Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Moon Cannot Be Stolen


Once upon a time there was a Zen Master who lived a very simple, one could even say austere, life in a little hut at the foot of a tall mountain. One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to find there was nothing at all in it for him to steal.

When the Zen Master returned home he found the disappointed thief on his porch. 
"You have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as a gift."
The thief was bewildered, but took the clothes and ran away as fast as he could.

The Master sat naked and admired the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, " I wish I could give him this beautiful moon."