Zen Garden Koan # 3

What Really Counts?


A fellow Master challenged Mummu, "Count from 1 to 10".
Mummu replied, "1, 10"
The fellow Master said, "The end does not justify the means."
And Mummu replied, "It was your means, so it was my end."

The fellow Master returned a while later and challenged
Mummu once again, "Count from 1 to 10, in decimal."
Mummu replied, "1, 4, 7, 9, 3, 2, 8, 5, 6, 10."
The Master said, "But your means do not justify the end."
And Mummu replied, "It was your end, so it was my means."

The fellow Master returned a while later and challenged
Mummu saying, "Count from 1 to 10, in decimal, in order."
Mummu hit the fellow Master with a large stick.
The Master replied, "Good, but you failed to reach 10."
And Mummu replied, "The universe knows what counts!"


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