One day at lunch, the disciples found that the meal consisted of all tofu dishes: steamed tofu, boiled tofu, fried tofu, and tofu soup. They questioned the dianzuo, “Why is there nothing but tofu on the table?” The dianzuo retorted, “Who was craving tofu recently?” Four or five disciples conceded that they had been thinking of tofu just the day before.

The dianzuo responded, “Shifu often cautions us that we should not let our thoughts wander carelessly in the monastery. All day long the kitchen has been receiving offerings of tofu!”