By Jason Lim
“My husband doesn’t respond to me when I complain to him about something,” a middle-aged woman grumbles to Venerable Pomnyun, a well-known Korean Seon (Zen) Buddhist monk who is famous for his ability to deliver profound life lessons in simple, sometimes startling ways.
“Does a dog answer you when you ask it a question?” Venerable Pomnyun responds with his question. “No, of course not. That’s why it’s easier to raise a dog. You don’t ask a dog whether it wants to eat or not. You just feed it, and it’s grateful for it.
“So, think of your husband as a dog that you are raising, and you will have no problems at all. I mean, your husband goes to the bathroom by himself, right?”
“Yeah …” the questioner agrees sheepishly.