"Once upon a time, there was a Zen student who complained that he could not meditate because his thoughts prevented him from doing so. He told his teacher that his thoughts and the images they generated did not allow him to meditate, and that even if they went away for a few moments, they soon returned with greater force, not leaving him in peace. His teacher told him that this only depended on himself, and that he should stop thinking.

But the student continued to indicate that his thoughts confused him and did not allow him to meditate in peace, and that every time he tried to concentrate, thoughts and reflections appeared continuously, often unhelpful and irrelevant.

To this the teacher suggested that he take a spoon and hold it in his hand, while he sat down and tried to meditate. The student obeyed, until suddenly the teacher told him to put the spoon down. The student did so, letting it fall to the floor. He looked at his teacher, confused, and the teacher asked him who He grabbed who, if he grabbed the spoon or the spoon grabbed him."

This short story is based on Zen philosophy and has its origins in Buddhism. It makes us reflect on our own thoughts, and the fact that we should be the ones who have control over them and not the other way around.