The Time Has Come!

(Originally in Chinese)
There was a disciple who was responsible for brewing and serving tea for his master. His master had a precious antique teapot, which the master loved very much. Once, perhaps because he was too deep in samadhi and his limbs became weak, the disciple broke the teapot inadvertently. He was frightened to death, having no idea about how to explain it to his master.The time for serving tea arrived, and the disciple was standing there in a foolish manner, not knowing what to do. Finally, he came up with a clever way to save himself!Straightening his clothes, he went inside, bowed to his master ceremoniously and said, "Master, I have a big problem, which has caused a lot of concern in my mind. I have wanted to ask you about this for a long time; but dared not do so, fearing that I would trouble master. I wonder if I may ask you today." The master said, "Of course you may. Why didn't you ask sooner? You came here to follow master because you need to ask questions!"
So the disciple asked, "Master! Why is it that for everything, death follows birth? Why must there be death? You and I, are we also going to die? We are practitioners, and being so sincere, do we still have to die?" His master said, "Oh,Sure! Shakyamuni Buddha, Jesus, Confucius and Lao-tzu all had to die. Where there is birth, there must be death!"
Then the disciple continued to ask, "Is there any exception,anything that will not die?" The master said, "Absolutely not! Death must follow birth. If the time has come, death is for sure!" Then the disciple stood up and said, "I report to master, the time has come for your teapot today!"

时间到了！
有个徒弟专门煮茶、泡茶和倒茶给他的师父喝。他师父有个茶壶是很宝贝的古董，他一直非常喜爱它。有一次，那位徒弟大概入定太深，手脚都软了，一不小心把茶壶摔破了，他怕死了，不知道该怎么跟师父解释。倒茶时间到了，他在那边笨脚笨手不知道该怎么办。

终于他想到一个妙计可以救自己了！他把衣服拉整齐，进来很隆重地顶礼师父说：‘禀师父，弟子有一个耿耿于怀的大问题，好久想问不敢问，怕打扰师父，不知今天能不能问？’师父说：‘当然可以，你怎么不早问呢？来这边跟随师父就是为了要问啊！’他问：‘师父啊！为什么万物有生就有死呢？为什么一定要死呢？我和你以后也要死吗？我们修行人那么诚心还是要死吗？’他师父说：‘一定要死啊！释迦牟尼佛、耶稣、孔子和老子都要死的，有生就有死嘛！’然后这位徒弟继续追问：‘有没有例外、不会死的东西呢？’他师父说：‘绝对不会！有生就有死，时间到了一定要死！’然后徒弟就站起来，说：‘禀师父，您那个茶壶今天它时间到了！’