Recently I had an opportunity to attend a sermon on the sutras

at the Urin monastery in the Eastern hills where I

encountered two old men and a crone in its precincts

of the most incredibly distasteful and advanced old age.

As I stood in amazement at how the three were all of a piece,

they turned to smile, and addressed me directly

with these words:

"Often we have said lately when we meet someone

from the old days, how nice it would be speak

of our experiences throughout the years, and how nice

it would be have someone to tell the particulars of

the story of his Excellency the lay priest Michinaga.

We are overjoyed to make your acquaintance.

We shall now be able to travel in peace on that road to the

netherworld. As they say, not saying what is on one's mind

makes one flatulent. In olden days when people had

something they needed to say, they dug a hole and

spoke the words into it. You have saved us from that!

What a pleasure! May we ask, sir, how old you are?"

one of the men said. The other continued:....

(Translation by KLR)