Non-zen tales

In a meditation center, there were many male and female practitioners, children and adults crowding the center. One day, while the teacher was walking around to check how neat the disciples were in the center, he found a cute little girl diligently sweeping leaves. The teacher walked over to her, admiring her diligence and said, “You’re really diligent.” “I’m not diligent. I just sweep,” the disciple replied. “Sweeping like this makes merit,” the teacher continued, “Sweeping the floor, sweeping the heart.” The disciple continued sweeping. The disciple stopped sweeping and turned to answer the teacher, “A clean heart, that is merit. If you add merit, and the heart is heavy and dirty, you have to sweep more.” The teacher smiled, admiring the little disciple’s answer. “Very good. In that case, I will reward you for your good deed. Let me ask for one thing.” The teacher smiled and made an offer. The disciple looked at the teacher and asked, “Anything is fine?” “Yes, anything,” the teacher confirmed. The little disciple stood thinking for a while and then told the teacher, “Then I will hug the teacher.” The teacher was stunned for a moment because he did not expect the intelligent disciple to ask for something like this. But he agreed to let the disciple do as requested. So he opened his arms. The little boy came and hugged him, happily burying his face in his arms. When he finished, the teacher was curious and asked the wise disciple, “Why did you ask for something so meaningless?” The disciple asked the teacher, “Like what? Meaning?” “Like the highest teachings or how can I attain enlightenment?” “Oh.” The disciple smiled and answered the teacher, “The highest teachings. The teacher talks about them every day. As for attaining enlightenment, you have to do it yourself. You cannot ask the teacher for it. But no one in the entire sect has ever gotten a hug. I think that is the greatest.” 2013-08-17