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Akinojske was a simple farmer who worked hard in the fields outside his village in Japan.

One afternoon, a rain shower drove him and the other farmers to abandon their work for a few hours.

Laughing, they ran beneath the wide boughs of a giant cedar tree in search of shelter.

Once they were safe and dry, Akinojske and the others decided to make the most of the situation

and take an early lunch. As rain drops patoured gently on the canopy above their heads,

they ate and drank and allowed themselves to fall into the kind of drifting small talk that

comes so easily for old friends. While Akinojske was enjoying his food, a small butterfly fluttered

in from the rain and landed on his knee. He was about to swat it away, but an old farmer stopped him.

The butterfly is a symbol of the human soul, the old farmer explained. When people sleep,

their souls travel the world as butterflies, creating dreams. It was a curious suggestion

Akinojske thought. He wasn't sure he believed it, but he left the butterfly alone.

A few minutes later, he looked back down and saw it had already flown away. Soon, Akinojske's stomach

was full of warm soup and sticky rice and he was feeling very content.

Leaning his head against the trunk of the giant cedar, he felt his mind begin to drift,

carried along by the soft murmur of the friendly conversation nearby.

In no time at all, he was fast asleep.

After a short while, he found himself coming back to wakefulness.

...