Sour Miso
A monk asked Zen master Hakuin, "
What is the true meaning of Buddhism?" Hakuin replied,
"The miso soup is sour." The monk, confused, asked the same question of the master's attendant, who said,
"The miso soup is sour." Hearing this, the monk was deeply enlightened.
Reflection
Hakuin's response - 'The miso soup is sour' - refuses to offer a special, esoteric teaching. The monk's repeated questioning shows his expectation of something extraordinary. Yet both the master and his attendant give the same mundane answer. The story illustrates that the truth of Buddhism is not hidden; it is fully expressed in the ordinary flavours and sensations of daily life.