Many years back the Zen Master Tao whilst tending the door of the monastery the Master opened the door to a local villager who was knocking. When the Zen Master at the gates opened up, he was given a magnificent bunch of grapes. Brother, these are the finest my vineyard has produced. I’ve come to give them to you as a gift.Tao thank him! And said I will take them to the Head Monk immediately, he’ll be delighted with this offering.
No! I brought them for you. For whenever I knock on the door, it is you opens it. When I needed help because the crop was destroyed by drought, you gave me a piece of bread and a cup of wine every day.Tao held the grapes and spent the entire morning admiring it. And decided to deliver the gift to the head monk, who had always encouraged him with words of wisdom.The head monk was very pleased with the grapes, but he recalled that there was a sick brother in the monastery, and thought:
“I’ll give him the grapes. Who knows, they may bring some joy to his life.”
And that is what he did. But the grapes didn’t stay in the sick monk’s room for long, for he thought “The cook who has looked after me for so long, feeding me only the best meals. I’m sure he will enjoy these.”
The cook was amazed at the beauty of the grapes. So perfect that no one would appreciate them more than the most senior monk, many at the monastery considered him a holy man, he would be best qualified to value this marvel of nature.
The eldest monk, in turn, gave the grapes as a gift to the youngest novice, that he might understand that the work of the universe is in the smallest details of Creation.
When the novice received them, he remembered the first time he came to the monastery, and of the person who had opened the gates for him; it was that gesture which allowed him to be among this community of people who knew how to value the wonders of life. And so, just before nightfall, he took the grapes to the monk at the gates. Eat and enjoy them he said. For you spend most of your time alone here, and these grapes will make you very happy. Tao understood that the gift had been truly destined for him, and relished each of the grapes, before falling into a pleasant sleep.
Thus the circle was closed; the circle of happiness and joy, which always shines brightly around generous people.