It happened one day that a Zen master and his diciple were walking through a field. Suddenly, a pheasant, startled by their passage, arose in flight and flew clumsily into a thicket.

Seeking to impress his master with his powers of observation, the student said with the sarcasm of youthful wisdom, "Birds are so weak and defenseless."

In reply, the Zen master rapped the student sharply across the shins with his staff. "Fly," he commanded.

-Traditional Zen Koan