Once upon a time there was a poor shepherd who lived in a small hut in the wilderness. He grazed his camels and goats, collected some fruits and roots, and with the…
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Praying for everyone
A farm labourer with a sick wife asked a Buddhist monk to say a series of prayers. The priest began to pray, asking God to cure all those who were ill. “Just…
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God is everywhere
“Where is God?” asked the disciple. “Everywhere, in everyone and everything,” said his Guru. Later, as the disciple was going home, he saw an elephant charging towards him. “Get out of the…
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The difference between pain and suffering
There is a Buddhist teaching that says that when you get hurt, say, by an arrow, that is pain. The arrow hitting your arm, it hurts. Pain. However, there is a second…
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Nobody in the boat
The Taoists have a famous teaching about an empty boat (read the story ‘The Empty boat’ in this website) that rams into your boat in the middle of a river. While you…
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Buddha with a black nose
This is a famous story about a Zen nun. She had a beautiful golden Buddha, a very artistic, aesthetic statue of Buddha, made of pure gold. And the nun used to carry…
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Life belongs to those who can play
There is an old Sufi fable. In a very ancient family, there was some musical organ, but people had completely forgotten how to play it. Generations came and people even forgot that…
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The first principle
When one goes to Obaku temple in Kyoto, one can see carved over the gate the words “The First Principle.” The letters are unusually large, and those who appreciate calligraphy always admire them as…
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The crystal cup
A Zen master was given a beautifully crafted crystal cup. It was a gift from a former student. He was very grateful. Every day, he enjoyed drinking out of his glass. He…
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Be the boss
This traditional Zen parable examines the psychological nature of habit energy and automatic behaviours. The brief narrative provides a striking allegory regarding self-mastery, intentional living, and reclaiming personal focus over mindless activity.…