capturing a zen moment


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 desciple 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!'

a site about zen and photography

by roberto d ’aquino