Buddha's Zen

Buddha said: "I consider the positions of kings and rulers as
that of dust motes. I observe treasures of gold and gems as
so many bricks and pebbles. I look upon the finest silken robes
as tattered rags. I see myriad worlds of the universe as small
seeds of fruit, and the greatest lake in India as a drop of oil on
my foot. I perceive the teachings of the world to be the illusion
of magicians. I discern the highest conception of emancipation
as a golden brocade in a dream, and view the holy path of the
illuminated ones as flowers appearing in one's eyes. I see
meditation as a pillar of a mountain, Nirvana as a nightmare of
daytime. I look upon the judgment of right and wrong as the
serpentine dance of a dragon, and the rise and fall of beliefs as
but traces left by the four seasons."

Pg. 151
__________________

The Gateless Gate

If a reader is brave enough and goes straight forward in his
meditation, no delusions can disturb him. He will become
enlightened just as did the patriarchs in India and in China,
probably even better. But if he hesitates one moment, he is
as a person watching from a small window for a horseman to
pass by, and in a wink he has missed seeing.

The great path has no gates,
Thousands of roads enter it.
When one passes through this
gateless gate
He walks freely between heaven
and earth.

Pg. 162
__________________

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/ISBN/1-57062-063-6.cfm/xid,2059113/yid,46921367/userId,9A2A3547-C420-40EE-AF57D589342F52AE)

Thought there were actually going to be a 101 stories in this post. :bugeye:

Interesting translation, though, in the last part, that it says in a wink you have missed seeing, cos I thought winking was only with one eye? :p

But yes, wise words. :)

If you wink with both eyes at the same
time does it then become a blink? ;)

I think that last part is refering to
this koan from The Gateless Gate:

Dried Dung

A monk asked Ummon: "What is Buddha?"
Ummon answered him: "Dried dung."

Mumon's Comment: It seems to me Ummon
is so poor he cannot distinguish the taste of one
food from another, or else he is too busy to write
readable letters. Well, he tried to hold his school
with dried dung. And his teaching was just as
useless.

Lightning flashes,
Sparks shower.
In one blink of your eyes
You have missed seeing.

I have that book too. I've carried around Zen Flesh, Zen Bones so much that it started to fall apart.

-Xenu

I am on my second copy of Zen Flesh, Zen Bones.
The Dhammapada is another one that has seen a
better days.

we came we fell we acscended

Traveling this high
mountain trail, delighted
by violets
-Basho

The Stone Mind

Hogen, a Chinese Zen teacher, lived alone in a small temple in
the country. One day four traveling monks appeared and asked
if they might make a fire in his yard to warm themselves.
While they were building the fire, Hogen heard them arguing
about subjectivity and objectivity. He joined them and said:
"There is a big stone. Do you consider it to be inside or outside
your mind?"
One of the monks replied: "From the Buddhist viewpoint
everything is an objectification of mind, so I would say that the
stone is inside my mind."
"Your head must feel very heavy," observed Hogen, "if you are
carrying around a stone like that in your mind."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Killing

Gasan instructed his adherents one day: "Those who speak
against killing and who desire to spare the lives of all conscious
beings are right. It is good to protect even animals and insects.
But what about those persons who kill time, what about those
who are destroying wealth, and those who destroy political
economy? We should not overlook them. Furthermore, what of
the one who preaches without enlightenment? He is killing
Buddhism."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

A farmer got so old that he couldn't work the fields anymore. So
he would spend the day just sitting on the porch. His son, still
working the farm, would look up from time to time and see his
father sitting there. "He's of no use any more," the son thought
to himself, "he doesn't do anything!" One day the son got so
frustrated by this, that he built a wood coffin, dragged it over to
the porch, and told his father to get in. Without saying anything,
the father climbed inside. After closing the lid, the son dragged
the coffin to the edge of the farm where there was a high cliff. As
he approached the drop, he heard a light tapping on the lid from
inside the coffin. He opened it up. Still lying there peacefully, the
father looked up at his son. "I know you are going to throw me
over the cliff, but before you do, may I suggest something?"
"What is it?" replied the son. "Throw me over the cliff, if you like,"
said the father, "but save this good wood coffin. Your children
might need to use it."

Source:
Zen Stories To Tell Your Neighbors (http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/zenstory/zenstory.html)

There was once a holy man who lived in a state of ecstasy, but was regarded by everyone as insane. One day, having begged for food in the village, he sat by the roadside and began to eat when a dog came up and looked at him hungrily. The holy man then began to feed the dog; he himself would take a morsel, then give a morsel to the dog as though he and the dog were old friends. Soon a crowd gathered around the two of them to watch this extraordinary sight.

One of the men in the crowd jeered at the holy man. He said to the others, "What can you expect from someone so crazy that he is not able to distinguish between a human being and a dog?"

The holy man replied, "Why do you laugh? Do you not see Vishnu seated with Vishnu? Vishnu is being fed and Vishnu is doing the feeding. So why do you laugh, oh Vishnu?"

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, when two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. She fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as she could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at her to stop the pain and just die. She began jumping even harder and finally made it out. When she got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that she was deaf -- she thought they were encouraging her to jump out of the hole the entire time.

The warty frog and the prize goldfish met one summer afternoon in the temple pool.
"Don't you realize how beautiful I am?" bubbled the goldfish flashing her wispy tail.
The frog made no reply. "I can understand your silence," gloated the goldfish. "I am
not only graceful in my movements but I also enhance the golden rays of the sun."
Again, neither answer or movements from the frog. "Say something," demanded the
goldfish just as a waiting crane speared the sparkling fish and flew into the sky.
"Bye bye," croaked the frog.

