Zen Stories
There were once four friends who set off on a trip together. They were going to travel through a large forest so they took a pistol each to protect themselves. On the way they met a wise man. He warned them not to follow the path they were on but they ignored his advice. They showed him their pistols and said they were well prepared for any danger... Read More »
Category : Zen Stories
One day, a Buddhist Monk named I-hsiu (literary, "One Rest") took his young student to go to town to do some business. As they approached a small river, they saw a very pretty girl walking back and forth looking very concerned. "Lady", asked I-hsiu, "you look very concerned. What is troubling you?" "I want to cross the river to visit my dad who is... Read More »
Category : Zen Stories
There was a lawyer who soon after he was married started to plan his future with his wife. The husband said he planned to have a son and to educate him well so he would become an outstanding lawyer and continue the family business. The wife had other ideas. She said she’d like the boy to be a great scientist or doctor because her parents were in the... Read More »
Category : Zen Stories
A cheeky monkey sat on the roof of a train waiting to torment the unwitting passengers. A rich lady put her head out of the window to see which station the train was at. The monkey stole her hat and waved it at her teasingly, indicating that he was hungry. When the lady passed up a piece of fruit, the monkey held the hat in his other hand and ate the food.... Read More »
Category : Zen Stories
There was once an intellectual who enjoyed going to listen to discourses by a local holy man but who never bothered to follow his directions. The man’s talking parrot once asked him where he went in the evenings. The man explained that he liked to hear about liberation and freedom and so he went to listen to the saintly man. The intelligent parrot asked... Read More »
Category : Zen Stories
Once two boys went to a holy man and asked to become his disciples. The holy man did not accept them straight away – first he set them a task. He asked the first boy to fill the water pot which stood at his doorway. The boy went to the pot but seeing that is was half full returned and said he would fill the pot once it was empty. The holy man then asked... Read More »
Category : Zen Stories
"A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Curious, he yells: "Who are you?" He receives the answer: "Who are you?" And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" The... Read More »
Category : Zen Stories
