This story takes place in Japan. It is timeless, it could have taken place a thousand years ago or yesterday.

There was once an young man eager to become a swordmaster. He apprenticed himself to the local Master, who immediately put him to work weeding the vegetables, pruning trees, sweeping the walks, and other menial labor. The apprentice constantly petitioned the Master to begin his training in the use of the sword. Each time the Master would shake his head gravely.

One day the apprentice was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, performing his morning meditation, when the Master appeared out of nowhere brandishing a wooden sword, and whacked the apprentice across the shoulders.These wooden practice swords are nothing to scoff at. They are hard. They are heavy. They can break bones. They can even kill. Miyamoto Musashi, whom we have met already, won many a battle armed only with a wooden practice sword against talented opponents bearing razor sharp blades.

So, needless to say, the apprentice was sorely bruised. This happened again the next day. While weeding the peas, the apprentice was again whack-bonked by the Master, appearing out of nowhere with a wooden practice sword. The apprentice begged the master to relent. After several months of this, the apprentice acted like a scared bunny, flinching at every change in the shadows. He looked for the Master hidden everywhere. He never let his guard down. Even when relaxing, he was alert for small shifts in the wind, tiny noises, small changes in the birds and animals around him that would presage an attack from the Master.

One day, while sitting cross-legged with his eyes shut, he snapped up his right hand and intercepted the Master's wooden sword in an instant, with a sharp, snicking sound. Snick. He opened his eyes. The Master met his gaze. "Your training can now begin."

There are many messages in this story, hidden, as with the other stories, at different levels of understanding of the Way. One is that it is really true, the world is out to get you - you will get smacked upside the head for no apparent reason. People with MS are already familiar with that one. Once you come to terms with that, you are ready to start living.