Is that so?

The Zen master Hakuin lived in a small village in Japan. He was held in high regard for his spiritual teaching. It happened that a beautiful girl in the village became pregnant. Her angry scolding parents demanded to know the identity of the father. Finally the girl told them it was Hakuin, the Zen master. In great anger the parents parents confronted Hakuin with their daughter's accusation. He simply replied "Is that so?"

News of the scandal spread and the master soon lost his reputation. None of this bothered the master. Though no one came to see him anymore, he remained unmoved. When the child was born, the parents brought it to the Hakuin. They demanded that he take care of the child since it was his responsibility. "Is that so?" Hakuin said calmly as he accepted the child.

Hakuin took very good loving care of the child. A year later the daughter confessed that the real father was a young man in the village who worked in a shop. With much distress and many apologies the parents went to Hakuin to explain what had happened. "Is that so?" Hakuin said and he handed back to them the child.