Lookalikes

Has any other reader noticed the remarkable resembance between Hotei - the obese and jovial Laughing Buddha - and Nick Browne. I wonder if they are, by any chance, related.

Hotei Koan

Hotei lived in the T'ang dynasty. He had no desire to call himself a Zen master or to gather many disciples about him.

Instead he walked the streets with a big sack into which he would put gifts of candy, fruit, or doughnuts. These he would give to children who gathered around him to play. He established a kindergarten of the streets.

Once as he was about his play-work another Zen master happened along and inquired: "What is the significance of Zen?"

Hotei immediately plopped his sack down on the ground in silent answer.

"Then," asked the other, "what is the actualization of Zen?"

At once Hotei swung the sack over his shoulder and continued on his way.

Nick Koan

A boy was playing Halo on the XBOX when the six o'clock news was about to start.

Nick asked him what he was doing.

The boy replied that he was trying to master the game.

Nick said, "There exists a state in which you will not attempt to master the game, and the game will not attempt to master you."

The boy asked, "What is this state?"

Nick said, "Give me the XBox, and I will show you."

The boy gave him the game, and Nick threw it to the ground, breaking it into pieces.

Nick and the boy were enlightened by the six o'clock news.