The Zen Kōan of Opening and Closing

Mokuan Hōshi lived in a temple in Tanba. One of his followers came running to complain that his wife was far too stingy. One day, Mokuan went to visit the follower's wife, and held up a clenched fist before her. "What do you mean by this?" the woman asked, surprised. "If my fist stayed like this forever, never changing, what would you call it?" he asked. "A deformity," the woman replied. Then, he held his open hand out before her and asked, "If this hand stayed like this forever, never changing, what would you call it?" "Still a deformity," she said. "As long as you grasp this simple point, you will be a virtuous and supportive wife." With that, Mokuan left. From that point on, the woman was a most virtuous wife, supporting her husband and raising their children. She was no longer merely frugal, but also learned to give generously.