from "101 Zen stories" 
An opportunity to reflect ...
"Tetsugen, a faithful follower of Zen in Japan, he decided to publish the sutras, which at that time were only available in Chinese. The books should be printed with wooden blocks in an edition of seven thousand copies, a huge undertaking.
Tetsugen began by going there to collect the necessary funds. Some supporters gave him a hundred gold coins, but most managed to get small amounts. He thanked all the donors with equal gratitude. After ten years Tetsugen had enough money to start the business.
And then the Uji River overflowed. The flood brought the famine. Tetsugen took the funds he had collected them for books and fees to save others from starvation. Then he began his collection.
Several years later the country was hit by an epidemic. Again Tetsugen to help his people, gave away what he had collected.
went back to work for the third time, after twenty years and was finally able to realize his desire.
blocks of wood that were used to print the first edition are now on display in the monastery Obaku Kyoto.
The Japanese tell their children that Tetsugen made three collections of sutras, and that the first two, invisible, are even higher than the last. "
(from" 101 Zen stories "by Nyogen Senzaki and Paul Reps and Adelphi, 1973)
... In this short parable often find myself comfort: When should I remove from my engagements to deal with family problems of daily life (etc. etc. .)... each of us has his "sutra" to be written ...
