Enlight There is power in words Yoyo came to Joshu to receive instruction in Zen. “I fasted a lot in my youth, my body grew old early, and I no longer have the strength to get up from my chair to greet those who come to me,” said Jo... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Sleeping during the day Teacher Shon Saku left this world when he was 61 years old. Having completed his life's task, he left behind a great teaching, much richer than that of most other Zen teachers. Usually his students sl... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Smart and stupid student Bodhidharma was once asked: “Who can be called a smart student and who can be called a stupid student?” Bodhidharma replied: “The intelligent student is not attached to the words of the teacher, he us... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Sympathy for Bokuju Bokuju was walking with a student to the temple after a morning walk. A man came up from behind, hit him hard on the back with a stick and ran away. Bokuju didn't even turn around; he continued his wa... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Consciousness ahead One young man who studied Zen under Bankei became interested in martial arts. One day, deciding to test the strength of his mentor’s spirit, he attacked Bankei with a spear while he was sitting, suspe... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight San-shen meets a student One day, while talking to his monks, San-shen said: — When a student comes, I go out to meet him without the intention of helping him. His brother, Hsin-hua, heard this remark and said: — When a stude... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Essence of Zu-Ming Ts'ui-Yen, thinking that he had already achieved something in Zen, left the Ts'u-Ming monastery as a very young monk and went to wander around China. When he visited the monastery many years later, hi... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Your light may go out A student studying Tendai, the philosophical school of Buddhism, came to the Zen teacher Gazan to become his student. When he was about to leave a few years later, Gadzan warned him: — Speculative stu... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Emptiness Once upon a time, a student came to Monk Josh, who is said to have begun studying Zen at the age of sixty, received insight at eighty, and then taught until he was one hundred and twenty years old, wi... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Empty boat Lin-chi said: When I was young, I liked to sail on a boat. I had a small boat: alone I would go sailing on the lake and could stay there for hours. One day I was sitting with my eyes closed and medita... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight Lost my way One day Bankei's disciple said: — The Buddha’s radiance illuminates the Universe. Before he finished, the Master asked: —Are you reciting another verse? “Yes,” he answered. “You have lost your way,” B... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
Enlight No words needed Basho, a Zen Master, was once asked: — When talking with students, you speak, and at the same time speak against words. You say: “He who knows is silent!” But you are not silent. How to understand all... Parables Zen Parables Enlight
