An ascetic says to Buddha, “Guess what? I can walk on water!” “How peculiar,” says Buddha with an absorbed expression. “Did it take you very long to acquire this curious talent?” “Only ten years,” boasts the man. “An awful pity,” Buddha shakes his head distractedly. “For a few coins you could have taken the ferry.”

Addendum[2] (December 5, 1990)

Two monks—one Hindu, the other Zen—come to a stream. The Indian begins to cross the stream by walking on water. The Japanese becomes agitated, “Come back, come back!” The Indian is puzzled, “What’s the matter?” The Zen monk says, “That’s not the way to cross the stream.” He leads the Indian to a place where the water is shallow and they wade across.

Footnote

1. Cf. M. Yourcenar, With Open Eyes: Conversations with Matthieu Galey, Boston: Beacon Press, 1984 (first published in 1980), p. 147.

2. Cf. J. Cage, A Year from Monday: Lectures and Writings, London: Calder and Boyars, 1968 (first published in 1963), p. 135.