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Zentosh

@zentosh

Oct 2, 2021

A Zen Story: Worse than a Clown

There was a young monk in China who was a very serious practitioner of the Dharma.
Once, this monk came across something he did not understand, so he went to ask the master. When the master heard the question, he kept laughing.

The master then stood up and walked away, still laughing. The young monk was very disturbed by the master's reaction. For the next 3 days, he could not eat, sleep nor think properly. At the end of 3 days, he went back to the master and told the master how disturbed he had felt.

When the master heard this, he said, "Monk, do u know what your problem is? Your problem is that YOU ARE WORSE THAN A CLOWN!"
The monk was shocked to hear that, "Venerable Sir, how can you say such a thing?! How can I be worse than a clown?"

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Zentosh

@zentosh

Oct 1, 2021

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.

"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."

"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.

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Zentosh

@zentosh

Sep 29, 2021

A Zen Story: Beyond Outstanding

The Prince of Wu took a boat to Monkey Mountain. As soon as the monkey's saw him they all fled in panic and hid in the treetops. One monkey, however, remained, completely unconcerned, swinging from branch to branch---an extraordinary display!

The Prince shot an arrow at the monkey, but the monkey dexterously caught the arrow in mid-flight. At this the Prince ordered his attendants to make a concerted attack. In an instant the monkey was shot full of arrows and fell dead.

Then the King turned to his companion Yen Pu'i: "You see what happened?" he said. "This animal advertised his cleverness. He trusted in his own skill. He thought no one could touch him. Remember that! Do not rely on distinction and talent when you deal with men!"

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Zentosh

@zentosh

Sep 20, 2021

A Zen Story: The Messenger

Once when Zen master Bankei was about to leave a temple in the capital where he taught from time to time, a certain gentleman came requesting that the master pospone his departure. A certain baron had a question and wanted to see the Zen master..

..in person on the morrow to resolve it. Bankei assented and put off leaving.
The next day, however, the gentleman came again, this time with a message that the baron has some urget business to take care of and could not come and see the master.

The baron had asked the gentleman to relay his question to Bankei, then report the Zen master's answer back to him.
When he heard the gentleman out, Bankei said, "This matter of Zen is difficult to convey even by direct question and direct answer;

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Zentosh

@zentosh

Sep 15, 2021

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,

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,

“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,

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Zentosh

@zentosh

Sep 14, 2021

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:

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…

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."

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