple broke the teapot inadvertently. He was frightened to death, having no idea about how to explain it to his master.

The time for serving tea arrived, and the disciple was standing there in a foolish manner, not knowing what to do. Finally, he came up with a clever way to save himself!

Straightening his clothes, he went inside, bowed to his master ceremoniously and said: "Master, I have a big problem, which has caused a lot of concern in my mind. I have wanted to ask you about this for a long time; but dared not do so, fearing that I would trouble master. I wonder if I may ask you today." The master said: "Of course you may. Why didn't you ask sooner? You came here to follow master because you need to ask questions!"

So the disciple asked, "Master! Why is it that for everything, death follows birth? Why must there be death? You and I, are we also going to die? We are practitioners, and being so sincere, do we still have to die?" His master said, "Oh, Sure! Shakyamuni Buddha, Jesus, Confucius and Lao-tzu all had to die. Where there is birth, there must be death!" Then the disciple continued to ask: "Is there any exception, anything that will not die?" The master said: "Absolutely not! Death must follow birth. If the time has come, death is for sure!" Then the disciple stood up and said: "I report to master, the time has come for your teapot today!"

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