The master Ryokan lived in a poor little hut on a mountainside. One moonlight night he came home and found a burglar looking for something to steal. But Ryokan was a hermit who owned nothing.
"Poor fellow," he said to the robber. "You have come a long way and have found nothing. But I don't want you to leave empty-handed. Please take my clothes." And Ryokan stripped, and handed the clothes to the robber.
"Poor fellow," said naked Ryokan, going outdoors again when the inconsiderate robber had left, "How I wish I could have given him this wonderful moon."
-- Zen parable
The moon here was bright, clear and full of sweet dreams to come.
ReplyDeleteI liked the parable....
I recognize that moon...
ReplyDeleteIt did visit you last night.
I love the way the moon is framed by the lacy tree branches.
ReplyDeleteAh yes. I love this one. There is a version of it in the children's book "Zen Shorts." I really like reading that to my children. Did you happen to read Paul Krugman's NYT's editorial this week about the Angry Rich? It is infuriating, but worth the read.
ReplyDelete