One summer day the venerable old master Chao-chou proposed a little contest of Zen repartee with his attending disciple, Wen-yuan: to see who could identify himself with the lowest thing in the scale of human values.
Chao-chou began: “I am a donkey.” Wen-yuan: “I am the donkey’s buttocks.” Chao-chou: “I am the donkey’s dung.” Wen-yuan: “I am a worm in the dung.” Chao-chou, unable to think of a rejoinder, asked, “What are you doing there?” Replied Wen-yuan: “I am spending my summer vacation!” Chao-chou laughingly conceded defeat.
No comments:
Post a Comment