To become a Zen Master …

During my teens, I heard this story of how you become a Zen Master.

After a long journey of many previous challenges and realizations, a Zen disciple comes to sit face to face with the Zen Master. The Zen Master is seated and has a bamboo stick next to him. The Zen Master asks the disciple a question. The disciple responds. It is the wrong answer. The Zen Master takes the bamboo stick and hits the disciple. The Zen Master asks a question again. The disciple answers. It is the wrong answer. And the Zen Master hits the disciple with the bamboo stick. The Zen Master asks a question again. The disciple answers. It is the wrong answer, and the Zen Master hits the disciple with the bamboo stick…

You become a Zen Master when you realize all the answers are the wrong answers — all you have to do is take the stick away.