“
In a bustling village nestled along the rugged coastline, there was a humble shop where an old fishmonger named Taro had sold his catch for decades. Each morning, villagers gathered as he arranged the fish upon his wooden stall, their silver scales gleaming in the sun. No matter what the day’s catch brought—large or small, common or rare—Taro always placed them down with the same words: “This one is the best.” One busy afternoon, as the sun hung high in the sky, a skeptical traveler passing through the village stopped at the stall. He had heard of Taro’s peculiar habit and decided to test him. “Old man,” the traveler said, picking up a small fish, “surely this is not the best. Look at this one here—it is much bigger, much fresher.” Taro wiped his hands on his apron and smiled. “That one is the best.” The traveler frowned and pointed to another. “Then what about this fish?” “That one is also the best.” Frustrated, the traveler crossed his arms. “How can they all be the best?” Taro simply continued arranging his stall, his hands moving with practiced ease. “If I rejected one, I would be waiting forever for something better.” He gestured to the ocean beyond the village. “The sea does not judge what it gives, nor does it wait for the perfect wave.” The traveler stared at the rows of fish, then at Taro, and finally at the endless sea. He stayed silent. Taking a deep breath, he bought the small fish he had first held, feeling its weight in his hands.
”
”
Kai Tsukimi (The Flow of Zen: 21 Short Stories on Being Present, Letting Go of Anxiety, and Living with Ease - Includes Reflections for Beginners (The Zen Storyteller Book 2))