Now to Enjoy

Somethings you read stick in your mind. This is a buddhist
koan that has been my companion for years.

A monk is walking in the mountains and is attacked by a
gang of murderous thugs intent on killing him. He is chased
to the edge of a steep cliff where he loses his balance and
falls over. As he falls, he manages to reach out and grasp
a small bush. Rooted into a small space between rocks, the
bush starts to pull out of the soil because of the monk's weight.

He looks down and several hungry tigers have gathered in
rocks at the base of the cliff. They stare up at him,
ravenously waiting for him to fall. Above the gang of
killers wave swords at the monk as they plot ways to get to
him. The roots of the bush pull a bit more out of the soil.

The monk looks up at the killers, down at the tigers,
then at the small bush he is hanging onto. He notices
some red berries growing on the bush. They are
ripe and juicy. He plucks one and eats it. He smiles
warmly. It is the best berry he has ever eaten.