The man sat quietly in the forest, and the forest was quiet too.
As he meditated, forest creatures came to observe; first cautious, then curious, eventually he was surrounded by a motley group of foxes, deer, rabbits and more.
He spent the rest of the week in the forest, living off collected nuts and berries, special lichen; he found an endless variety the further he looked. Even the weather remained tranquil. His old life was eons ago, finally he had found a peaceful day.
As evening set in on what must have been the tenth day or so, Mobun sat beside a tiny campfire and prepared a sort of tea and granola mixture of spices, flowers, grains and nuts. Twilight brought different animals to the forest, and he enjoyed the sight or sound of each in turn.
Then came a hint of another sound, rougher and with a hint of pounding rhythm. Louder and louder, eventually there could be no doubt; the sound of a larger person in stout boots.
Suddenly there was a barked command. “You there!”
Mobun stood calmly, and faced a menacing guard or soldier, someone in armor bearing two swords and an air of authority.
“You can’t be in the park! You’ll be arrested if I find you here again!”
“What am I doing wrong, peacefully sitting here?”
“This is the Emporer’s land, his private land. Vagrants are not allowed. There are very rare animals here that must be protected so that they can be hunted. No one is permitted here! As simple as that!”
The guard made a move to lunge at the monk, who had been standing with a slight smile on his face through the tirade. His apparently inability to be fearful incensed the warrior, and as he drew near he brandished his weapon to strike.
“Ah!” Said the monk. “Look-there open the Gates of Hell!”
The guard paused a moment, mid strike. The forest stood still for an awkward eternity, agony lined his tense face as difficult thoughts breached the defenses of his sense of right and wrong, rules and role.
He lowered his weapon, stepped back.
“And, oh- behold the Gates of Heaven.”
The guard came back every day to check on the monk, and brought him blankets and extra food in the cold months. Over the next couple of years they became great friends.
