What is Zen?

A Poem

A student and his master
Were walking beside a river
When the student asked his master:
“What is Zen?”

The master struck the student
With his staff and declared:
“There is Zen.”

The student grasped his head
And looked about in confusion

The master pointed to a bush
Full of flowers in bloom
And said “There is Zen, also.”

After much of this, the student said:
“I don’t get it”

Again, the master struck him —
“You’re not supposed to.”