During one part of the lecture, Gilbert told the story about a young monk who was invited into a party out in town. It is very rare that monks get invited into any festivity like this so needless to say, this monk was very very happy. After the party, there were plenty of food left so the host gave this guest a small piece of a very delicious cake. This young monk was so grateful; he thanked the host for inviting him and also gave thanks for the cake.
When he returned to the temple, he hid the cake under his pillow and did not tell anyone about it. After each dinner of rice and vegetables (which is the usual lunch and dinner menu in the temple), he would go to his cake and eat it a little piece at a time. But soon, the Master learned of this so the Master went to his room, found the cake and threw it away.
Someone may ask, "Why did the Master threw away the cake? Better yet, why did the young monk eat the cake a piece at a time?" He could have finished it the following day.
In Chan, one simply lives in the present moment. The young monk ate the cake a piece at a time because he wanted the delicious taste to last a long time. He was attached to the delicious taste not realizing that after the cake is gone, he will experience suffering. The Master threw away the cake because he needed to teach him a lesson and stop the young monk's attachment to that cake and thereby reducing his suffering.
~ Class summary from Rick Cabrera.