One day a samurai came to see the Zen master Hakuin and asked him, "Is there truly a heaven and a hell?"

"Who are you?" the master asked.

"I am the samurai..."

"You, a soldier!" Hakuin exclaimed. "Just look at yourself. What lord would want you in his service? You look like a beggar."

The samurai grew angry and drew his sword. Hakuin continued: "Oh good, you even have a swrd! But you are certainly too clumsy to cut off my head with it."

Losing all self-control, the samurai raised his sword, ready to strike the master. At that very moment the latter spoke, saying, "Here is where the gates of hell open."

Surprised by the monk's air of calm assurance, the samurai sheathed his sword and bowed before him.

"This is where the gates of heaven open," the master then said.