Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

As Baofu was putting cucumbers in a basket, elder Taiyuan Fu came by.   
Baofu said, “If you can speak, I’ll give you a cucumber to eat.” 
Fu said, “Bring it out.”
Baofu passed Fu a cucumber. 
Fu took it and left. (Jijie Lu)

I have posted another translation of this sweet story before. I read this version this week – I am not sure that either makes explicit what Baofu is requesting: a phrase of Zen. Nothing simpler.

Before you ask, I don’t know a lot about Chinese vegetables, but I would not be at all surprised to learn that there is one that could be alternatively translated as a cucumber or a melon.