Summary
The Village of Hearing Paradise and Seeing Hell
Once upon a time, there was a village with small houses lined up. This village was known for its annual festival, which was highly regarded. The villagers would tell travelers from the outside world in unison, "Our village's festival is as fun as heaven!" However, when the day of the festival finally arrived, the appearance of the village changed drastically.
On the day of the festival, travelers stepped into the village with hearts full of expectation. However, what greeted their eyes were villagers dressed in dirty costumes and a brown soup disguised with spices. The villagers forced smiles, trying to create a joyful atmosphere, but there was a worn-out expression hidden behind it. The travelers anxiously stared at the food they held, which was supposed to be delicious.
Eventually, traditional dances began in the village square. The travelers looked forward to the wonderful steps, but the villagers’ dancing seemed awkward and breathless. The travelers could not think, "It's just as enjoyable as I had heard!" and anxiety gradually spread in their hearts. Meanwhile, the villagers continued with their act, thinking, "We must not let them know this reality."
In the end, contrary to the fun they had expected, the travelers left the village while pondering the phrase "Hearing paradise, seeing hell." The villagers also felt that "the outside world is probably full of beautiful stories" and sensed the meaninglessness of continuing to hide the truth. Thus, unaware of the deep chasm that lay between hearing and seeing, their daily lives continued unchanged.
