Zen

Two men were walking down a road, it was a beautiful spring day. They were discussing the latest news from the capital when the taller of the two pointed towards a hill in the distance. "Look, there's a man standing there, on the top!" The shorter man looked in the direction of the pointed finger, and saw the strange man standing on top of the hill. "I wonder what he is doing" he said to his taller friend. "I bet he is waiting for a friend" he continued. The walked in the direction of the hill. "No, I don't think so" said the taller man, "I think he is a farmer, observing the weather. He wants to know if the rain is coming." They became more and more curious as they closed in. "You know what? I bet he is actually a shepherd looking for his sheep. They have probably escaped, and now he is searching for them. That explains why he is standing there on the top, where there is a good view!" the short man said. But they both saw that there was something else to this man. Now they could not wait to get to the top of the hill to query the strange man about his business there. They hurried up, and soon reached the peak of the hill. "Please, mister, tell us why you are standing here! Are you looking for your sheep? Or is it a friend you are waiting for?" It was the taller man, demanding to know. The stranger looked at the two men with friendly, curious eyes. "I am standing" he said with a smile.

This is a typical zen story. Or at least it was.

The word Zen has changed meaning for me, and not for the better. From being associated with eastern philosophy and harmony, to being something completely different. Creative Zen. No, it is not a new and creative way of ancient wisdom, it is technology of modern man. Creative Zen is a competitor to iPod, and a very potent one. I am thinking of purchasing one, even though I really don't like the name. It feels like this little device has stolen something from me, when it changed the meaning of zen. Once again commercialism has robbed the world of something beautiful. I wish that they would stick to more mundane names for all the gadgets.