A Beautiful Sunrise
A Zen Koan.
A young student arrived at the famous Hoshiji Zen Temple, which was located on the eastern side of a remote mountain range and is well known for its perfect view of the morning sunrise.
Eager to witness this beautiful sight, the new student rose before dawn and sat waiting on his mat to take in all its glory.
But after an hour, the sky remained dark.
Growing impatient, the student began rolling up his mat.
The master, passing by, asked him — “Where are you going so quickly?”
The student replied — “I must prepare for my work. I have missed the beauty of today’s sunrise, but I will try again tomorrow.”
The master said — “What a shame. The sunrise blinds, but the stars vanish quietly. Did you notice their beauty?”
