"The Spider's Thread" by Akutagawa Ryunosuke

This story is based on a Buddhist worldview in which people continually reincarnate after death. Those with the worst behavior end up in hell. And paradise is the final destination attainable only by people who are enlightened through ascetic training. In this story, Buddha Shakyamuni's impulsive whim gives a man in hell an unexpected chance. Will he be able to make the most of this opportunity? Written by Akutagawa Ryunosuke, one of Japan's leading modern literary authors. His works question human foolishness and the meaning of life and have been read by many people over the decades.