Source: Zen Fables For Today

According to an ancient Indian fable, a mouse was in constant distress because of its fear of the cat. A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat. But then it became afraid of the dog. So the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to fear the panther. So the magician turned it into a panther. Whereupon it was full of fear for the hunter. At this point the magician gave up, and turned it into a mouse again saying, "Nothing I do for you is going to be of any help because you have the heart of a mouse."

In ancient India there was a King called Janaka, who was also a sage. One day Janaka was taking a nap on his flower-strewn bed with his servants fanning him and his soldiers standing guard outside his door. As he dozed off, he had a dream in which a neighboring King defeated him in battle, took him prisoner, and had him tortured. As soon as the torture began, Janaka woke with a start to find himself lying on his flower-strewn bed with his servants fanning him and his soldiers on guard.

Once again he dozed off and had the same dream. And once again he woke up to find himself safe and comfortable in his palace.

Now Janaka began to be disturbed by several thoughts: While he was asleep, the world of his dreams had seemed so real. Now that he was awake, the world of the senses seemed real. Which of these two worlds is the real one, he wanted to know.

None of the philosophers, scholars, and seers he consulted could give him an answer. And for many years he searched in vain, till one day a man called Ashtavakra knocked at the door of the palace. Now, Ashtavakra means "entirely deformed or crooked," and he got that name because that is exactly what his body had been from birth.

At first the King was not disposed to take this man seriously. "How can a misshapen man like you be the carrier of a wisdom denied to my seers and scholars?" he asked.

"Right from my childhood, all avenues have been closed to me -- so I avidly pursued the path of wisdom," was Ashtavakra's reply.

"Speak, then," said the King.

So this is what Ashtavakra said: "O King, neither the waking state nor the dream state is real. When you are awake, the world of dreams does not exist and when you dream the world of the senses does not exist. Therefore, neither is real."

"If both the waking and the dream states are unreal, then what is real?" asked the King.

"There is a state beyond these two. Discover that. It alone is real."

Not Far From Buddhahood

A university student while visiting Gasan asked him: "Have you
ever read the Christian Bible?" "No read it to me," said Gasan.
The student opened the Bible and read from St. Matthew: "And
why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say
unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like
one of these. . . . Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for
the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself." Gasan
said: "Whoever uttered those words I consider an enlightened
man." The student continued reading: "Ask and it shall be given
you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto
you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh
findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened." Gasan
remarked: "That is excellent. Whoever said that is not far from
Buddhahood."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Socrates believed that the wise person would instinctively lead a frugal life. He himself would not even wear shoes; yet he constantly fell under the spell of the marketplace and would go there often to look at all the wares on display.

When one of his friends asked why, Socrates said, "I love to go there and discover how many things I am perfectly happy without."

There was a group of elderly gentlemen in Japan who would meet to exchange news and drink tea. One of their diversions was to search for costly varieties of tea and create new blends that would delight the palate.

When it was the turn of the oldest member of the group to entertain the others, he served tea with the greatest ceremony, measuring out the leaves from a golden container. Everyone had the highest praise for the tea and demanded to know by what particular combination he had arrived at this exquisite blend.

The old man smiled and said, "Gentlemen, the tea that you find so delightful is the one that is drunk by the peasants on my farm. The finest things in life are neither costly nor hard to find."

Nothing Exists

Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student of Zen, visited one
master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku.

Desiring to show his attainment, he said: "The mind, Buddha,
and sentient beings, after all, do not exist. The true nature of
phenomena is emptiness. There is no realization, no delusion,
no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be
received."

Dokuon, who was smoking quietly, said nothing. Suddenly he
whacked Yamaoka with his bamboo pipe. This made the youth
quite angry.

"If nothing exists," inquired Dokuon, "where did this anger
come from?"

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Many centuries ago in Japan, an ex-warlord and his best friend were riding their horses down a dusty road when a light rain came, that quickly passed. Then they saw a beautiful rainbow appear in the sky, and eventually came to where one side of the colorful arc touched down on the ground. It was right beside the road, where a monk was sitting below a blossoming plum tree. The two pulled their horses to a halt, in order to ask the monk some questions about the local area, when they noticed that there were tears streaming down his face, and he was smiling.

The ex-warlord asked, "Why do you cry, friend?"

"Because you can finally see me," answered the monk.

Gettan used to say to his companions, "When you have a talking
mouth, you have no listening ears. When you have listening ears,
you have no talking mouth. Think about this carefully."

Source: Zen Antics

A computer genius was playing chess with a robot that
he had created to oppose him in his nightly chess game.
"I win again," said the inventor
"It's not fair," said the robot.
"What's not fair?"
"You always win!"
"Of course, I always win. That's why I created you."
"Isn't it a little presumptuous to play God?"
"Listen, my mechanical friend, I'm only doing to you what
life did to me."
"It's still not fair."
"Those are my sentiments exactly. Now let's play."

Source: Zen Fables For Today

The Most Valuable Thing in the World

Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was asked by a student:
"What is the most valuable thing in the world?"
The master replied: "The head of a dead cat."
"Why is the head of a dead cat the most valuable thing
in the world?" inquired the student.
Sozan replied: "Because no one can name its price."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Wise man say, "You don't realize how much your hair weighs until you shave it all off. You don't realize how much your fears weigh until you release them."

