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K'ang 4

As told by Jerry M. Pickard

The boy came and unrolled his mat where K'ang sat, cross-legged.

"Master?" He asked.

K'ang opened his eyes, and looked at the boy. "I am not a master. What do you need?"

"I wish to learn to be like you" He said.

"Like me? Why? I can teach you nothing." K'ang once again closed his eyes.

After several minutes of silence, K'ang looked at the boy through his age-worn eyes. "Did you fly up here??" The boy smiled, and said he had not. "Then did you climb through the rocks? Did you swim a river? Crawl on your knees to come to me?"

"No, venerated one. I took the middle path."

K'ang smiled faintly. "Now take this basket and go there and pick berries for us."

The boy came back, with a basket fairly filled, and his legs an arms scratched and bleeding. "If you look for roses, you will find thorns." K'ang said. "Tomorrow, bring me tea."

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