Beyond Comparison

Anecdotes

oi-Staff

By Staff

Monday, June 8, 2009, 15:16

A famous and a proud Samurai approached a Zen Master. At the sight of the master's beauty and the grace of the moment, the warrior sensed an insecure feeling gripping him. The warrior hence asked the master the reason for the sudden feeling of insecurity and fear on seeing him, which he had not encountered even at moments when he was face to face with death.

The master said, " Wait. I will answer when everyone has gone"

The warrior grew tired of the unending session of the visitors visiting the master. In the evening when the room was empty, he asked " Now can you answer me?"

The Master said, "Come outside."

Outside, it was a full moon night with the moon rising on the horizon. The master said, " Look at these trees. This tree is high in the sky and this small one beside it. They have both existed near by window for years and there has been absolutely no problem. The smaller one has never told the bigger tree that it felt inferior before it. This tree is small, and that tree is big. Why is that I have not heard a whisper of it?"

"Because they can't compare", said the samurai.

The master replied " Then you need not ask me. You know the answer"