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Lafcadio Hearn - Kokoro
The father answered: "Urashima caught a turtle which was not really a turtle, but the Daughter of the
Dragon-King. So he, was rewarded for his kindness. But that old fisherman has not caught any turtle, and
even if he had caught one, he is much too old to marry. Therefore he will not go to the Palace."
Then the boy looked at the flowers, and the fountains, and the sunned sea with its white sails, and the
mauve-colored mountains be-yond all, and exclaimed: -
"Father, do you think there is any place more beautiful than this in the whole world?"
The father smiled deliciously, and seemed about to answer, but before he could speak the child cried out,
and leaped, and clapped his little hands for delight, because the peacock had suddenly outspread the
splendor of its tail. And all hastened to the aviary. So I never heard the reply to that pretty question.
But afterwards I thought that it might have been answered thus: -
"My boy, very beautiful this is. But the world is full of beauty; and there may be gardens more beautiful
than this.
"But the fairest of gardens is not in our world. It is the Garden of Amida, in the Paradise of the West.
"And whosoever does no wrong what time he lives may after death dwell in that Garden.
"There the divine Kujaku, bird of heaven, sings of the Seven Steps and the Five Powers, spreading its tail
as a sun.
"There lakes of jewel-water are, and in them lotos-flowers of a loveliness for which there is not any
name. And from those flowers proceed continually rays of rainbow-light, and spirits of Buddhas
newly-born.
"And the water, murmuring among the lotos-buds, speaks to the souls in them of Infinite Memory and
Infinite Vision, and of the Four Infinite Feelings.
"And in that place there is no difference between gods and men, save that under the splendor of Amida
even the gods must bend; and all sing the hymn of praise beginning, 'O Thou of Immeasurable
Light!'
"But the Voice of the River Celestial chants forever, like the chanting of thousands in unison: 'Even
this is not high; there is still a Higher! This is not real; this is not Peace!'"
V. THE NUN OF THE TEMPLE OF AMIDA
When O-Toyo's husband - a distant cousin, adopted into her family for love's sake - had been summoned
by his lord to the capital, she did not feel anxious about the future. She felt sad only. It was the firs time
since their bridal that they had ever been separated. But she had her father and mother to keep her
company, and, dearer than either, - though she would never have confessed it even to herself, - her little
son. Besides, she always had plenty to do. There were many household duties to perform, and there was
much clothing to be woven - both silk and cotton.
Once daily at a fixed hour, she would set for the absent husband, in his favorite room, little repasts
faultlessly served on dainty lacquered trays,-miniature meals such as are offered to the ghosts of the
ancestors, and to the gods(1). These repasts were served at the east side of the room, and his
kneeling-cushion placed before them. The reason they were served at the east side, was because he had
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