A koan cited by Stephan Micus

Koans are short stories used by Japanese Zen masters to confront their students with the limitations of the rational mind and experience the liberation that results from approaching the world with an insight that goes beyond it.

“Believing to have understood something about the essence of life, a monk left his monastery at a young age to travel through China. After many years, on his return his old master asked him: ‘Tell me about the essence of life!’ The monk answered: ‘ When there are no clouds over the mountain the moonlight penetrates the ripples of the lake.’ The master looked at his former disciple in anger: ‘You are getting old, your hair is grey, you have just a few teeth left and still you have no understanding of life.’ The monk lowered his eyes, tears streaming over his face. After a few minutes he asked: ‘Please, would you tell me the essence of life?’ ‘When there are no clouds over the mountain,’ responded the master, ’the moonlight penetrates the ripples of the lake!’