The Clown Is Better

By Staff

Monday, February 2, 2009, 15:47

There was in China, a devout young monk who adhered to the serious practising of Dharma.
The monk once came upon something that was beyond his comprehension. He took it to the notice of his master. His master who heard the question burst out laughing and walked away. The young monk was highly disturbed by the master's reaction. The master's reaction had its impact over the monk for the next three days that he could neither eat nor drink or sleep. At the end of three days the monk approached the master and revealed how disturbed he was.

The master who heard this said :"Monk, do you know exactly what your problem is? Your problem is that you are worse than a clown!"

The shocked monk asked : "Venerable Sir, how can you say such a thing?! How can I be worse than a clown?"

The master then explained what exactly he meant : "A clown enjoys looking at people laugh. But look at you? You feel disturbed because another person laughed. Now tell me, are you not worse than a clown?"

When the monk heard this he started laughing and became enlightened.