The student looked pleadingly at the Zen master. "Please, master, I have been studying for years, and yet, I feel no farther along the path than when I started."

The Zen master looked at his student and was touched by his distress. "Alright," he said, "To help you, I will speak forthrightly about the secret of focus, on being present in the moment."

"Thank you, master. Please, share your secret with me."

The Zen master drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. His eyes narrowed slightly and he seemed to have a glowing aura of wisdom about him. After what seemed an eternity the master finally spoke.

"When I'm walking, I'm walking; when I'm eating, I'm eating; when I'm sleeping, I'm sleeping."

The student at first said nothing, assuming there was more wisdom to come forth from the lips of the master. When there was none, the student spoke.

"Wait, that's it?"

The Zen master nodded.

"You've got to be kidding me. I do that every freakin' day."

"But do you do it with purpose?"

"Well, duh," the student replied. "When I'm walking, I do it with the purpose of getting somewhere. When I eat, I do it with the purpose of nourishing myself. When I sleep, it is for the purpose of refreshing myself. So yes, I do these things with purpose."

The master thought a moment, then said, "You know, you have more wisdom than your appearance would indicate. How would you like to be a master? I'm thinking about retiring, maybe moving to one of those communities in Florida I hear so much about. You could run this place when I leave."

"Is there any money in it?" the student inquired.

"No," the master replied, "but you do get a cool robe. And the chicks in the village dig a Zen master."

"You know, that sounds like a good deal."

And so, the student became the master. And the master became a retiree who plays golf every day and enjoys the early bird special at the local cafe.