Student: Master, I see that you spend all of your time alone. You do not consort with the world or its people. Do you not enjoy the company of others?
Master: What is there to enjoy in the company of others?
Student: There are many things that I enjoy. It is not my intention to suggest that you should also enjoy others’ company. I am just a bit confused.
Master: I understand.
Student: Can you help me understand?
Master: Understand what?
Student: Why it is that you do not enjoy the company of others?
Master: What is there to enjoy?
Student: Perhaps it is because you do not enjoy talking about trivial matters?
Master: (Silence).
Student: Perhaps it is because people do not understand you.
Master: (Silence).
Student: Perhaps you are different in ways that I have not yet come to understand.
Master: (Silence).
Student: Can you help me understand, Master?
Master: Perhaps not.
Student: Why?
Master: There is little to say about it.
Student: Do you not find enjoyment in the company of others?
Master: What is there to enjoy?
Student: Why is there nothing to enjoy?
Master: Because there is nothing there.
Student: There is nothing there?
Master: Yes.
Student: I do not understand.
Master: If there is an empty room, perhaps something is there. If the empty room were to begin speaking. There would no longer be anything there.
Student: I simply do not understand, Master.
Master: Yes.
Student: Do you find enjoyment in the company of yourself? Is this why you isolate yourself from the world?
Master: Enjoyment is a strong word.
Student: I will have to discover a way to understand without an explanation.
Master: Explanations do not benefit those who are not ready for them.
Student: Why do you say I am not ready for it?
Master: The questions you are asking.
Student: Perhaps something inside me longs to be like you, Master. To do as you do. Even if it means moving against my natural desires.
Master: Perhaps.
Student: I do not know what else to say.
Master: Goodbye.
Student: Thank you, my Master.
