Tag Archives: Zen story

Zen story

Circle 
One day a small boy was playing near the river when he saw an old man with a long beard seated in the sand.

The boy moved closer and watched as the old man drew a perfect circle into the sand.

“Hey, old man, how did you dream such a perfect circle?” asked the boy.

The old man looked at the boy and said, “I don’t know; I just tried, and tried again…here, you try.”

The old man handed the stick to the boy and walked away.The boy began drawing circles in the sand.

At first his circles came out too wide, or too long, or too crooked.

But as time went by, the circles began to look better and better.He kept trying and then, one bright morning, he drew a perfect circle into the sand.

Then he heard a small voice behind him.“Hey, old man, how did you dream such a perfect circle?” 

Zen Story,

Author Unknown

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DAILY REFLECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

Satisfaction

Satisfaction 


A friend had this sign put up on a vacant piece of land next to his home: This Land Will Be Given To Anyone Who Is Truly Satisfied. 

A wealthy farmer who was riding by stopped to read the sign and said to himself,  “Since our friend is so ready to part with this plot, I might as well claim it before someone else does. I am a rich man and have all I need, so I certainly qualify.” 

With that he went up to the door and explained what he was there for.

“And are you truly satisfied?” the friend asked.

“I am indeed, for I have everything I need,” said the wealthy farmer.

“If you are satisfied, what do you want the land for?” asked his friend.     
Zen Story

Author UnknownAN OPPORTUNITY FOR DAILY REFLECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

Moving to a New City

Moving to a New City
There was a person coming to a new village, relocating, and he was wondering if he would like it there, so he went to the Zen master and asked: “Do you think I will like it in this village? Are the people nice?”

The master asked back: “How were the people in the town where you come from?” 

“They were nasty and greedy, they were angry and lived for cheating and stealing,” said the newcomer.“

Those are exactly the type of people we have in this village” said the master.

Another newcomer to the village visited the master and asked the same question, to which the master asked: “How were the people in the town where you come from?” 

“They were sweet and lived in harmony, they cared for one another and for the land, they respected each other, and they were seekers of spirit,” he replied.“

Those are exactly the type of people we have in this village” said the master.

Zen Story

Author Unknown

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DAILY REFLECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

A Masterpiece

 A Masterpiece 
 
When one goes to Obaku temple in Kyoto, one sees carved over the gate the words, “The First Principle.” The letters are unusually large, and those who appreciate calligraphy always admire them as being a masterpiece. They were drawn by Kosen two hundred years ago.

When the master drew them he did so on paper, from which workmen made the larger carving in wood. As Kosen sketched the letters, a bold pupil was with him who had made several gallons of ink for the calligraphy, and who never failed to criticize his master’s work.

“That is not good,” he told Kosen after the first effort.

“How is that one?”

“Poor. Worse than before,” pronounced the pupil.

Kosen patiently wrote one sheet after another until eighty-four “First Principles” had been accumulated, still without the approval of the pupil.

Then, when the young man stepped outside for a few moments, Kosen thought, “Now is my chance to escape his keen eye,” and he wrote, with a mind free from distraction, 

“The First Principle”.

“A masterpiece,” pronounced the pupil upon return.

Zen Story  

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DAILY REFLECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

Zen story: “Moving Mind”

Moving Mind 
Two people were arguing about a flag flapping in the wind.“It’s the wind that is really moving,” stated the first one. “No, it is the flag that is moving,” contended the second.  A Zen master, who happened to be walking by, overheard the debate and interrupted them. “Neither the flag nor the wind is moving,” he said, “It is mind that moves.” 

Author Unknown   

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DAILY REFLECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY