Obedience

The master Bankei’s talks were attended not only by Zen students, but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras nor indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the heart of his listeners.
His large audiences angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, …

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Is That So ?

The Zen master Hakuin was praised by his neighbors as one living a pure life.
A beautiful Japanese girl, whose parents owned a food store, lived near him. One day, she discovered that she was pregnant. This made her parents angry. She wouldn’t confess who the man was, but …

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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 cup full and kept on pouring …

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Nails in the Fence

There was once a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, …

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The Professor and the Jar

A professor of philosophy stood before his class with a brown bag in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he took out a large empty jar and some rocks and proceeded to fill the jar with rocks. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was full.
The professor then took out a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and …

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Did You Know …

… that those who appear to be very strong in heart, are real weak and most susceptible ?

… that those who spend their time protecting others are the ones that really need someone to protect them ?

… that those who dress in red …

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