Zen master Hakuin lived in a village and was well respected for his teachings. Then, one day, loud voices are heard from the neighbor’s house. The parents found out their daughter was pregnant. They wanted to know who the father was and kept asking her. She responded by saying the father was master Hakuin. When the daughter had the baby, the parents brought the baby to master Hakuin and said that he must take care of the baby since he was the father. Master Hakuin responded, “Is that so?” The master’s reputation fell. Still, Hakuin took very good care of the baby. After a year, the daughter could no longer hold her tongue. She finally told the truth and said the real father of the baby was the boy in the fish market. The family went to Master Hakuin and apologized and asked for the baby. Master Hakuin said, “Is that so?” and handed the baby over to them.

Dwelling upon the way one wants things to be and it doesn’t turn out that way … it is called suffering. Acting with wisdom and compassion … that is where I see happiness. I wish you happiness.