Happy Chinaman (continued)
Whenever [the Laughing Buddha] met a Zen devotee he would extend his hand and say: “Give me one penny.” And if anyone asked him to return to a temple to teach others, again he would reply: “Give me one penny.”
Once as he was about his play-work another Zen master happened along and inquired: “What is the significance of Zen?”
Hotei immediately plopped his sack down on the ground in silent answer.
“Then,” asked the first Zen master, “what is the actualization of Zen? “
At once the Happy Chinaman swung the sack over his shoulder and continued on his way.
from 101 Zen Stories
as printed in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones