This is an unfinished piece of dialogue from my notebook. It needs more work before proper publication (I don't even have a story in mind yet), but it's relevant to my recent thoughts. It also reminds me of a conversation I once had with my dad. It's taken a couple of decades for me to finally understand what he was getting at.
Past Self: Want to read some Zen Koans?
Future Self: No, thanks. I'm going to do the dishes.
Past Self: The dishes? Really? You'd rather perform some kind of plebeian chore, some mindless and unfulfilling drudgery, rather than employ your mind interpreting the sage wisdom of some of humanity's greatest minds?
Future Self: Well, we just ate, so the dishes are all dirty.
Past Self: Psst. Fine. Go scrub. I will remain here, and seek Enlightenment.
[Future Self leaves.]
Zen Reading:
A student approached a master and asked for words of wisdom.
"Have you eaten?" the master asked.
"Yes," the student replied.
"Then you should wash your bowl."
Hearing this, the student was enlightened.
[Past Self contemplates this for a moment.]
Past Self: I can't believe he's missing this just to do chores.
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