Photo courtesy of takomabibelot, Flickr

“Master,” said the disciple. “Is there life after death?”

“Why do you ask?” said the master.

“I was just thinking how horrible it would be not to love or laugh or sing or dream,” said the disciple.

The master laughed. “Most people don’t even do those things before death. Or if they do, they do them only superficially. The right question is, ‘Is there life before death?’”