Mu About Ants

Louisa has finished her sandwich, except for the crusts.

She shoves them into her pocket.

The ants could have had them, says Claudine.

Second Wrongly has been lurking below the surface of the rock pool.

He pops up again.

Did someone say ants? asks Second Wrongly.

You don't eat ants! says Alfonse.

Never said I did, says Second Wrongly.

Yet you must have asked for a reason, says Perrot.

Third lesson, says Second Wrongly.

We don't have time, says Perrot. We have to get going. 

Come on, dad, says Claudine. One more lesson.

Okay, one, says Perrot. Is it a short one?

I'll give you the short version, says Second Wrongly.

And I'll give you the long one, says Terence.

Second Wrongly looks doubtful.

A monk asked Zhou Zhao if a dog has Buddha nature, says Second Wrongly. Zhou Zhao answered Mu.

He sinks under the water. 

What's Mu? asks Perrot.

Nothingness, says Louisa. So the answer is no, a dog doesn't.

That's crazy, says Claudine. What about ants?

Second Wrongly remains under water.

Now for the long version, says Terence.

Pity he doesn't know it.

Should he fall into the rock pool again?

No, he won't have to. Second Wrongly has resurfaced.

Terence doesn't know it, says Second Wrongly.

Wu, says Terence.

You mean Mu, says Perrot.

Wu has the same meaning, says Second Wrongly.

This is NUTS! says Alfonse.

What's yes? asks Terence.

This, says Second Wrongly. The monk asks why, if even ants have Buddha nature, a dog doesn't.

Because, says Zhao Zhou, a dog's nature is karmically conditioned. 

Meaning? asks Perrot.

A dog has it but doesn't know it, says Second Wrongly.

Ants don't know it! says Alfonse.

But no one asked about ants, says Second Wrongly.

The monk did! says Alfonse.

That's my boy! says Perrot.

What about trees? asks Terence. Mu or Wu?

I know this one, says Louisa. The oak tree will become a Buddha when the sky falls to the earth.

When will that happen? asks Terence.

When the oak tree becomes a Buddha, says Louisa.

Second Wrongly applauds. Flip flip!

He couldn't have put it better.

Nor could Zhao Zhou.