The Ocean and the Waves

A student asked the master, "What is the ocean?"

The master replied, "The ocean is the waves and the wind and the structure of the ocean floor."

The student asked, "But how can this be, when the waves come and go, the wind changes, and the ocean floor is unseen?"

The master said, "When you understand that the waves, the wind, and the ocean floor are one and the same, you will see the true nature of the ocean."

The student, still puzzled, asked, "How can I see this oneness?"

The master responded, "Look beyond the surface, and you will find that the ocean has never been divided."