The Holy Man

A Zen Koan

Word spread across the countryside about a wise Holy Man who lived in a small house atop the mountain.

A local man from the village decided to make the long and difficult journey to visit him.

When he arrived at the house, he saw an old servant inside who greeted him at the door.

"I would like to see the wise Holy Man" — he said to the servant.

The servant smiled and led him inside.

As they walked through the house, the man from the village looked eagerly around the house, anticipating his encounter with his holiness.

Before he knew it, he had been led to the back door and escorted outside.

He stopped and turned to the servant — "But I came to see the Holy Man!"

“You already have" — said the old man as he closed the door behind him.