Everything is Best

One day Banzan was walking through a market. He overheard a customer say to the butcher, "Give me the best piece of meat you have." 'Everything in my shop is the best," replied the butcher. "You cannot find any piece of meat that is not the best." At these words, Banzan was enlightened.

The koan illustrates the core of Zen teachings. Zen speaks of absolute value, not relative values. The rose is best as a rose. The lily is best as a lily. Each individual is the best in the whole world. The only obligation one has in life is to bring out one's best.