Zen Story: Focus
An enthusiastic young Zen student sought out his teacher and asked, “Master, if I work hard, how soon can I find Zen?” His teacher replied, “Ten years.” “But sir, if...
Read moreBalance
-
-
Zen Story: Full Awareness
After ten years of study, a monk attained the rank of Zen Teacher. One rainy day soon after his advancement, he journeyed to visit his old Zen Master. When he...
Read more -
Zen Story: Perfection
One day, the priest was told that important guests were expected. Immediately, he set about tending the garden. He removed weeds, pruned tree branches and shrubs. He even combed the...
Read more -
Zen Story: Paradise
Two men wander the desert, hopelessly lost. Tired and thirsty, they ascend a large sand dune – only to discover a giant stone wall. On the other side of the...
Read more -
Zen Story: The Holy Man
Word spread across the country about the wise Holy Man who lived in a house atop the mountain. A young man from the village decided to undertake the difficult journey...
Read more -
Zen Story: The Tea Warrior
On a mountain lived a famous tea master. His skill in this art was unsurpassed, and many came from faraway to sit at his tea house. One day an impatient...
Read more -
Zen Story: Great Waves
Long ago there lived a famous wrestler whose name meant “Great Waves.” He was massively strong and knew the art of wrestling. In private bouts he defeated even his teacher,...
Read more -
Zen Story: Real Power
During the countryside wars, a general swept from town to town, conquering each place with ease. In one particular town, the general discovered that everyone had fled just before his...
Read more -
Zen Story: Life’s Purpose in a Drop of Water
A Zen master asked a young student to bring him a pail of water to cool his bath. The student brought the water, and after cooling the bath, threw the...
Read more -
Zen Story: Zen in a Note
Kakua was the first Japanese to imbibe Zen teaching in China, but few people know it was he who introduced Zen into his land because he revealed nothing – except...
Read more -
Zen Story: Wishful thinking
There once lived a stone cutter who was unhappy with his insignificant life. Passing by a rich merchant’s home one day, he was awed by its grandeur and the stream...
Read more -
Zen Story: The Cat’s Head
Sozan, the Chinese Zen master known for his poetry and calligraphy, was about to start a talk with his students. Just then, a student asked him, “Teacher, what is the...
Read more -
Zen Story: Which Side?
A youthful monk, journeying home, reached the bank of a vast river. There were no visible means of crossing it. Standing there, he pondered for long on how he could...
Read more
