Discovering Shizen 

The story of Shizen begins in a village deep in the heart of ancient Japan. One thing set this village apart from the rest. One of the village elders was a man who was renowned for knowing life's greatest truth and the secret of happiness. The elder had always refused to reveal his secret, but on his 120th birthday, he gathered the villagers together and asked them: "Would you like to know the secret of happiness and life's greatest truth?"

The villagers nodded in excitement and awaited his words of wisdom. "Shizen", declared the elder. He looked at the confused faces of the villagers, smiled mysteriously and again whispered: "SHIZEN", as he closed his eyes for eternity. 

Although puzzled by the elder's cryptic answer, the villagers went on with the routine of their daily lives. Only Ken, the youngest boy in the village, decided to find out more about the meaning of ‘Shizen' that had given the elder such a profound sense of happiness. He packed his meager belongings and set out on a journey that would change his life forever. Ken visited many lands and crossed stormy seas, searching to uncover the secret of ‘Shizen.' 

In China, he met Confucius, who said: "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
"Was that the elder's Shizen?" asked Ken. "No," replied Confucius. "That is my Shizen." 

In the Ukraine, in the city of Breslav, Ken met Rabbi Nachman of Breslav, who said: "Man should never become old. Man must constantly renew himself. Start over, return and start over again."
"Was that the elder's Shizen?" asked a confused Ken. "No", answered Rabbi Nachman. He stroked Ken's head, smiled and continued: "That is my Shizen. I do not know what the elder's Shizen was." 

In France, Ken met Jean Jacques Rousseau, who said: "The person who has lived the most is not the one with the most years but the one with the richest experiences."
Ken also met La Rochefoucauld who said: "If you cannot find tranquility in your own heart, in vain you will look for it in other places." 

In Greece, Ken met Democritus, who said: "Man must draw his enjoyment from the depth of his being."
Just when Ken was close to discovering the secret of the elder's Shizen, he met Gita in Germany who cautioned: "A person is never further from his goal than at the very moment when he is convinced that he has arrived at it."
Ken continued on his journey, as confused as ever. Years passed and Ken grew older.
He returned home from his travels, tired but content...

Ken never unearthed the elder's Shizen and probably never will. Instead he discovered the most important thing of all - his very own Shizen!