Two monks who came out of a lecture by their master went on a hot debate
regarding what they heard during the lecture. Each of them insited that his
understanding was the correct one. To settle the dispute, they went to see the
master for a judgement.
After hearing the argument put forth by the first monk, the master said, "You
are correct!" The monk was overjoy. Casting a winner's glance at his friend, he
left the room.
The second monk was upset and started to pour out what he thought to the
master. After he finished, the master looked at him and said, "You are correct,
too." Hearing this, the second monk brightened up and went away.
A third monk who was also in the room was greatly puzzled by what he saw. He
said to the master, "I am confused, master! Their positions regarding the issue
are completely opposite. They can't be both right! How could you say that they
are both correct?"
The master smiled as he looked into the eyes of this third monk, "You are
also correct!"
