One evening, Zen master Shichiri Kojun was reciting the sutras when a thief entered his house with a sharp sword, demanding “Your money or your life.” Without any fear, Shichiri said, “Don’t…
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From Guru Nanak’s life
Once Guru Nanak was on a visit to Banaras with his disciples. As the night approached, he reached a village and decided to spend the night there. The people of the village…
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The empty boat
A monk decides to meditate alone, away from his monastery. He takes his boat out to the middle of the lake, moors it there, closes his eyes and begins his meditation. After…
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Ritual cat
Once, when a spiritual teacher and his disciples began their evening meditation, a cat who lived in the monastery made such noise that it distracted them. So the teacher ordered that the…
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The farmer’s horse
There is a (Taoist) story of a farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, the neighbours gathered to commiserate with him since this was such bad luck. He said, “May be.” The…
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Be the lake
The old Master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it. “How does it taste?” the Master asked. “Awful,”…
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Karna, the great giver
This is an interesting anecdote from the great Indian epic Mahabharata. Once, Lord Krishna and Arjuna were conversing. Krishna praised Karna for his charity. He said, “None can equal Karna in charity.”…
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Lord Krishna and the lapwing’s nest
It was the battle of Kurukshetra. The white conch shells were about to sound, the elephants to march forward, and the attack of the archers to commence. The moment was brief and…
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True devotion
About a thousand years ago, Rajaraja Chola I was ruling what is now known as Tamil Nadu State in India. He planned to build a grand temple for Lord Siva at his…