Emmett Miller MDPersonal Coach/Physician Mind-Body Medicine/Psychotherapist/

Ask Dr. Miller: What is the difference between Heaven and Hell?

Name: Ask Dr. Miller: What is the difference between Heaven and Hell?
Uploaded: 2010-04-29T22:40:14+00:00
Duration: 6 s
Channel: Emmett Miller MD
Description: In this brief Ask Dr. Miller segment, Dr. Emmett Miller shares a Zen parable about a samurai who asks a master to explain the difference between heaven…

29 Apr 2010 · 0 min

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In this brief Ask Dr. Miller segment, Dr. Emmett Miller shares a Zen parable about a samurai who asks a master to explain the difference between heaven and hell. The master responds by pointing out that the samurai’s immediate anger and intent to kill represent hell, while the moment the samurai realizes there is no real problem and lets go of his rage represents heaven. Dr. Miller uses the story to illustrate that heaven and hell are not external places but mental states we create moment‑by‑moment through our reactions and mindset. He adds a cultural critique, noting that society discourages this awareness because it would reduce consumption of products and financial schemes. The segment ends with a call for listeners to submit questions via email and visit his website for more mind‑body health resources.

Welcome to Ask Dr. Miller, where Dr. Miller answers your questions about mind-body health.
There's a story of a certain samurai who went to, went to the Zen master, the wisest man in all of Japan. And said, "They told me to come to you with my question because no one's been able to answer." The master says, "Very well, what's your question?" And the samurai says, "I want to know the difference between heaven and hell." The Zen master looks at him, smiles, starts to laugh, and he says, "You, a samurai, somebody who goes around killing people for a living, you want to know the difference between heaven and hell?" Hahaha! Whoa, the samurai gets really ticked off behind this. Draws his sword, prepares to behead the monk, and says, "Prepare to die, monk!" And at that moment, the master says, "That is hell." The samurai goes, "Ah." And the Zen master goes, "And that is heaven." is heaven. Hmm? At the moment you realized there's no problem, all that anger for nothing. Nothing. You are creating that heaven and hell in every single moment. But our culture won't teach you that because then you won't buy the products, then you won't invest in the double-leverage buyout certificates of deposit transfer.
Thanks for listening to this segment of Ask Dr. Miller. Send your questions by email to drmiller@drmiller.com. For more information on mind-body health and Dr. Miller's CDs, DVDs, and books, go to drmiller.com. That's drmiller.com.