The Hand That Taught

Mokusen Hiki lived in a temple in the province of Tamba. An adherent of him approached him complaining of his wife's stinginess. Moukusen then visited the wife of his adherent.

He clenched his fist before her face and asked " What do you understand by this if my fist was to be this way?"

"Its a deformity" said the lady.

He then opened his hand flat at her face and asked again "What if it was like this?"

"It is still a deformity, but of a different type" replied the lady.

"You are a good wife if you can understand this much" said Mokusen and left.

Henceforth the adherent's wife cooperated with her husband in distributing as well as in saving.