Mu and the stories
Master Mu told a story to a novice one day. The novice, not understanding, thought that it was a statement of fact, and told the master so. Mu hit the novice on the head with a big stick, and chased him away for the day.
The next day, Master Mu told the same novice another story. The novice, remembering the thrashing of the day before, tried to appease the master by telling the master what he thought Mu wanted to hear. Mu hit the novice on the head with a big stick, and chased him away for the day.
The third day, Master Mu told the same novice yet another story. The novice this time understood the purpose of these stories and prepared to meditate on them. Mu hit the novice on the head with a big stick.
The novice asked: “If this time I am enlightened, why do you hit me with your stick?” To which Mu replied: “Because you believe you are enlightened by my stories or that you can be by meditating on them.”
At that moment, the novice was enlightened.
