THE OPPORTUNITY
Years ago, there was an old Master that lived on the border of a river, limit between two friend towns.
That Master was a very esteemed; admired and respected philosopher that - as all the philosophers - he thought and reasoned different to the other ones, and he had answer and solutions for everything and for all people.
From both towns he was assiduously consulted, some times because of economic problems, some times about health problems; some times about problems of State.
Years ago the prettiest girls in the region had disputed him, and he had chosen as wife the prettiest.
The old Master accustomed to fish on the border of the river, always to the shade of the same tree.
Every day his wife accompanied him and, in spite of the fact that the Master didn't use bait, and that as fishing tools he only took as fishing rod a " bo " with a rope tied in the tip; as fishhook a simple hook; and a pail, it was him who more fished.
The rest of the fishermen, with some envy and much admiration, they could not believe that them - that had the best and more modern fishing tools of that time, as well as the best baits - they could not fish what the Master fished.
Every day the Master returned to his home, with the pail full with fishes that his very smiling, and proud, wife charged.
The days; weeks; months and years lapsed, and the Master was more admired, loved and respected every day, and - because of that reason - his wife more and more proud, and radiant, she was.
But one day the war explodes, and the generals of both towns cite the Master to tell him that he should decide in which side he was.
The Master didn't agree with the war, and he answered that he could not decide that, because he he wanted both towns - and his habitants - equally.
But this time his advice didn't serve. His explanations and answers, before so listened, now were in vain. The war was already declared.
As well as in times of peace the philosophers - because of to think different that the other ones - they are so required, in times of war they are not wanted by anybody, since the war philosophy is "you cannot think different that me, you are with me or you are against me" .
Then both generals gave him one week so that he should had taken a decision, otherwise he would be banished.
Very sad and worried, the old Master went to his home to look for his wife. He wanted go to fish on the river, and then meditate about the situation. But this time the fish didn't bite.
On the following day - and as every day - the Master, always accompanied by his wife, returned to fish on the river. And the fish neither bite.
And the same thing happened the following day, and the following one, and the following one ... and the term to take a decision came closer.
The rumor that if the Master didn't take a decision will be
banished, ran quickly around both towns, and - those that before
admired him - now they laughed because the Master fished with his
bo; rope; hook; cripple and without bait, and they called him as
crazy when seeing that now the fish didn't bite.
His wife - with the empty pail - now don't returned smiling to
their home.
At the seventh day, the Master take his decision and - before being banished by the generals, and humiliated by the town - he left his home and he decided to live very far, as a hermit, at the most high place of the highest mountain.
The days passed and only accompanied him his wife - less and less smiling - and the animals of the place.
In the stream where now they goes to fish, neither the fish bite. The animals of the place grunted, and his wife nagged him. Every day she told him that he was crazy; that they could not continue living in this way, and that they should choose and unite with one of the two Generals.
But the old Master one and another time refused it.
Missing that river and the shade of that tree where they always went to fish, the Master and his wife walked many kilometers toward that river, to see if they had a better luck in the fishing. But even the luck was brought not near. And the days passed and passed.
One day - early in the morning - the wife told him that she won't accompany him to fish, because to walk so many kilometers in vain tired her.
Crestfallen - but being not given as conquered - the Master returned to that, his river ... to that shade of that, his tree .. and to that, his first home. And neither this time the fish bite.
When this night he arrived to his home, in the mountain, he found a letter where his wife wrote that she had abandoned him.
Sadder - and only as never before - the old Master remembered some tear.
After some days, he knew that his wife had chosen, and she also had gone to live with the General of the town that went winning the war.
And the time passed... it passed... it passed...
... and then the war finished. That General with the one his wife had gone, he had triumphed.
Although by conquest right the two towns now had become in one, the habitants were more divided than never.
The war had left its mark, resentments; misery; hunger; dead; wounded; bitterness and misfortunes.
Running the days, the dissatisfaction it was more and more big, the economy went from bad to worse, the illnesses were added, and the militaries - that they were who governed now - they didn't find solution.
And they had to recognize that - as well as in war times they are absolutely indispensable - to govern in times of peace they serve for very little things, or for nothing.
Then they remembered that old Master; that had solutions for everything; and all people consulted.
And they went to look for the Master.
An emissary arrived at the Master's new house - in the mountain - and he requested him that returned, explaining that they needed him more today, than before the war.
I cannot give the back to my town, the Master answered, come for me tomorrow.
Allow me to take your things now, Master, the emissary said. And the bo; the rope; the hook and the pail lowered the mountain.
On the following day the best carriage - with the best horses - and most distinguished people in the town, were in the Master's house in the mountain. And they undertook the return.
When arriving to the entrance of the town, a red and wide carpet waited for him. That carpet finished in the door of his old house, and, at the end of the same one, his pretty wife - very well dressed; very well trim; very well made up - awaited him. Beside the door, the bo; the rope; the hook and the pail rested.
The Master lowered of the carriage, and his wife hurried to come closer and to ask forgiveness.
And she told that she loved him still.
That it was sorry; that another opportunity requested, and that any thing was willing to make if she was accepted again.
That she had always been waiting for him, and that today, yet - with the bo; the rope; the hook and the pail - she waited for him.
You continue being my wife and also part of my town - the Master answered - and for that reason I cannot give the back. I will only request you one thing...
...You remember that place, where to the shade of that tree we fished...
...I want that you take our pail , go to that same place, and you fill totally the pail with water. Then you will bring it here.
Nothing else?, did the wife ask.
Nothing else!, Master responded.
Very happy because so easy it was to return with his husband, the beautiful young - now smiling and proud again - she took the pail and go to the river.
When it was again in front of the Master - that waited in the door - leaving the pail to his feet, she tried to enter in the house.
A thing lack still..., said the Master impeding the entrance.
...throws the water in the floor.
She throw the water, and both stayed looking how mud was formed.
I can enter now; can we re-do our life together, did the wife ask?
When you join again this same water - that you threw to my feet -
in this same pail, you will be able to return to my side, and
then this will be again your - and our - home.
FERNANDO PRIETO
6th. DAN KENSHIN RYU =
TOKU IN KAN