Creative Parables

Two Zen monks, Tanzan (1819-1892) and Ekido, traveling on pilgrimage, came to a muddy river crossing. There they saw a lovely young woman dressed in her...

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s...

A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots...

One African King had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred...

The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he...

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life... “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible...

A lovely little girl was holding two apples with both hands. Her mom came in and softly asked her little daughter with a smile: my...

     Once Rabbi Akiva was traveling with a donkey, rooster, and lantern. He came to a village seeking lodging. No one took him in. He...

Paulo Coelho. Story from the Alchemist A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered...

    One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out...

A traveler passed a quarry saw three men working and asked them: “What are you doing?” “I am carring stones”,  said the first one. “I’m earning a...

Cook Ting was cutting up an ox for Lord Wen-hui. At every touch of his hand, every heave of his shoulder, every move of his...