Nothing Exists

A young student of Zen visited many teachers. One afternoon he spoke with a great master. 

Wishing to show his attainment, the young student said, "The mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, after all do not exist. The true nature of phenomena is emptiness. There is no realization, no delusion, no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be received."

The master sat quietly smoking his pipe. Suddenly he smacked the young student on the knuckles with his pipe.

The student became quite angry.

"If nothing exists," the master asked, "where did this anger come from?"