Three Days

One day Unmon said to his disciples, "If you don't see a man for three days, do not think he is the same man. How about you?" No one spoke, so he said, "One thousand."

Here Unmon speaks the very essence of Buddhism. All things are in constant change; nothing is permanent. Life is constant becoming. All people, whether they think so or not, are ever-changing. Every day is a new day. Even fish do not swim in the same place for a day. Certainly three days can make a different person! Unmon answered himself by saying, "One thousand." Of course, it is not the number 1,000. Rather, it means multiplicity, continuous changes without number. It means meets each day with a fresh attitude. Do not cling to yesterday, and do not judge by yesterday. Live each day's new life fully.