A Zen master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked1 into the hut only to find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned and found him.

You have come a long way to visit me, he told the prowler, and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift.

The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away. The Master sat naked, watching the moon. Poor fellow, he mused2, I wish I could give him this beautiful moon.

一位禅师住在山脚下的小棚屋里，过着极为简朴的生活。一天夜里，一个小偷趁他外出时潜入他的家里，却发现没什么可偷的，这个时候禅师回来了，正好和小偷撞了个满怀。

他对这个不速之客说：你路途遥远来拜访我，总不可以空手而归吧，请把我的衣服带走吧，就当我送你的礼物。

小偷有的懵了，但还是带上衣服仓皇而逃。禅师一丝不挂地坐着，凝望明月. 可怜的朋友，他沉思到：我多期望能送你这轮明月啊。