Notere Bisera was walking down the sidewalk in a business district when he encountered a little boy who was spinning around in circles and dancing very goofy and laughing. Notere smiled at him as he walked past, and the boy laughed with delight as he continued his dancing.

Later on down the same sidewalk, Notere came upon a middle-aged man who was spinning around in circles and dancing very goofy and laughing. Notere frowned at him, saying, "You look stupid and foolish doing that. You're not acting like you should." The dancer just continued dancing and laughing, and Notere walked on -- shaking his head and not understanding. And as he turned his back, he didn't see the other's reflection in the store window they were in front of -- it was of a little boy, spinning in circles and laughing.

While others strive for wealth, the enlightened, being content with what they have, possess it without striving. Being well content with little, they are rich as Kings. A King himself is a pauper when his kingdom does not suffice him.



A Quaker 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 the Quaker 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 Quaker asked.

"I am indeed, for I have everything I need."

"Friend," said the Quaker, "if you are satisfied, what do you want the land for?"

The Buddhist nun called Ryonen was born in the year 1779. The famous Japanese warrior, Shingen, was her grandfather. She was considered one of the loveliest women in the whole of Japan and a poetess of no mean talent, so already at the age of seventeen she was chosen to serve at the royal court, where she developed a great fondness for Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. Now the Empress died a sudden death and Ryonen underwent a profound spiritual experience: she became acutely aware of the passing nature of all things. That was when she made up her mind to study Zen.

But her family wouldn't hear of it. They practically forced her into marriage but not before she had extracted from them and from her future husband the promise that after she had borne him three children she would be free to become a nun. This condition was fulfilled when she was twenty-five. Then neither the pleas of her husband nor anything else in the world could dissuade her from the task she had set her heart on. She shaved her head, took the name of Ryonen (which means "to understand clearly"), and set out on her quest.

She came to the city of Edo and asked the Master Tetsu-gyu to accept her as his disciple. He took one look at her and rejected her because she was too beautiful. So she went to another master, Hakuo. He rejected her for the same reason: her beauty, he said, would only be a source of trouble. So Ryonen branded her face with a red-hot iron, thereby destroying her physical beauty forever. When she came back into Hakuo's presence, he accepted her as a disciple.

Ryonen wrote a poem on the reverse side of a little mirror to commemorate the occasion:

As a handmaid of my Empress
I burnt incense
to give fragrance to my lovely clothes.
Now as a homeless beggar
I burn my face
to enter the world of Zen.


When she knew her time had come to depart this world, she wrote another poem:

Sixty-six times have these eyes beheld
the loveliness of Autumn...
Ask no more.
Only listen to the sound of the pines
when no wind stirs.

The great Buddhist saint Nagarjuna moved around naked except for a loincloth and, incongruously, a golden begging bowl gifted to him by the King, who was his disciple.

One night he was about to lie down to sleep among the ruins of an ancient monastery when he noticed a thief lurking behind one of the columns. "Here, take this," said Nagarjuna, holding out the begging bowl. "That way you won't disturb me once I have fallen asleep."

The thief eagerly grabbed the bowl and made off -- only to return next morning with the bowl and a request. He said, "When you gave away this bowl so freely last night, you made me feel very poor. Teach me how to acquire the riches that make this kind of light-hearted detachment possible."

Goso said: "When you meet a Zen master on the road you
cannot talk to him, you cannot face him with silence. What
are you going to do?"

Mumon's comment: In such a case, if you can answer him
intimately, your realization will be beautiful, but if you
cannot, you should look about without seeing anything.

Meeting a Zen master on the road,
Face him neither with words nor silence.
Give him an uppercut
And you will be called one who
understands Zen.

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

"Oh boy! Oh boy!" cried the monk-on-probation who had just
cracked the Zen Master's favorite (and valuable) drinking cup.

The frightened youngster went to the Zen Master and asked,
"Why must there be death?"
The Master answered, "Death is natural. It comes to all persons
and things. We should not greet it with fear or meet death with
anger. Why do you ask?"
"Because, Master, death has come upon your cup."

Source: Zen Fables For Today

One spring the haiku poet Basho decided to take a trip to see the flowers in a
certain place famed for its scenery. Along the way he heard of a poor peasant
girl noted for devotion to her parents. Intrigued, Basho went looking for the girl.
When he found her, he gave her all the money he had brought for his travel
expenses. Then he returned home, without having seen the flowers. He said,
"This year I have seen something better than flowers."

Source: Zen Antics

One day Hasan of Basra saw Rabi'a al Adawiya near the riverside. Casting his prayer mat on the water, he stepped on to it and said, "O Rabi'a, come let us pray together."

Rabi'a said, "O Hasan, why have you set yourself up like a salesman in the bazaar of this world? You do this because of your weakness."

With that she threw her prayer mat into the air, flew up on it, and said, "Come up here, Hasan, so that people may see us."

But that was more than Hasan could accomplish, so he was silent. Rabi'a, wishing to gain his heart, said, "O Hasan, a fish can do what you did and a fly can do what I did. The real work lies beyond both of these; that is what we must occupy ourselves with."

Buddha was once threatened with death by a bandit called Angulimal.

"Then be good enough to fulfill my dying wish," said Buddha. "Cut off the branch of that tree."

One slash of the sword, and it was done! "What now?" asked the bandit.

"Put it back again," said Buddha.

The bandit laughed. "You must be crazy to think that anyone can do that."

"On the contrary, it is you who are crazy to think that you are mighty because you can wound and destroy. That is the task of children. The mighty know how to create and heal."

There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.

One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.

Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior's challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling shamed.

Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him. "How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?"

"If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it," the master replied, "to whom does the gift belong?"

Source: Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors (http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/zenstory/insults.html)

"Tattoo inside your eyelids this reminder: 'you are the messenger, not the message. You are just like everyone else.' "

This was the advice given by a charismatic Zen teacher to a class of Zen teachers-in-training.

"What do you mean?" they asked her.

"I'll begin with a story about a besieged town that was surrounded by enemies who would slaughter all the inhabitants if help didn't arrive. Just when things looked hopeless, a messenger slipped through enemy lines with the message that the army of the Shogun would attack in the morning and drive off the invaders.

"The townspeople were so enraptured with this news that they treated the messenger like a hero. And after the Shogun's army left, they elected the messenger mayor. Though a pleasant fellow, the messenger turned out to be a thoroughly inept leader and was soon sent away in disgrace.

"The lesson here is never confuse the message--which is the precious gift of Buddha--with the messenger. You are only a messenger.

"When you stun an audience with the wisdom of a lecture, when your students cede to you the molding of their minds, when you are treated as someone special, focus on the message inside your eyelids:

You are the messenger, not the message.
You are just like everyone else."

Source: Zen Fables For Today

A farmer whose corn always took the first prize at the state fair had a habit of sharing his best corn seed with all the farmers in the neighborhood.

When asked why, he said, "It is really a matter of self-interest. The wind picks up the pollen and carries it from field to field. So if my neighbors grow inferior corn, the cross-pollination brings down the quality of my own corn. That is why I am concerned that they plant only the very best."

Temper

A Zen student came to Bankei and complained: "Master, I have
an ungovernable temper. How can I cure it?"

"You have something very strange," replied Bankei. "Let me see
what you have."

"Just now I cannot show it to you," replied the other.

"When can you show it to me?" asked Bankei.

"It arises unexpectedly," replied the student.

"Then," concluded Bankei, "it must not be your own true nature.
If it were, you could show it to me at any time. When you were
born you did not have it, and your parents did not give it to you.
Think that over."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

A philosopher asked Buddha: "Without words,
without the wordless, will you tell me truth?"

The Buddha kept silence.

The philosopher bowed and thanked the Buddha,
saying: "With your loving kindness I have cleared
away my delusions and entered the true path."

After the philosopher had gone, Ananda asked the
Buddha what he had attained.

The Buddha replied, "A good horse runs even at the
shadow of the whip."

Mumon's Comment: Ananda was the disciple of the
Buddha. Even so, his opinion did not surpass that of
outsiders. I want to ask you monks: How much
difference is there between disciples and outsiders?

To tread the sharp edge of a sword
To run on smooth-frozen ice,
One needs no footsteps to follow.
Walk over the cliffs with hands free.

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Once upon a time the members of the body were very annoyed with the stomach. They were resentful that they had to procure food and bring it to the stomach while the stomach itself did nothing but devour the fruit of their labor.

So they decided they would no longer bring the stomach food. The hands would not lift it to the mouth. The teeth would not chew it. The throat would not swallow it. That would force the stomach to do something.

But all they succeeded in doing was make the body weak to the point that they were all threatened with death. So it was finally they who learned the lesson that in helping one another they were really working for their own welfare.

The master at the school for archery was known to be a master of life just as much as of archery.

One day his brightest pupil scored three bull's-eyes in a row at a local contest. Everyone went wild with applause. Congratulations poured in for pupil -- and master.

The master, however, seemed unimpressed -- almost critical even.

When the pupil later asked him why, he said, "You have yet to learn that the target is not the target."

"Then what *is* the target?" the pupil demanded to know.

But the master would not say. This was something the boy would have to learn on his own someday, for it could not be communicated in words.

Traveler: "What kind of weather are we going to have today?"

Shepherd: "The kind of weather I like."

Traveler: "How do you know it will be the kind of weather you like?"

Shepherd: "Having found out, sir, that I cannot always get what I like, I have learned to always like what I get. So I am quite sure we will have the kind of weather I like."

Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was drowning.
One monk immediately scooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung. He
went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in. The monk saved the scorpion and
was again stung. The other monk asked him, "Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion
when you know it's nature is to sting?"

"Because," the monk replied, "to save it is my nature."

Source: Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors (http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/zenstory/onesnature.html)

When the spiritual teacher and his disciples began their evening meditation, the cat who lived in
the monastery made such noise that it distracted them. So the teacher ordered that the cat be
tied up during the evening practice. Years later, when the teacher died, the cat continued to be
tied up during the meditation session. And when the cat eventually died, another cat was brought
to the monastery and tied up. Centuries later, learned descendants of the spiritual teacher wrote
scholarly treatises about the religious significance of tying up a cat for meditation practice.

Source: Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors

A group of college students begged novelist Sinclair Lewis to give them a lecture, explaining that all of them were to become writers themselves.

Lewis began with: "How many of you really intend to be writers?" All hands were raised.

"In that case, there is no point in my talking. My advice to you is: go home and write, write, write..."

With that, he returned his notes to his pocket and left the room.

"Thank God we took a mule with us on the picnic because when one of the boys was injured we used the mule to carry him back."

"How did he get injured?"

"The mule kicked him."

One day a young Buddhist on his journey home, came to the banks of a wide river.
Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on
just how to cross such a wide barrier. Just as he was about to give up his pursuit
to continue his journey he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river. The
young Buddhist yells over to the teacher, "Oh wise one, can you tell me how to get
to the other side of this river?" The teacher ponders for a moment looks up and
down the river and yells back, "My son, you are on the other side."

