This is a story that my dear advisor and professor Tai Unno, related to his Buddhist Thought class more than 20 years ago when I was an undergrad. It has ever stuck with me. You would have to have heard Tai Unno delivering this story with the hint of a Japanese accent to his English as he spoke, his eyes smiling as crescents as he mantrically uttered each word with such gentleness, energized by the passion of heartfelt kindness. To you Tai Unno, wherever you are, I bow.
There was once a Zen master who had an apple tree on his property. One night very late a thief climbed up the tree to steal the ripe apples on it. The Zen master, realizing that the thief had climbed the tree, quietly went outside. The thief, seeing the Zen master below, froze, hanging on to his apples, and hoping he would not be caught. Observing the scenario, the Zen master placed a ladder against the tree trunk, calling up to the thief, "just thought you could use a ladder" and then returned indoors.
