One Zen Buddhist adept stood alone on a hilltop early in the morning. He stood motionless, alone as a hill. Three people passed by who were out for a morning walk. They looked at this man and came to different conclusions about what he was doing.
One said:
- I know this monk. Once upon a time he lost a cow. Here he is standing here, looking from the hill to where she is.
The second one said:
“But judging by the way he’s standing, he’s not looking at all.” He doesn't move, his eyes seem to be almost closed. Thus, the person is not looking for something. I think he was taking a morning walk with a friend and he fell behind. He waits for his friend to come up.
The third said:
- It seems that this is not the reason, since if someone is waiting for someone, he sometimes looks around to see whether his friend is coming or not. But he doesn't move at all, he doesn't look back. He is not waiting, this is not the posture of a waiting person. I think he is praying or meditating.
They disagreed so much and were so excited about this that they decided to come up and ask him himself.
They got to him, and the first one asked:
-Are you looking for a cow? After all, I know that you once lost it and now you have to find it.
The man opened his eyes and said:
“I possess nothing, therefore nothing can be lost.” I'm not looking for a cow or anything else.
The second one said:
“Then I must be right.” You are waiting for a friend who is behind.
The man replied:
- I have no friends and enemies, how can I wait for someone? I am completely alone, and no one lags behind me, since there is no one.
Then the third said:
“That means I’m right, because there are no other possibilities.” I think you pray, meditate.
The man laughed:
“You are the stupidest, because I don’t know anyone to whom I could pray, and I don’t have any object of achievement.” How can I meditate?
Then all three asked simultaneously:
- What are you doing then?
“I just stand there and do nothing,” the man answered.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru