Enlight Fine silk When someone said that covers made of thin silk are inconvenient because they quickly deteriorate, Tonga remarked in response: — Thin silk becomes especially attractive after its edges fray, and a scr... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Feel it! The student asked: -What is Nirvana? The master replied: — Not entrusting oneself to the vicious circle of birth and death or pleasure and pain is the great Nirvana. —What is the vicious circle of bir... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Good and bad When Bankei spent his weeks in meditation, students gathered from different parts of Japan to study with him. During one of these meetings, a student thief was caught. Bankei was informed about this a... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Tosui Vinegar Tosui was a Zen master. He abandoned the formalism of temples and went to live with the beggars under the bridge. When he became an old man, his friend helped him earn a living without begging. He sho... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight You are Buddha In Tokyo, during the Meiji era, there lived two famous teachers, different in character. One of them, Unto, a teacher from the Shingon school, carefully observed all the commandments of the Buddha. He... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Good conversationalist A monk asked the Zen teacher Lin Chi: —What is the main meaning of the Buddha Dharma? The mentor said: - Cough... The monk bowed low. “This venerable monk is a very good conversationalist,” said Lin C... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Cup of tea Nan-In, a Japanese Zen master who lived during the Meiji era (1868–1912), once hosted a university professor who came to ask him about Zen. Nan-In was pouring tea. Having poured the guest a full cup, ... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Walking on a white square Once upon a time, a young man came to a fencing master and asked him to teach him how to fight with swords. The master agreed and, drawing a large square in the yard with white paint, said: - Walk alo... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Three types of students A Zen master named Gettan lived during the latter part of the Tokugawa era. He said: “There are three kinds of students: those who transmit Zen to others; those who maintain temples and shrines; and t... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Killing Buddhism Gadzan taught his followers: “Those who oppose killing, and who want to preserve the lives of all sentient beings, are right. Excellent protection even for animals and insects. But what to do with tho... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Bokuju's departure Feeling that it was time to leave, Bokuju - one of the most famous Zen Masters - gathered his students and announced his intention to them. And after that he said: - You all know me well. And you know... Parables Zen Parables
Enlight Snail on a tree The master was asked if he had ever experienced disappointment because his efforts brought less fruit than he would like. In response, the Master told the story of a snail that began to climb a cherry... Parables Zen Parables
