Family Prosperity

A Zen Koan.

A rich merchant asked zen master Sengai for a good saying that would help preserve the prosperity and happiness of his family.

The master took out a brush and ink and wrote the following:

“Grandfather dies”

“Father dies”

“Son dies”

The merchant was angry — "What kind of evil spell are you writing against my family?" — he demanded of the master.

"It’s no evil spell" — said Sengai — "but a hope for the greatest fortune of all — that all shall live to become a grandfather, and that no son should die before his father.”

“What truer happiness than life and death in this order can any family desire?"