Source: A Lighter Side of Buddhism (http://www.serve.com/cmtan/buddhism/Lighter/index.html)

It is said that soon after his enlightenment the Buddha
passed a man on the road who was struck by the Bud-
dha's extraordinary radiance and peaceful presence.
The man stopped and asked, "My friend, what are you?
Are you a celestial being or a god?"
"No," said the Buddha.
"Well, then, are you some kind of magician or wizard?"
Again the Buddha answered, "No."
"Are you a man?"
"No."
"Well, my friend, what then are you?" The Buddha re-
plied, "I am awake."

Source: The Teachings of the Buddha by Jack Kornfield

When an accident deprived the village headman of the use of his legs, he took to walking on crutches. He gradually developed the ability to move with speed -- even to dance and execute little pirouettes for the entertainment of his neighbors.

Then he took it into his head to train his children in the use of crutches. It soon became a status symbol in the village to walk on crutches, and before long everyone was doing so.

By the fourth generation no one in the village could walk without crutches. The village school included "Crutchery -- Theoretical -- Applied" in its curriculum and the village craftsmen became famous for the quality of the crutches they produced. There was even talk of developing an electronic, battery-operated set of crutches!

One day a young Turk presented himself before the village elders and demanded to know why everyone had to walk on crutches since they had been provided with legs to walk on. The village elders were amused that this upstart should think himself wiser than they so they decided to teach him a lesson. "Why don't you show us how?" they said.

"Agreed!" replied the young man.

A demonstration was fixed for the following Sunday at the village square. Everyone was there when the young man hobbled on his crutches to the middle of the square, stood upright, and dropped his crutches. A hush fell on the crowd as he took a bold step forward -- and fell flat on his face.

With that everyone was confirmed in their belief that it was quite impossible to walk without the help of crutches.

One day God took the form of a human male, in order to walk through the world and see how His/Her children were faring. He soon came upon an old ascetic who had spent his entire adult life in severe bodily mortification and forceful mental disciplines.

The ascetic had gained a certain degree of clarity of his senses from his prolonged practice and realized that the man casually walking by his cave was fully established in awareness of the inner Divine Self. Painfully unwinding his body from his rigid posture, the ascetic bowed before God and said, "Great-Souled One! I perceive you are an illumined master. Pray tell me, honorable sir, how long it will take me before I realize my inner Divine Nature?"

God smiled warmly and laughingly replied, "You are doing well! At your present rate of progress, you will realize your inner Divine Self with just one more lifetime of similar effort."

The ascetic, terrified, in shock, cried, "Another lifetime of this horror?! How can I endure this boredom, this agony, this pain for another day, let alone another lifetime! How horrible! You have cursed me this day! Begone from this place, you imposter! Never would I believe such as you."

God smiled lovingly at him and walked on, soon coming upon an idiot splashing in the river, laughing and singing. This woman's primary activity every day was to cry out, "God! How I love God! God! I love God! God!" This foolish one never took the slightest care for her physical needs, never cared if she were fed, clothed, housed. She never noticed if she were clean or dirty, hot or cold, wet or dry. She might have been locked up in a padded cell in our modern age, but in those days, people saw that she was harmless and therefore tolerated her and occasionally gave her a crust of bread or some old, half-rotten fruits or vegetables to eat.

This idiot was attracted by the radiance of this handsome stranger, came up out of the water, bowed before him and said, "How wonderful! God has sent by a Great-Souled One. I have been enjoying myself so much of late I had nearly forgotten I have a goal. I began my quest to realize enlightenment long ago but of late have become distracted by this constant joy welling up inside. Seeing you just now reminded me of my journey and I was wondering if you could tell me how long it will be before I realize my inner Divine Nature?"

God smiled warmly and laughingly replied, "You are doing well! At your present rate of progress, you will realize your inner Divine Self with just seventy more lifetimes of similar effort."

"Seventy lifetimes of similar effort!" cried the idiot with perfect joy. "How wonderful! What a flawless boon you have today bestowed upon me!"

The idiot was so filled with joy at the prospect of another seventy lifetimes of such bliss that the last doubt fled from her mind; her last question melted into the joy that was her life; her ignorance was irrevocably crushed; she attained the highest state of enlightenment instantly.

A martial arts student approached his teacher with a question. "I'd like to improve my knowledge of the martial arts.
In addition to learning from you, I'd like to study with another teacher in order to learn another style. What do you
think of this idea?"

"The hunter who chases two rabbits," answered the master, "catches neither one."

Source: Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors

Once upon a time, twins were conceived. Weeks passed and the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: "Isn't it great that we were conceived? Isn't it great to be alive?"

Together the twins explored their worlds. When they found their mother's cord that gave them life, they sang for joy!

"How great our mother's love is, that she shares her own life with us!"

As weeks stretched into months, the twins noticed how much each was changing.

"What does it mean?" one asked.

"It means our stay in this world is drawing to an end," said the other.

"But I don't want to go," said one. "I want to stay here always."

"We have no choice," said the other. "But maybe there is life after birth."

"But how can there be? We will shed our life cord and how can life be possible without it? Besides, we have seen evidence that others were here before us, and none of them has returned to tell us there is life after birth. No, this is the end. Maybe there is no mother after all."

"But there has to be," protested the other. "How else did we get here?"

"How do we remain alive? Have you ever seen our mother?" said one. "Maybe she only lives in our minds. Maybe we made her up because the idea made us feel good."

