The Tea House

[The Master]

*The Master lifts the tea tray.*

[Eluvatar]

The pupil takes the tea tray and drinks.

[PoD Gunner]

Good'day, lads! Mmh, nice place. Can a tired traveler get some cold tea and perhaps some fortune cookies around here?

[The Master]

There are fortunes, and there are cookies.

*The Master lifts the cookie tray*

[Myroria]

PoD! You're fraternizing with the heathens!

* Phather Myroria lifts the beer and pizza tray.

[The Master]

*The Master takes the beer and pizza tray.*

Your donation is accepted. The Master appreciates your hospitality in this place of meeting and discussion.

[PoD Gunner]

  Myro don't be a tweet! I'm a Pha Phater, for Pha's sake! I'm not 'fraternizing'...it just so happened I was in the neighborhood and thought it was a nice gesture to say 'Hi' to our Asian neighbors...
*takes the cookies from the Master* thank you mate, you can keep the fortunes.

[Eluvatar]

Yeesh.

* Eluvatar sips delicious tea.

[The Master]

*nods*

Pupil Eluvatar, the Master asks of you, is tea delicious? Answer with your mind, not your tongue.

[Eluvatar]

Tea is nothing and nothing is delicious.

[The Master]

The Master believes Pupil Eluvatar has proven himself a fool.

The Master will answer through a story.



Tozan went to Ummon. Ummon asked him where he had come from.

Tozan said: `From Sato village.'

Ummon asked: `In what temple did you remain for the summer?'

Tozan replied: `The temple of Hoji, south of the lake.'

`When did you leave there?' asked Ummon, wondering how long Tozan would continue with such factual answers.

`The twenty-fifth of August,' answered Tozan.

Ummon said: `I should give you three blows with a stick, but today I forgive you.'

The next day Tozan bowed to Ummon and asked: `Yesterday you forgave me three blows. I do not know why you thought me wrong.'

Ummon, rebuking Tozan's spiritless responses, said: `You are good for nothing. You simply wander from one monastery to another.'

Before Ummon's words were ended Tozan was enlightened.




Now that this story has been read, answer the Master's question: What is its title?

[PoD Gunner]

*chews some more rice cookies and whacks a fly with a bamboo stick* mmmh...delicious! The title would be...uhm... Tozan and Ummon?
Aren't these those two, the wild boar and the mongoose from the Lion King? *helps himself to some more cookies*

[Myroria]

By The Master asking one question, he has asked none. Phather Myroria is reminded of an ancient parable:

Manson and the Beer Hall

Once, as Charles Manson was walking through his jail cell, he saw a hole in the stone leading to the Beer Hall of Pha. Excited, he ran to the wise Phather Myroria, who was sleeping in a bathtub nearby.

"Phather, I have seen perfection! What must I do now?"

Phather Myroria stared at the kidney lying on the bathroom floor and replied, "Go back to your jail cell."

"But Phather, surely I may be permitted to be in this Beer Hall?"

"There is no Beer Hall. Go back to your cell, and hear it's drunken calls and women's moans."

"Is that manly, Phather?" To that, Myroria did not reply.

Manson returned to his jail cell and cleaved his bed in two. He leaned his ear toward the bed, and heard it's metal springs squeak. Phather Myroria beat Manson with the kidney on the bathroom floor.

"Now you know manliness."

[The Master]

What is the sound of no hands clapping? The Master hears it now. In emptiness, there is wisdom, but what wisdom can there be in non-wisdom?

[PoD Gunner]

You know, Master, I'd say Phather Myro got you there, no doubt about it. *puts some huge wool mittens on, takes up some distance to the Master and starts clapping* the sound would be this one, glad you can hear it. *turns to Phather Myro* If he can hear this from 100 feet, he's better than Sam!!!