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A Zen Story: Being in Awe
Bassui told the story of a certain patriarch who took one meal a day, never lay down, spent the day in worshipful practice, and lived a life free of impurity or desire. His disciples considered him to surely have attained the Way.
Bassui told the story of a certain patriarch who took one meal a day, never lay down, spent the day in worshipful practice, and lived a life free of impurity or desire. His disciples considered him to surely have attained the Way.
But an older patriarch startled the disciples by saying that the teacher's practice was merely "the foundations of delusion."
The disciples challenged the old man. "What deeds allow you to slander our teacher?" they demanded to know.
The disciples challenged the old man. "What deeds allow you to slander our teacher?" they demanded to know.
The old patriarch replied thusly: "I neither follow the Way nor depart from it. I neither worship the Buddha nor have contempt for him. I neither sit long hours in meditation nor sit idle. I neither eat just one meal a day nor am I greedy for more.
A Zen Story: Creating Ripples
"The boat is coming to take me home because I have failed in my studies here at the monastery," said the boy to his teacher. "What can I say to my family?"
"Say that you did your best and that is as much as anyone can do," answered the teacher.
"The boat is coming to take me home because I have failed in my studies here at the monastery," said the boy to his teacher. "What can I say to my family?"
"Say that you did your best and that is as much as anyone can do," answered the teacher.
"But I wanted to be a famous monk and teach others."
"You can."
"How?" asked the sad boy.
"Live from your heart. I will show you. Do you see that boat making its way across the lake with the sun setting behind it?"
"Yes."
"You can."
"How?" asked the sad boy.
"Live from your heart. I will show you. Do you see that boat making its way across the lake with the sun setting behind it?"
"Yes."
"Do you see its wake spreading across the lake? See how the boat looks like the apex of a golden triangle as the wake fans out from its bow."
"Sort of."
"Squint," said the teacher. "That boat is you as you leave the monastery. The lake is your life.
"Sort of."
"Squint," said the teacher. "That boat is you as you leave the monastery. The lake is your life.
A Zen Story: The Crystal River
Once there lived a village of creatures along the bottom of a great crystal river.
The current of the river swept silently over them all -- young and old, rich and poor, compassionate and cruel -- the current going its own way,
Once there lived a village of creatures along the bottom of a great crystal river.
The current of the river swept silently over them all -- young and old, rich and poor, compassionate and cruel -- the current going its own way,
knowing only its own crystal self.
Each creature in its own manner clung tightly to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and resisting the current what each had learned from birth.
But one creature said at last,
Each creature in its own manner clung tightly to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and resisting the current what each had learned from birth.
But one creature said at last,
“I am tired of clinging. Though I cannot see it with my eyes, I trust that the current knows where it is going. I shall let go, and let it take me where it will. Clinging, I shall die of boredom."
The other creatures laughed and said,
The other creatures laughed and said,
A Zen Story: Hoshin’s “Kaa!”
The Zen Master Hoshin lived in China many years. Then he returned to the northeastern part of Japan, where he taught his disciples. When he was getting very old, he told them a story he had heard in China. This is the story:
The Zen Master Hoshin lived in China many years. Then he returned to the northeastern part of Japan, where he taught his disciples. When he was getting very old, he told them a story he had heard in China. This is the story:
One year on the twenty-fifth of December, Tokufu, who was very old, said to his disciples: "I am not going to be alive next year so you fellows should treat me well this year."
The pupils thought he was joking, but since he was a great-hearted teacher…
The pupils thought he was joking, but since he was a great-hearted teacher…
each of them in turn treated him to a feast on succeeding days of the departing year.
On the eve of the new year, Tokufu concluded: "You have been good to me. I shall leave tomorrow afternoon when the snow has stopped."
On the eve of the new year, Tokufu concluded: "You have been good to me. I shall leave tomorrow afternoon when the snow has stopped."
A Zen Story - Taming the animals
One day one person climbed up a mountain where a hermit woman was meditating.
She had taken refuge and was asked:
- “What are you doing here alone in such a solitude place?”
To which she replied:
- “I have lots of work !”
One day one person climbed up a mountain where a hermit woman was meditating.
She had taken refuge and was asked:
- “What are you doing here alone in such a solitude place?”
To which she replied:
- “I have lots of work !”
- “And how can you have so much work?
I don't see anything around you here...?”
- “I have to train two hawks and two eagles, assure two rabbits, discipline one snake, motivate a donkey and tame a lion.....”
- “And, where have they gone that I don't see them?”
I don't see anything around you here...?”
- “I have to train two hawks and two eagles, assure two rabbits, discipline one snake, motivate a donkey and tame a lion.....”
- “And, where have they gone that I don't see them?”
- “I have them all inside here within me...!!
✓ The hawks stare on everything that is presented to me, good or bad, I have to work on them to see only good things. They are my eyes.
✓ The two eagles with their claws hurt and destroy, I have to train them not to hurt.
✓ The hawks stare on everything that is presented to me, good or bad, I have to work on them to see only good things. They are my eyes.
✓ The two eagles with their claws hurt and destroy, I have to train them not to hurt.
A Zen Story on Sharpening Your Axe
One day, a strong young man came to a lumberjack camp looking for a job. Seeing his appearance, the manager hired him without hesitation. He did an excellent job on the first day, and everyone was happy with his performance.
One day, a strong young man came to a lumberjack camp looking for a job. Seeing his appearance, the manager hired him without hesitation. He did an excellent job on the first day, and everyone was happy with his performance.
Strangely, on the second day his production lowered by half, even though he had worked just as hard. On the third day, his results were even worse. He only felled a few trees.
When they asked him about his poor performance, the young man answered that he didn’t know what was..
When they asked him about his poor performance, the young man answered that he didn’t know what was..
