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Zen Stories
Elephant and Flea
Roshi Kapleau agreed to educate a group of psychoanalysts
about Zen. After being introduced to the group by the director of
the analytic institute, the Roshi quietly sat down upon a cushion
placed on the floor. A student entered, prostrated before the
master, and then seated himself on another cushion a few feet away,
facing his teacher. "What is Zen?" the student asked. The
Roshi produced a banana, peeled it, and started eating. "Is
that all? Can't you show me anything else?" the student said.
"Come closer, please," the master replied. The student
moved in and the Roshi waved the remaining portion of the banana
before the student's face. The student prostrated, and left.
A second student rose to address the audience. "Do you all
understand?" When there was no response, the student added,
"You have just witnessed a first-rate demonstration of Zen. Are
there any questions?"
After a long silence, someone spoke up. "Roshi, I am not
satisfied with your demonstration. You have shown us something that
I am not sure I understand. It must be possible to TELL us what Zen
is."
"If you must insist on words," the Roshi replied,
"then Zen is an elephant copulating with a flea."
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