The Moon Cannot Be Stolen

Ryokan, a Zen master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal.

Ryokan returned and caught him. "You may have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as a gift."

The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away.

Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow, " he mused, "I wish I could give him this beautiful moon."

My Thoughts: The Zen master did not lead a materialistic life. This is why he did not loose anything to that thief. Zen mostly compares MOON to WISDOM/TRUTH. Zen master was referering to the WISDOM/TRUTH that the thief missed to get it from him.