So the last days in the womb were filled with deep questioning and fear. Finally, the moment of birth arrived. When the twins had passed from their world, they opened their eyes and cried for joy -- for what they saw exceeded their fondest dreams.

A Zen monk named Ichhi labored his whole life in the kitchen of the great monastery at Lake Hakkone. He deemed himself a failed monk because he had been assigned the koan of "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" since his earliest days in the congregation and had never been able to solve it. It was now fifty-five years of seeming failure, and he was nearing the end of his lifetime.

But as he lay dying he suddenly realized that he cradled a great peace in his soul. Gone was the striving for enlightenment, gone was the stridency of his loins, and gone was the haunting koan -- for he had found the stillness of no longer striving in this exquisite silence alone in the attic in the soft dark at the end of his life.

It was only then, when there remained no more questions nor need for answers (or even the need for breathing) that Ichhi heard at last the whooshing silence of one hand clapping.

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall
on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said,
"Oh, no! The candle is out." The second monk said, "Aren't we not suppose to talk?"
The third monk said, "Why must you two break the silence?" The fourth monk laughed
and said, "Ha! I'm the only one who didn't speak."

Source: Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors

Buddha told a parable in a sutra:

A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the
tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root
of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger
sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to
where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the
vine sustained him.

Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw
away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him.
Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with
the other. How sweet it tasted!

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire...

One day, he told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he felt he needed to retire. They could get by, he thought. Upon hearing the news, the contractor was sorry to see his good worker go. He asked the carpenter if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work any longer. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you!"

What a shock! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If only we had realized, then we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely! Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

A martial artist knelt before his master sensei in a ceremony to receive the hard-earned Black Belt. After years of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in the discipline.

"Before granting you the belt, you must pass one more test," the sensei solemnly tells the young man.

"I'm ready," responds the student, expecting perhaps one more round of sparring.

"You must answer the essential question, 'What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?'"

"Why, the end of my journey," says the student. "A well-deserved reward for all of my hard work."

The master waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. The sensei finally speaks: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year."

As the student kneels before his master a year later, he is again asked the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"

"A symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our art," the young man responds.

Again the master waits for more. Still unsatisfied, he says once more: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year."

A year later the student kneels before his sensei and hears the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"

This time he answers, "The Black Belt represents not the end, but the beginning, the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever-higher standard."

"Yes," says the master. "You are now ready to receive the Black Belt and begin your work."

A great festival was to be held in a village and each villager was asked to contribute by pouring a bottle of wine into a giant barrel. One of the villagers had this thought: "If I pour a bottle of water in that giant barrel, no one will notice the difference." But it didn't occur to him that everyone else in the village might have the same thought. When the banquet began and the barrel was tapped, what came out was pure water.

Lykan,

I don't want to interupt the flow of the stories but I wanted
to tell you how much I enjoy the ones you post. Thank you
for all the interesting food for thought. :)

Lykwise, EvilPoet. :D Or would ZenPoet actually be more accurate? Thank you for the stories you share too.

Once upon a time there was a stonecutter. Each day he went up to the mountains to cut stones. And while he worked he sang, for though he was a poor man, he desired no more than he had, so he had not a care in the world.

One day he was called to work on the mansion of a nobleman. When he saw the magnificence of the mansion, he experienced the pain of desire for the first time in his life and he said with a sigh, "If only I were rich! Then I would not have to earn my living in sweat and toil as I do now."

Imagine his astonishment when he heard a voice say, "Your wish has been granted. Henceforth, anything you desire will be given to you." He did not know what to make of the words till he returned to his hut that evening and found in its place a mansion as magnificent as the one he had been working on. So the stonecutter gave up cutting stones and began to enjoy the life of the rich.

One day when the afternoon was hot and humid, he happened to look out his window and saw the King go by with a large retinue of noblemen and slaves. He thought, "How I wish I were a King myself, sitting in the cool of the royal carriage!" His wish was promptly carried out and he found himself reclining in the comfort of the royal carriage. But the carriage turned out to be warmer than he had assumed it to be. He looked out of the carriage window and began to marvel at the power of the sun, whose heat could penetrate even the thick walls of the carriage. "I wish I were the sun," he said to himself. Once again his wish was granted and he found himself sending out waves of light and heat into the universe.

All went well for a while. Then on a rainy day, he attempted to pierce through a thick bank of clouds and could not. So he got himself changed into a cloud and glorified in his power to keep the sun away -- till he turned into rain and found, to his annoyance, a mighty rock that blocked his path so he was obliged to flow around it.

"What?" he cried. "A mere rock more powerful than I? Well, then I wish to be a rock." So there he was standing tall upon a mountainside. He barely had time to rejoice in his fine figure, however, when he heard strange clipping sounds proceeding from his feet. He looked down and, to his dismay, found a tiny human being sitting there engaged in cutting chunks of stone from his feet.

"What?" he shouted. "A puny creature like that more powerful than an imposing rock like me? I want to be a man!" So he found he was once again a stonecutter going up into the mountain to cut stone, earning his living in sweat and toil but with a song in his heart because he was content to be what he was and to live by what he had.

Once a group of beggars afflicted with leprosy came to the assembly of Zen master Bankei, a great-hearted
teacher of the masses. Bankei admitted them to his company, and when he initiated them, he even washed
and shaved their heads with his own hands.

Now as it happened, there was a certain gentleman present, the representative of a baron who had faith in
Bankei and had already built a temple in his province where the teacher could train disciples and lecture to
the people.

