In ancient Japan, one monk had the reputation of being the greatest cook in the entire Empire. A samurai, similarly reputed for his excellence as a warrior, heard of this and journeyed to the monastery where he hoped to dine on as fine a repast as befit his status. The monastery, like most monasteries that people of great importance reside in, was situated at the top of a great mountain. Leaving his horse, for the slope was too steep, the samurai climbed the 5 thousand steps to the gates of the temple. Once inside, he announced his presence and respectfully requested that the monk of famous culinary abilities, prepare a meal for him. He was lead to a wide room with a single low table and was told that the great cook would be with him shortly. Soon, a small, elderly man with a worn and wizened face entered and greeted the samurai. “I am the cook which you seek” said the old man. “I am humbled that a great warrior such as yourself would honor me with a request for a dish prepared by my hand.”
“Monk, I have traveled far to taste the most delicious food in the empire. Bring me what you will, for your reputation is so great that I trust your judgment” replied the samurai. At this, the monk bowed low and said “I know just the thing, but it will take some time to prepare. I hope that you will be patient.” The samurai agreed and the monk exited. Hours passed with no sign of the monk’s return and the stomach of the samurai increasingly made its presence known to its owner. The samurai asked any monk he saw if they knew when the great cook would return. He meditated a while, but was interrupted by pangs of hunger. Just as the samurai was fomenting into a ravenous fit, the great monk reappeared with a tray bearing a bowl of soup. The samurai leapt at the bowl, and swiping it from the tray, raised it to his mouth and drained it without stopping for breath, spilling not a drop.
“The legends are true!” exclaimed the samurai. “That is the most exquisite, delicious soup that I have ever tasted! It is as though this soup gives me new life! Before you bring anything else, I must know the secret of making such a soup so that my servants can prepare it at home so that I may be so rejuvenated after battle, if not daily.”
The monk smiled and bowed low. He raised back up and explained to the samurai that it was in fact the only course and was actually a simple miso soup; that anticipation, and hunger was the spice that made the soup wonderful. Had he not expected that he would enjoy it, or gone so long without food of any kind for so long, objective observation would show it to be as good as that of any other cook. The samurai thought on this for a moment and then thanked the monk for imparting on him such wisdom and causing him to realize that he really wanted food cooked well not necessarily delicious food. He then slew the monk for so wasting his valuable time and making him into a parable without prior consent. For good measure, he proceeded to slaughter the rest of the monks in the monastery, lest they try this sort of thing again. Half way through the slaughter, a half dead monk fell at the feet of the samurai and pleaded “but was it not the most delicious soup you ever tasted?”
“Yes” replied the samurai flatly “but I will now question my enjoyment of anything else that I encounter in life. I will never again enjoy food so much as I did that soup, I will never enjoy anything so much as I once have.” The monk at his feet had an excellent reply but expired before being able to retort.
