Do It Yourself

A Zen Koan.

A man named Seta studied Zen at the University of Dallas. Upon graduating, Seta traveled to Japan to live in a monastery for 3 years. During his stay, he attained enlightenment.

After returning home, one of his colleagues approached him with some questions.

— "What did you gain in Japan that allowed you to reach enlightenment?"

— "There was nothing there which I did not already have before going" — replied Seta.

— "Then why did you go there?"

— "If I had not gone there, how would I have known that there was nothing there that I did not have before?"