Girl by the river
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...
A Cup of Tea
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...
The Water Bearer
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...
“This is good!”
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 Burning Hut
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...
The Two Wolves
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...
Two apples
Do not rush to judge
A lovely little girl was holding two apples with both hands. Her mom came in and softlyasked her little daughter...
Everything God does is for the good!
Once Rabbi Akiva was traveling with a donkey, rooster, and lantern.
He came to a village seeking lodging. No one took him in.
He...
Secret of Happiness
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...
Donkey in the well
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out...
I am building a temple
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...
Entering a Flow State
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...