The Giver Should Be Thankful

While Seisetsu was the master of Engaku in Kamakura, he required larger quarters since those in which he was teaching were overcrowded. Umezu Seibei, a merchant in Edo, decided to donate five hundred pieces of gold called ryo toward the construction of a more commodious school. This money he brought to the teacher.

Seisetsu said: “All right. I will take it.”

Umezu gave Seisetsu the sack of gold, but he was dissatisfied with the attitude of the teacher. One might live a whole year on three ryo, and the merchante had not even been thanked for five hundred.

“In that sack are five hundred ryo,”said Umezu.

“You told me that before,” replied Seisetsu.

“Even if I am a wealthy merchant, five hundred ryo is a lot of money,”said Umezu.

“Do you want me to thank you for it?” asked Seisetsu

“You ought to,” replied Umezu.

Why should I?” said Seisetsu. “The giver should be thankful.

from 101 Zen Stories
as printed in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones