The hermit's problem is that he has been carrying around that teaching as words. But he never realized what the teaching meant to him. Maybe the second monk was just a prankster looking for something to do. This story should make people realize what a crock some religions are. There are so many religions, cults, and followers nowadays that it makes me want to kick someone's ass - especially those who exploit other people who are naive and gullible.
Nothing is black or white.
All of us spend any 20-year span in the presence of our own minds, and perceive the world through this personal filter. The Zen Master needs to get a real job and buddha is just a marketing idea which changes to suit the consumer. Let me know.