A Zen Master asks, “Why ride a bicycle?”

Got a request from People for Bikes, aka Bikes Belong, to answer some questions about how and why I ride a bike. Perhaps because I'm distracted today, I filled it out. But that led me to recall a much simpler explanation.

With thanks to Commute Orlando for reprinting this:

From One India comes this little gem:
Five students of a Zen master was back from the market on their bicycles. As they dismounted, their master asked : Why are you riding your bicycles ?”
Each of them came up with different answers to their master’s query.
The first student said “It is the bicycle that is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad that my back has escaped the pain of bearing the weight”
The master was glad and said : ” You are a smart boy. When you become old you will be saved of a hunch back unlike me”
The second student had a different answer. ” I love to have my eyes over the trees and the sprawling fields as I go riding”
The teacher commended : “You have your eyes open and you see the world”
The third disciple came up with yet a different answer : ” When I ride I am content to chant ‘nam myoho renge kyo’”
The master spoke words of appreciation ” Your mind will roll with ease like a newly trued wheel”
The fourth disciple said : “Riding my bicycle in live in perfect harmony of things”
The pleased master said ” You are actually riding the golden path of non-harming or non violence”
The fifth student said ” I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle”
The master walked up to him and sat at his feet and said “I am your disciple!”