There was an American man from Seattle who
went to Japan to buy screens. He
went to a monastery where he had heard
there were very special ones and managed
to get an interview with the Abbot,
who, however, didn’t say a word during
the entire time they were together.
Through an interpreter,
the American made known his desires,
but received no comment of any kind from
the Abbot. However,
very early the next morning, he
received a telephone call from the Abbot
himself, who turned out to speak
perfect English and who said that the
American could not only have the screen he
wanted for a certain price, but
that, furthermore, the monastery possessed
an old iron gate that he could also
purchase. The American said,
“But what on earth would I do
with an old iron gate?” “I’m sure
you could sell it to a star in
Hollywood,” the Abbot replied.
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