Here are some of the best Zen Buddhist parables, anecdotes and tales and let their profound insights and wise moral life lessons guide you towards wiseness and self awareness.
In city of Kyoto, lived a Zen master called Keichu. He was a head of huge Cathedral in city. He was well respected for his astute perceptiveness. When Kitagaki took over as Governor of city of Kyoto, he went to meet Keichu. Upon reaching Cathedral, Kitagaki presented his business card to Keichu’s attendant and asked…
Once a grocer got distressed at his work. So he went to his master and told him about reason for his distress. He said to master, “A large chain store had opened across the way and it would drive me out of business. My family had been running this shop for centuries and i don’t…
Once there was huge temple built in center of lake. There lived great master and 20 of his disciples who would learn Buddhism teaching’s. There was a precious string of wooden beads which was sacred and was enshrined in temple. As temple was in middle of lake it was connected to rest of world with…
When Bankei held his seclusion-weeks of meditation, pupils from many parts of Japan came to attend. Once during such gathering, a man was caught stealing. Whole incident was reported to Bankei. After hearing the case Bankei didn’t took any action and ignored the incident. Just after one day of previous theft same man was caught…
Once a young man was very unhappy with his life. He felt depressed and terrible all the time. He got to know about a zen master in near by town. One day he decided to visit master and ask for solution. Young man went to him and said, “I have so many problems in life…
Story 1: Buddha’s Plough and Sow..!! One day while a farmer was on the field getting his harvest ready to take to market, just then Buddha came by and stood in front of him holding a bowl in his hand.. begging for alms. Seeing this farmer got angry and said, “I worked in fields, i…
Once Buddha was sitting under a tree. A man came to him and started abusing him. After abusing Buddha that man stood there waiting for some Buddha’s response or reaction but to his surprise there wasn’t even slightest change in Buddha’s expression. Man got more angry and used more insulting words to insult Buddha. Still…
Once Buddha with his followers was traveling from one town to another town. While traveling they walked by a lake. After some time they all stopped to rest. After all settled down one of his disciples asked him, “How can we calm mind when we have disturbing thoughts??” Buddha was sitting under tree and said…
Story 1: Spilling sand from Bucket..!! Once a monk committed grave fault. A Wise hermit was summoned to Judge him.. Hermit refused to judge but still other monks insisted him to come and judge. At last hermit agreed. On the day on judgement, he arrived on the place carrying a bucket of sand on his…
Story 1: Try to See Yourself..!! Once Japanese master said to his disciples, “When you look at your companions, try to see yourself..” One of disciple questioned, “But Master.. Isn’t that an awful selfish attitude?? If we see ourselves in everyone, we will always be just concerned about ourselves and we will never be able…