The disciples were gathered in the hall. The master, who was very old, was supposed to give his final address and name his successor.
In a few moments the the master walked in and the disciples’ idle chatter died down as they looked at the old man walking slowly up the dais. He carried a white lily blossom in his hand and looked at it intently. He didn’t look up to meet the eyes of his disciples. He didn’t utter a single word. He just looked at the lily for a very long time.
The disciples started to whisper and murmur among themselves. What does this mean? Some speculated that the master had finally gone mad. Still others debated on the symbolism and significance of the white lily.
There was one disciple, however, who just stood in a corner while the others were murmuring among themselves. He just stood there staring at the master. After a while, he began to giggle. And then when he couldn’t contain himself any longer, he gave out a big belly laugh. He laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes.
The master finally looked away from the flower and into the eyes of the disciple who had laughed. The master gestured for him to come.
When the disciple came, the master smiled as he handed the flower to him. Then he walked away from the hall, never to return.