Many teachings from Zen-Buddhism are told in short and delightful stories. They are usually designed to develop the mind and to free it from distortions and so to connect with our spirit.
Some of them are really inspiring and enlightening. It is helpful to the mind to think about them and feel the deeper meaning. Even if it is not possible to grasp them fully, the beauty and simplicity of the message usually gets through to us one way or the other.
The following 10 Zen stories are a selection of the ones I found most inspiring and really worth to ponder about. Some may be instantly understood, some others need to be thought through and recognized in oneself.
They are about the following topics: life in the present moment, different perspectives, attachment, resistance, judgment, delusion, beliefs and thought as mental concepts but not truth and unconditional love. Please feel free to post your interpretation or other stories into the comments.
After reading the first, follow it’s advice to read all the others. :)
1. A Cup of Tea
Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"
2. The Burden
Two monks were returning to the monastery in the evening. It had rained and there were puddles of water on the road sides. At one place a beautiful young woman was standing unable to walk accross because of a puddle of water. The elder of the two monks went up to a her lifted her and left her on the other side of the road, and continued his way to the monastery.
In the evening the younger monk came to the elder monk and said, "Sir, as monks, we cannot touch a woman ?"
The elder monk answered "yes, brother".
Then the younger monk asks again, "but then Sir, how is that you lifted that woman on the roadside ?"
The elder monk smiled at him and told him " I left her on the other side of the road, but you are still carrying her."
3. Finding a Piece of the Truth
One day Mara, the Evil One, was travelling through the villages of India with his attendants. he saw a man doing walking meditation whose face was lit up on wonder. The man had just discovered something on the ground in front of him. Mara’s attendant asked what that was and Mara replied, "A piece of truth."
"Doesn’t this bother you when someone finds a piece of truth, O Evil One?" his attendant asked. "No," Mara replied. "Right after this, they usually make a belief out of it."
4. The Other Side
One day a young Buddhist on his journey home came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier. Just as he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river. The young Buddhist yells over to the teacher, "Oh wise one, can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river"?
The teacher ponders for a moment looks up and down the river and yells back, "My son, you are on the other side".
5. Is That So?
The Zen master Hakuin was praised by his neighbors as one living a pure life.
A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned a food store lived near him. Suddenly, without any warning, her parents discovered she was with child.
This made her parents very angry. She would not confess who the man was, but after much harassment at last named Hakuin.
In great anger the parents went to the master. "Is that so?" was all he would say.
When the child was born, the parents brought it to the Hakuin, who now was viewed as a pariah by the whole village. They demanded that he take care of the child since it was his responsibility. “Is that so?” Hakuin said calmly as he accepted the child.
A year later the girl-mother could stand it no longer. She told her parents the truth – that the real father of the child was a young man who worked in the fishmarket.
The mother and father of the girl at once went to Hakuin to ask his forgiveness, to apologize at length, and to get the child back again.
Hakuin was willing. In yielding the child, all he said was: "Is that so?"
6. Maybe
Once upon the time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.
“Maybe,” the farmer replied.
The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.
“Maybe,” replied the old man.
The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.
“Maybe,” answered the farmer.
The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.
“Maybe,” said the farmer.
7. Cliffhanger
One day while walking through the wilderness a man stumbled upon a vicious tiger. He ran but soon came to the edge of a high cliff. Desperate to save himself, he climbed down a vine and dangled over the fatal precipice.
As he hung there, two mice appeared from a hole in the cliff and began gnawing on the vine.
Suddenly, he noticed on the vine a plump wild strawberry. He plucked it and popped it in his mouth. It was incredibly delicious!
8. The Blind Men and the Elephant
Several citizens ran into a hot argument about God and different religions, and each one could not agree to a common answer. So they came to the Lord Buddha to find out what exactly God looks like.
The Buddha asked his disciples to get a large magnificent elephant and four blind men. He then brought the four blind to the elephant and told them to find out what the elephant would "look" like.
The first blind men touched the elephant leg and reported that it "looked" like a pillar. The second blind man touched the elephant tummy and said that an elephant was a wall. The third blind man touched the elephant ear and said that it was a piece of cloth. The fourth blind man hold on to the tail and described the elephant as a piece of rope. And all of them ran into a hot argument about the "appearance" of an elephant.
