ZEN STORIES

Fayan was traveling with two monks. He pointed to a roadside shrine and said, " All of you, it is a fire god. Why does it seek fire?" One monk said, "The fire is itself." The other said, "It draws fire when it is hungry, and stops when it is full." Fayan said, "Both of you are wrong." Later, they arrived at a temple. Fayan posed the question again to the head monk, who answered, "It is a fire god." Fayan said, "I knew you would give that ghostly interpretation."