Who Answers?

A disciple asked the master,
“If God does not know the world, then who hears my prayers?”

The master smiled and rang a bell.

“Who heard that sound?”

“I did, Master.”

The master rang the bell again.

“And who answered the sound?”

The disciple hesitated.

The master laughed,
“Before the prayer is spoken,
before the answer appears,
what is already listening?”

The disciple bowed.