The Buddha asked the citizens: "Each blind man had touched the elephant but each of them gives a different description of the animal. Which answer is right?"
9. Right and Wrong
When Bankei held his seclusion-weeks of meditation, pupils from many parts of Japan came to attend. During one of these gatherings a pupil was caught stealing. The matter was reported to Bankei with the request that the culprit be expelled. Bankei ignored the case.
Later the pupil was caught in a similar act, and again Bankei disregarded the matter. This angered the other pupils, who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief, stating that otherwise they would leave in a body.
When Bankei had read the petition he called everyone before him. "You are wise brothers," he told them. "You know what is right and what is not right. You may go somewhere else to study if you wish, but this poor brother does not even know right from wrong. Who will teach him if I do not? I am going to keep him here even if all the rest of you leave."
A torrent of tears cleansed the face of the brother who had stolen. All desire to steal had vanished.
10. Nothing Exists
Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student of Zen, visited one master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku.
Desiring to show his attainment, he said: "The mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, after all, do not exist. The true nature of phenomena is emptiness. There is no realization, no delusion, no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be received."
Dokuon, who was smoking quietly, said nothing. Suddenly he whacked Yamaoka with his bamboo pipe. This made the youth quite angry.
"If nothing exists," inquired Dokuon, "where did this anger come from?"
Bonus 11. Teaching the Ultimate
In early times in Japan, bamboo-and-paper lanterns were used with candles inside. A blind man, visiting a friend one night, was offered a lantern to carry home with him.
"I do not need a lantern," he said. "Darkness or light is all the same to me."
"I know you do not need a lantern to find your way," his friend replied, "but if you don’t have one, someone else may run into you. So you must take it."
The blind man started off with the lantern and before he had walked very far someone ran squarely into him. "Look out where you are going!" he exclaimed to the stranger. "Can’t you see this lantern?"
"Your candle has burned out, brother," replied the stranger.
Readers who viewed this page, also viewed:
Top 10 Most Inspiring Quotes of Lao Tzu
Painting of Lao TzuLao Tzu was the most important spiritual Chinese sage. His name, which is also often called Laozi, ...
Self-Reflection: How to Do It Right
Photo courtesy of Steven Fernandez
"By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, ...
Confucius says: The Top 10 Quotes by Confucius Photo by courtesy of LavelkConfucius is one of the most quoted personalities ever. He is so popular that there is ...
2 Minutes for a Calm Mind
"To give your sheep or cow a large, spacious meadow is the way to control him." -- Shunryu Suzuki
Note: ...
59 Comments
OK, I emptied my cup :P I had laugh out loud as I read “I left her on the other side of the road, but you are still carrying her.”
But it’s true, sometimes we are wondering about things in our mind although the event is long gone and has no meaning anymore. We are trapped in mind then.
The 10 Zen stories are very beautiful.
For my current state, this is the most important one:
One day Mara, the Evil One, was travelling through the villages of India with his attendants. he saw a man doing walking meditation whose face was lit up on wonder. The man had just discovered something on the ground in front of him. Mara’s attendant asked what that was and Mara replied, “A piece of truth.”
“Doesn’t this bother you when someone finds a piece of truth, O Evil One?” his attendant asked. “No,” Mara replied. “Right after this, they usually make a belief out of it.”
The ego is funny.
D00dikov, Jonas: Yes I find the message is very clear here, especially about the arising of beliefs. I find it also helpful being reminded about the fact that a belief is not reality. It may help as a guiding system for times, and therin already also lies the danger of it …
One day two monks were walking along a riverbank. “I would like to be a fish. They are so peaceful and happy!” the one monk exclaimed.
“You are not a fish,” his friend said. “How do you know whether or not the fish are enjoying themselves?”
“You are not me,” the first monk said. “How do you know that I do not know that the fish are enjoying themselves?”
Most of these are new to me. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Stacey, welcome to my blog :)
The selected stories had the most meaning to me personally, so I chose them. Also the first 3 are for me like an introduction … :)
Thank You .. Nice collection.
Peace
Thank you for putting together this collection, Myrko.
#8 is my favorite and #10 is funny too.