Revolted by the sight of the Zen master shaving the heads of untouchables, the gentleman hurriedly brought
a basin of water for Bankei to wash his hands. But the master refused, remarking, "Your disgust is filthier than
their sores."

Source: Zen Antics

Mind studies was a lay self-improvement movement influenced by Zen. One day a follower of Mind studies came to Zen master Shosan to ask about the essentials of Buddhism. The Zen master said, "Buddhism is not a matter of using your discursive intellect to govern your body. It is a matter of using the moment of the immediate present purely, not wasting it, without thinking about past or future. "This is why the ancients exhorted people first of all to be careful of time: this means guarding the mind strictly, sweeping away all things, whether good or bad, and detaching from the ego.

"Furthermore," Zen master continued, "for the reformation of mind it is good to observe the principle of cause and effect. For example, even if others hate us, we should not resent them; we should criticize ourselves, thinking why people should hate us for no reason, assuming that there must be a causal factor in us, and even that there must be other as yet unknown casual factors in us.

"Maintaining that all things are effects of causes, we should not make judgments based on subjective ideas. On the whole, things do not happen in accord with subjective ideas; they happen in accord with the laws of Nature. If you maintain awareness of this, your mind will become very clear."

Source: Zen Antics

An old man says he complained only once in all his life -- when his feet were bare and he had no money to buy shoes.

Then he saw a happy man who had no feet. And he never complained again.

Settan once wrote a set of guidlines for Zen monasteries:

"An ancient said that Zen study requires three essentials. One is a great root of faith. The second is a great
feeling of wonder. The third is great determination. If one of these is lacking, you are like a tripod missing a
leg. "Here I have no special stipulations. I only require that you clearly recognize that everyone has an essential
nature that can be perceived, and that there is an essential truth that everyone can penetrate; only then will
your determination continue. And there are sayings at which to wonder. If people go off half aware and half
awakened, they cannot really succed in Zen. It is imperative to be careful and thoroughgoing."

Source: Zen Antics

A wise Zen frog was explaining to the younger frogs the balance of nature:
"Do you see how that fly eats a gnat? And now (with a bite) I eat the fly. It
is all part of the great scheme of things."
"Isn't it bad to kill in order to live?" asked the thoughtful frog.
"It depends . . ." answered the wise frog just as a snake swallowed the Zen
frog in one chomp before the frog finished his sentence.
"Depends on what?" shouted the students.
"Depends on whether you're looking at things from the inside or outside,"
came the muffled response from inside the snake.

Source: Zen Fables For Today

Raven took his perch on the Assembly Oak and addressed
a special meeting of the Tallspruce community, saying, "It's
time for me to be moving on."
Porcupine asked, "Where will you be going?"
Raven said, "Where cedar roots stand bare in the creek."
A hush fell over the circle. Grouse could be heard sniffling.
At last Porcupine asked, "Do you have any last words for us?"
Raven said, "Trust."

Source: Zen Master Raven

Tajima no Kami was fencing master to the Shogun.

One of the Shogun's bodyguards came to him one day asking to be trained in swordsmanship.

"I have watched you carefully," said Tajima no Kami, "and you seem to be a master in the art yourself. Before taking you on as a pupil, I request you to tell me what master you studied under."

The bodyguard replied, "I have never studied the art under anyone."

"You cannot fool me," said the teacher. "I have a discerning eye and it never fails."

"I do not mean to contradict your excellency," said the guard, "but I really do not know a thing about fencing."

The teacher engaged the man in swordplay for a few minutes then stopped and said, "Since you say you have never learned the art, I take your word for it. But you are some kind of master. Tell me about yourself."

"There is one thing," said the guard. "When I was a child I was told by a samurai that a man should never fear death. I therefore faced the question of death till it ceased to cause me the slightest anxiety."

"So that's what it is," said Tajima no Kami. "The ultimate secret of swordsmanship lies in being free from the fear of death. You need no training. You are a master in your own right."

A Zen master named Gettan lived in the latter part of the Tokugawa era. He used to say:
"There are three kinds of disciples: those who impart Zen to others, those who maintain
the temples and shrines, and then there are the rice bags and the clothes-hangers."

Gasan expressed the same idea. When he was studying under Tekisui, his teacher was very
severe. Sometimes he even beat him. Other pupils would not stand this kind of teaching and
quit. Gasan remained, saying: "A poor disciple utilizes a teacher's influence. A fair disciple
admires a teacher's kindness. A good disciple grows strong under a teacher's discipline."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

One day Chuang Tzu and a friend were walking by a river. "Look
at the fish swimming about," said Chuang Tzu, "They are really
enjoying themselves."

"You are not a fish," replied the friend, "So you can't truly know
that they are enjoying themselves."

"You are not me," said Chuang Tzu. "So how do you know that I
do not know that the fish are enjoying themselves?"

Source: Zen Stories To Tell Your Neighbors

"I am going to pose a question," King Milinda
said to Venerable Nagasena. "Can you answer?"
Nagasena said, "Please ask your question."
The king said, "I have already asked."
Nagasena said, "I have already answered."
The king said, "What did you answer?"
Nagasena said, "What did you ask?"
The king said, "I asked nothing."
Nagasena said, "I answered nothing."

Source: The Little Zen Companion

My apologies for the interuption...

yes, talking and listening...

I forgot how bad I needed my Zen fix

Thanks

An Aesop Fable

An astronomer used to walk around outside every night to watch stars. One time,
as he was wandering on the outskirts of the city and gazing at the stars, he fell
into a well. After hollering and crying for help, someone ran up to the well, and after
listening to his story, remarked, "My good man, while you are trying to pry into the
mysteries of heaven, you overlook the common objects that are under your feet."

