Sermon of the Day

It was a cool dawn in spring. The world was stirring itself up for the day as the Sun made it's appearance.

A group of Zen monks, fresh and eager faced, were sitting on straw-filled mattresses in a courtyard. The Zen Master arrived and sat under a tree. He chanted with his head bowed and looked with repose at the disciples.

As he was about to begin his sermon, a bird alighted on a branch above him. It hopped about energetically and broke into a birdsong. All eyes and ears turned towards it. The bright-colored feathered creature sang for a while and flew away.

Turning to the monks the Master said, "The sermon for the day is over."