It happened once long ago in Japan that there was a storyteller who was famed for his skill. Those who listened to his stories seemed to experience the events as if they lived them – they felt the passion of love, the drama of war, the thrill of adventure, the tragedy of loss, and so on. The storyteller’s name was Encho.

One day Encho met a zen student named Yamaoka who was close to full enlightenment. Yamaoka said to Encho, “You have such great skill as a storyteller – I wonder if you can tell me the story of Peach Boy that my mother used to tell me when I was a little boy. But you must tell it to me as she did.”

Encho did not dare to begin. He asked Yamaoka for time to prepare himself.

Several months later, Encho presented himself to Yamaoka and said, “Please give me the opportunity to tell you the story now.” But Yamaoka only said, “Some other time.”

Encho was deeply disappointed, but he continued to reflect upon the story. He again presented himself, and again Yamaoka did not want to listen. Many times, month after month, Encho came, asking to tell the story of Peach Boy, but Yamaoka only said, “You are not yet like my mother.”

It took Encho five years of study to be able to tell the story as Yamaha’s mother had told it.

In this way, Yamaoka imparted zen to Encho.