The Spider's Thread Author:Ryunosuke Akutagawa "The Spider's Thread" (Kumo no Ito) is a 1918 short story by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, first published in the children's magazine Akai Tori. — summary: — The Buddha Shakyamuni is meandering around Paradise one morning, when he stops at a lotus-filled pond. Between the lilies, he can see, through the crystal-clear waters, the depths of Hell. His eyes co... more »me to rest on one sinner in particular, by the name of Kandata. Kandata was a cold-hearted criminal, but had one good deed to his name: while walking through the forest one day, he decided not to kill a spider he was about to crush with his foot. Moved by this single act of compassion, the Buddha takes the silvery thread of a spider in Paradise and lowers it down into Hell.
Note: Tested with iPhone app only now (7/16/2009)« less