Enlight You can't steal the moon Ryonan, a Zen master, lived a simple life in a small hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief broke into his hut and was surprised to find that there was nothing there to steal. Soon, Ryonan... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Silent Temple Syonchi was a one-eyed Zen teacher inspired by enlightenment. He taught his students at Tofuku Temple. Day and night the entire temple was silent. Not a sound was heard. Even the reading of sutras was... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Leave no trace As he was dying, the Zen monk Bokuju asked his disciples to bring all his books, everything he had written, and everything he had said. It was all put together, but they couldn't figure out what he wa... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight No water, no moon When nun Tenno studied Zen with Bukko of Engaku, she was unable to taste the fruits of meditation for a long time. Finally, one moonlit night she carried water in an old bucket tied with bamboo. The b... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Nothing exists Yamaoka Choshu, as a young Zen student, visited one teacher after another. One day he came to Dokuon. Wanting to show his knowledge, he said: - Mind, Buddha, sensory being - all of them do not really ... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Real friends A long time ago, there lived two friends in China, one of them skillfully played the harp, the other skillfully listened. When the first played and sang about the mountains, the second said: “I see th... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Basic training A long time ago in Japan, lanterns made of paper and bamboo with a lamp inside were in use. One blind man, who visited his friend in the evening, was offered to take such a lantern on his way back. “I... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Lecture Zen master Miyoshi gave hour-long lectures on Tuesdays. On another Tuesday, Miyoshi walked into the lecture hall, preparing to talk about the understanding of beauty in Zen. The audience was already f... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Watch Someone asked Master Rinzai: — How to come to the knowledge of the Primordial? Rinzai was taking his morning walk with his staff in his hand. He raised his staff before the eyes of the questioner and ... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Mother's advice Zuin, a master of the Shingon sect, was a famous Sanskrit scholar during the Tokugawa era (1603–1867). In his youth he often lectured to his fellow monks. Upon learning of this, his mother wrote him t... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Master Joshu and tea Zen Master Joshu asked a beginner: -Have I seen you before? Newbie replied: - No, Master. -Then have a cup of tea. Then, turning to the other monk, Joshu asked: -Have I seen you before? - Of course we... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Don't get attached to the ashes Zengetsu, a Chinese master during the Tang Dynasty, wrote the following advice to his students. While living in the world, do not become attached to its ashes—this is the way of a true Zen student. Wh... Parables Zen Parables
