Braingle: 'The Student and the Zen Master' Brain Teaser

The Student and the Zen Master

Situation puzzles (sometimes called lateral thinking puzzles) are ones where you need to ask lots of yes or no questions to figure out what happened in the situation. These are good puzzles for groups where one person knows the puzzle and answers the questions.

Puzzle ID:	#28183
Fun:	(3)
Difficulty:	(2.46)
Category:	Situation
Submitted By:	zonahobo
Corrected By:	norcekri

A new student met the Zen Master after traveling hundreds of miles by yak cart. He was understandably pleased with himself for being selected to learn at the great master's feet .

The first time they formally met, the Zen Master asked, "May I ask you a simple question?"
"It would be an honor!" replied the student.

"Which is greater, that which has no beginning or that which has no end?" queried the Zen Master. "Come back when you have the answer and can explain why."

After the student made many frustrated trips back with answers which the master quickly cast off with a disapproving negative nod, the Zen Master finally said, "Perhaps I should ask you another question?"

"Oh, please do!" pleaded the exasperated student.

The Zen Master then asked, "Since you do not know that, answer this much simpler riddle. When can a pebble hold back the sea?"

Again the student was rebuffed time and again. Several more questions followed with the same result. Each time, the student could not find the correct answer. Finally, completely exasperated, the student began to weep, "Master, I am a complete idiot. I can not solve even the simplest riddle from you!"

Suddenly, the student stopped, sat down, and said, "I am ready for my second lesson."

What was the Zen Master's first lesson?

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Comments

kayleeskitties Jan 21, 2006	I loved this teaser (even if I was waaaay off from the answer)! Going to my Faves List
Chakoteya Jan 21, 2006	A lovely moral story (and riddle).
medster99 Jan 21, 2006	i really rather liked this one
WJSMama Jan 21, 2006	That was very cool.
juggler Jan 21, 2006	I loved it! keep the Zen master teasers coming!
Sunrose Jan 21, 2006	Good Teaser, enjoyed it, fun as well
zonarita Jan 21, 2006	ZonaZenMasterHobo - I shall always be your student. These are absolutely zany zoned insights
Brainy_1 Jan 21, 2006	Very good ZonaZen!! A lesson and a great teaser all in one!! I enjoyed this very much!
froggygg Jan 25, 2006	Really good teaser zona!
OldChinaHand Jan 27, 2006	It is not how one comes in, but how one goes out. And when it is one with many, grasshopper.
vancon Feb 08, 2006	Really liked this one. Very nice!
choptlivva Mar 24, 2006	I liked this teaser. Makes one think more deeply, and in a different way....
perrygf May 25, 2006	Good teaser! I thought he was trying to teach him humility, but that seems a bit obvious. Nice twist!
jazzmusician46 May 26, 2006	If I may be allowed to try and interpret the Zen Master's question about the pebble stopping the sea... An insignificant problem in our life can be like a pebble. Perhaps we can interpret the sea as something that is akin to our whole life, such as all our experiences washing over us. If we hold the pebble too close to our eye, it will fill our whole world and put everything out of perspective; consequently stopping the sea (or our rich experience of lifes pleasures)! If we move the pebble away from us at a proper distance, it can be examined and properly classified, whilst at the same time we can still see the ocean. If we throw the pebble down at our feet in front of the waves, we can see it in its true perspective: just another tiny bump on our pathway of life. Just feeling a touch philosophical...
Onslaught May 29, 2006	ha ha ha go ask a zen master
4kai2lyn6 Oct 12, 2006	That was fantastic! Please keep up with these zen master teasers! And I really enjoyed jazzmusician's interpretation of the pebble problem! This entire Braingle community is just so AWESOME!!!!
natureluver Dec 04, 2006	ditto perrygf
senther7 Jan 06, 2007	WOW Shouldve thought of that =( =)
deepsea Jan 26, 2007	I didn't get the riddle, but the questions within the riddle are fairly simple. That which has no end is better because that which has no beginning does not exist A pebble can hold back the sea when it is the last one in a wall.
Jimbo Feb 22, 2007	The question was "when" can a pebble hold back the sea and not "how". An answer might be a pebble can hold back the sea at low tide!