Ariel’s last blog post: Quit Trying to Be In the Now
I’ve read some of them before but some are new to me. Thanks for sharing! It’s nothing like going back to the classics to be reminded of simple truths.
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post: Attract Our Travel Dreams
I’ve got a collection of zen koans in a wiki here: https://www.socialtext.net/zen/index.cgi
Luke´s last blog post: Government 2.0
I think it is important to empty your cup many times.
The sun shines
my reflection in a bowl
A heart beats in steady time
Zen is beautiful!
I suppose the koans were what made it so popular.
Great write up +_+
Thank you – loads of great reading material here!
Anna Varney-Wong´s last blog post: Dear Friends
I like the 7th, “Cliffhanger”.
That’s the way, how life goes. All we have to do, find the positive parts of it.
@Logan – keep the cup empty all the time.
Yes, an excellent collection doing a superb job of covering the spectrum of Zen, and our choices.
Thank you, Myrko, for this an all your addition to our collective experience.
This article is featured in CelebraZine (Celebrate What’s Right in the World) http://kathmandau.blogspot.com/2008/12/celebrazine-13dec08.html
Blessings,
CG
CG Walters´s last blog post: CelebraZine 05Jan09
My favorite Zen story is the one about the two monks. Younger is sitting in zazen. Elder inquires, “Why are you sitting in zazen?” Younger replies, “By sitting in zazen, I hope eventually to become a buddha.” Elder picks up a brick and begins rubbing it on a rock (I tend to imagine that he has tracked through a lot of carefully raked Zen sand and it rubbing the brick on one of those ancient black “growing” stones). Younger laughs, “And what are you doing?” Elder replies, “I am polishing this brick in hopes that eventually it will become a mirror.” The advanced story ends here, but for the rest of us it continues. Younger asks, “How can polishing a brick make a mirror?” Elder retorts, “How can sitting in zazen make a buddha!” And, true to the ancient formula, the younger monk instantly became a mirror.
This is the first time I have come across zen stories and I really liked them!
It was briefly introduced in Charlie Wilson’s War. It’s about a boy and a horse and all the Zen Master says is “We’ll see.” Does anyone know the whole story?
Zen stories encourage meaningful self-reflection. Thanks for sharing here and empowering readers to step back and reconnect with soul.
I am interpreting (My own way) all Zen stories and below are my interpretations on
“A Cup Of Tea”
http://think-on-spirituals.blogspot.com/2009/06/cup-of-tea.html
“Is that So”
http://think-on-spirituals.blogspot.com/2009/07/is-that-so-zen-master-hakuin-was.html
“May Be”
http://think-on-spirituals.blogspot.com/2009/07/may-be.html
.-= Mahalaxmi T R´s last blog ..May be =-.
any changes coming ?
ZEN STORIES ARE VERY MUCH INTERESTING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING.
Visit the link of 37 Zen Koans in Bengali language rendered by me. http://www.mmsatorilave.blogspot.com/
I have learned something new that wants me to really live the ZEN life. All I wanted was to get ideas for a ZEN garden. WOW..
Thank you,
Kinresh Patel
I liked ‘nothing exists’
It actually tells to talk less & think more.
Also it tells to abstain from boasting.
i.e silence is golden
Nowadays people chatter & fritter away their potential.
Power of concentration is infinite.
These are all great stories, I love reading and hear zen stories, they are so powerful in their message.
Hey, Loved it.. particularly the tea cup one.. Please check out my blog, I will be posting about similar conversations.. would be great to make a cool network! Love this post! :-)
xx
very deep place Zen Stories .author should be appreciated.
Mind blowing stories I like the story Is that so? ….
realy nice matter
the candle has burned out :)
nice stories! may all beings benefit from the sharings :)
I cannot thank you enough for these. I think my favorite of these was the brother you are on the other side. That was awesome. Thanks more than I can say.
i’m a hugefan of zen stories.. they r creative n thoughtprovoking… thank you
wow great post
I find it also helpful being reminded about the fact that a belief is not reality. It may help as a guiding system for times, and therin already also lies the danger of it …
Absoloutly loved these Zen stories
i love zen stories a lot.its easy aswell as confusing if v think under its contant.
