The Silent River festival had begun and as per tradition there were gifts for everyone!
Sensei had personally overseen their selection and handed each monk a special, personal gift. The gifts were large and wrapped in festive, artistic gift paper, embellished with ribbons.
As Sensei handed over the gifts, he requested the monks to wait until bedtime to open them – alone in their room. The monks could barely contain their excitement and waited patiently.
At bedtime, each monk opened his gift. First the ribbons came off, then the wrapping paper. Next was the large cardboard box. Then came another box. After that, there was another box and then another box, and so on…
Many assumed that their gift would lie in the last box. Finally, after opening all the eleven boxes that lay inside each other, it was clear that there was no real gift inside. Instead, the monks found a personal, hand written note from Sensei. It said, “The most precious gift I can ever give you is ‘nothingness’. I hope you keep it safely and treasure it.”
*****
