A rich man asked Sengai to write something for the continued prosperity
of his family so that it might be treasured from generation to generation.
Sengai obtained a large sheet of paper and wrote: "Father dies, son
dies, grandson dies."
The rich man became angry. "I asked you to write something for the
happiness of my family! Why do you make such a joke as this?"
"No joke is intended," explained Sengai. "If before you yourself die
you son should die, this would grieve you greatly. If your grandson should
pass away before your son, both of you would be broken-hearted. If your
family, generation after generation, passes away in the order I have
named, it will be the natural course of life. I call this real
prosperity."