Hi,
There is suppose to be a saying about a Zen master who pored tea to a cup with a hole in it. to say he knows what the other is thinking.
Does anyone know the full story
Mentioned all stories are nice. I read all and all stories are really very inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
My personal favorite town of, certainly is actually Street Gallen Switzerland. Europe links a person along with character a lot. Some thing We completely obsess regarding, it’s enjoyable as well as soothing.
I can’t ever get enough of zen stories they are always so personally inspirational. Every cup has to be emptied before the good things can come in.
Most of the interpretations are wrong, it’s not because the interpreters’ fault, it’s simply due to the level of Zen you have, and the gap between eastern and western, you cannot interpret it correctly until you have a good understanding of the culture, which is the root of Zen.
If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
these are very interesting stories. Thank you so much for sharing. These will be great for my english homework. Thanks a million for sharing these…… :))
#3 is awesome! Does everyone “get” this one? I didn’t at first, but see, a “belief” is a step away from truth. With 100% truth, there is no “belief” or its opposite “disbelief.” I like it!
Yes, empty the cup. Be mindless of it as well.
I really enjoyed all of them but the one “Is That So” I am confused about and don’t understand it, would someone please give me an explanation.
The Master responds to falsehood and truth, bad news and good news, in exactly the same way: “Is that so?” He allows the form of the moment, good or bad, to be as it is and so does not become a participant in human drama. To him there is only this moment, and this moment is as it is. Events are not personalized. He is nobody’s victim. He is so completely at one with what happens that what happens has no power over him anymore. Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world will determine your happiness and unhappiness.
The baby is looked after with loving care. Bad turns into good through the power of nonresistance. Always responding to what the present moment requires, he lets go of the baby when it is time to do so.
Thanks for the explanation I understand it now.
“Maybe” (#6) is a great illustration of how a current hardship can be a future blessing in disguise.
It is quite difficult to learn about the ” I “. So much to learn and so little time. There is not quick
fix. There is only one way. One step at a time.
What would you do if you never really have a role model. What would you do if you raise yourself to be the person that you are today….and then learn that…you wish you had a role model. Then you wonder how your life would turn out if you had a role model to guide you through tough time as well as good time. Have you ever heard the story of John Wooden? I am not a sport person, but what an incredible man that he is.
These are wonderful. Can you tell me anything about their origins?
It’s softly utter by wind of life-who is an always been from eons to eons. Life’s grandest virtues is who we are truly wit in our eyes and what we persieve in them about others says all about our hearts condition. (Goodheart has spoken)
I would like to suggest three more:
The Gift of Insults
There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.
One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.
Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior’s challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling shamed.
Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him. “How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?”
“If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it,” the master replied, “to whom does the gift belong?”
————————————————————————
Working Very Hard
A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly, “I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it.” The teacher’s reply was casual, “Ten years.” Impatiently, the student answered, “But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?” The teacher thought for a moment, “20 years.”
————————————————————————
THE LOST SON (Clinging to opinions)
“A young widower, who loved his five year old son very much, was away on business when bandits came who burned down the whole village and took his son away. When the man returned, he saw the ruins and panicked. They took the burnt corpse of an infant to be his son and cried uncontrollably. He organized a cremation ceremony, collected the ashes and put them in a beautiful little bag which he always kept with him.
Soon afterwards, his real son escaped from the bandits and found his way home. He arrived at his father’s new cottage at midnight and knocked at the door. The father, still grieving asked: “Who is it?” The child answered, it is me papa, open the door!” But in his agitated state of mind, convinced his son was dead, the father thought that some young boy was making fun of him. He shouted: “Go away” and continued to cry. After some time, the child left.
Father and son never saw each other again.”
After this story, the Buddha said: “Sometime, somewhere, you take something to be the truth. If you cling to it so much, even when the truth comes in person and knocks on your door, you will not open it.”
Chandra thanks for those 3 additions.
“Working Very Hard” is almost a bit funny. What do you think is it telling us?
I’d say it’s showing the pitfalls of over-ambition and lack of balance, when true understanding is missing.
“The Gift of Insults” is a really intelligent one.
I really enjoyed the Cup of Tea story. It is hard for one to move forward when they are so bogged down by the past.
I’m impressed with this internet site , rattling I am a fan .