The Sound of the Bell

Ananda looked up at the sound of the distant temple bell.
Buddha asked, "Ananda, tell me. Where does that sound come from?"
Ananda said, "It was the bell, Lord."
"The bell? But if there were no stick to strike it how would the sound appear?"
Ananda replied, " It is the stick, the stick."
"The stick? But if there were no air how would the sound carry to here?"
Ananda replied, "Yes, of course. It comes from the air."
"The air? Unless you have an ear you cannot hear the bell sound."
Ananda replied, "Of course, it comes from my ear."
"Your ear? If you have no consciousness how could you recognise the sound?"
Ananda replied, "My consciousness makes the sound."
"Your consciuosness? It was created by mind alone", Buddha said.