Oldie but a Goodie

Two seekers approached an elderly wise man and asked him to take them as his students.

He replied: "I can only take one of you. I will give you a test to see which one of you is ready for my teachings. I will give each of you a chicken. Go where no one can see and kill the chicken. Then come back when you are done."

The first seeker went deep into the forest and when he thought no one was watching, he killed the chicken. When he returned to the old man and told him what he had done the old man just turned him away.

A few days later the other seeker returned looking haggard and drawn, but carrying the chicken which was still alive.

The old man asked: "What happened, why did you not kill the chicken as I told you?"

The seeker replied: " I went many places, to the deep forest, then behind the farthest barn, underneath the bridge, behind the mill. I walked a long time and went many, many places. But, wherever I went, the chicken could see."