There was once a young monk sitting in constant zazen (deep meditation). An elder monk notices this and inquires, “Why are you sitting in continuous zazen?” The younger monk replies, “By sitting in zazen, I hope eventually to become a buddha.” The elder picks up a brick and begins rubbing it on a rock. The younger monk laughs and asks, “What are you doing?” Elder replies, “I am polishing this brick in hopes that eventually it will become a mirror.” The advanced story ends here, but it may be continued as follows: The younger monk asks, “How can polishing a brick make a mirror?” The elder retorts, “How can sitting in zazen make a buddha?!”
-Zen story
Photo source: to light up dark spaces…make a lamp