________________________

stray dog: You are welcome. :)

There was once a huge dragon in China who went from village to village killing cattle and dogs and chicken and people indiscriminately. So the villagers called upon a wizard to help them in their distress. The wizard said, "I cannot slay the dragon myself, for magician though I am, I am too afraid. But I shall find you the one who will."

With that he transformed himself into a dragon and took up position on a bridge so everyone who did not know it was the wizard was afraid to pass. One day, however, a traveler came up to the bridge, calmly climbed over the dragon, and walked on.

The wizard promptly took on human shape again and called to the person, "Come back, my friend -- I have been standing here for weeks waiting for you!"

It is impossible to make slaves of the enlightened, for they are just as happy in a state of slavery as in a state of freedom.


When the Greek philosopher Diogenes was captured and taken to be sold in the slave market, it is said that he mounted the auctioneer's platform and loudly said, "A master has come here to be sold. Is there some slave among you who is desirous of purchasing him?"

Daiju visited the master Baso in China.
Baso asked: "What do you seek?"
"Enlightenment," replied Daiju.
"You have your own treasure house.
Why do you search outside?" Baso asked.
Daiju inquired: "Where is my treasure
house?"
Baso answered: "What you are asking
is your treasure house."
Daiju was delighted! Ever after he
urged his friends: "Open your own trea-
sure house and use those treasures."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Most people are so afraid to die that, from their efforts to avoid death, they never truly live.


A merchant in Baghdad sent his servant on an errand to the bazaar and the man came back white with fear and trembling. "Master," he said, "while I was in the marketplace, I walked into a stranger. When I looked him in the face, I found that it was Death. He made a threatening gesture at me and walked away. Now I am afraid. Please give me a horse so that I can ride at once to Samarra and put as great a distance as possible between Death and me."

The merchant -- in his anxiety for the man -- gave him his swiftest steed. The servant was on it and away in a trice.

Later in the day the merchant himself went down to the bazaar and saw Death loitering there in the crowd. So he went up to him and said, "You made a threatening gesture at my poor servant this morning. What did it mean?"

"That was no threatening gesture, sir," said Death. "It was a start of surprise at seeing him here in Baghdad."

"Why would he not be in Baghdad? This is where the man lives."

"Well, I had been given to understand that he would join me in Samarra tonight, you see..."

One day there was an earthquake that shook the entire Zen
temple. Parts of it even collapsed! Many of the monks were
terrified.

When the earthquake stopped the teacher said, "Now you have
had the opportunity to see how a Zen man behaves in a crisis
situation. You may have noticed that I did not panic. I was quite
aware of what was happening and what to do. I led you all to
the kitchen, the strongest part of the temple. It was a good
decision, because you see we have all survived without any
injuries. However, despite my self-control and composure, I did
feel a little bit tense-which you may have deduced from the fact
that I drank a large glass of water, something I never do under
ordinary circumstances."

One of the monks smiled, but didn't say anything.

"What are you laughing at? asked the teacher.

"That wasn't water," the monk replied, "it was a large glass of
soy sauce."

Source: Zen Stories To Tell Your Neighbors (http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/zenstory/selfcontrol.html)

Zen Man. Sounds like a super hero. Is it a bird? Is it a plain? No, it's Zen Man.

Thanks for all the stories Lykan and Evil Poet. :)

"Monks, I will teach you the parable of the raft---for getting across, not for retaining. It is like a man who going on a journey sees a great stretch of water, the near bank with dangers and fears, the farther bank secure and without fears, but there is neither a boat for crossing over, nor a bridge across. It occurs to him that to cross over from the perils of this bank to the security of the farther bank, he should fashion a raft out of sticks and branches and depending on the raft, cross over to safety. When he has done this it occurs to him that the raft has been very useful and he wonders
if he ought to take it with him on his head and shoulders. What do you think, monks? That the man is doing what should be done to the raft?"
"No, lord."
"What should that man do, monks? When he has crossed over to the beyond he must leave the raft and proceed on his journey. Monks, a man doing this would be doing what should be done to the raft. In this way I have taught you Dharma, like the parable of the raft, for getting across, not for retaining. You, monks, by understanding the parable of the raft, must not cling to right states of mind and, all the more, to wrong states of mind."

Source: Teachings of the Buddha by Jack Kornfield

A monk was driving in India when suddenly a dog crosses the road.
The car hit and killed the dog. The monk looked around and seeing
a temple, went to knock on the door. A monk opened the door. The
first monk said: "I'm terribly sorry, but my karma ran over your
dogma."

Source: Funny Short Stories on Buddhism (http://www.serve.com/cmtan/buddhism/Lighter/shortstories.html)

_________________________________
A4Ever: You are welcome. The Adventures of
Zen Man and his dog Mu would make a cool
comic/cartoon imo. ;)

The disciples asked the master to speak to them of death: "What will it be like?"

"It will be as if a veil is ripped apart and you will say in wonder, 'So it was You all along!'"

A famous teacher took his pupils into a clearing in the forest that was known as a home for wild monkeys.
There he took a hollow gourd with a small hole and inserted sweetened rice (a favorite of monkeys). Then
he chained the gourd to a stake and waited with his class. Soon a very large monkey approached, sniffed
the rice, inserted his paw, and screeched in frustration when he was unable to withdraw his paw (now a
fist) through the narrow opening.

Just then a leopard approached and hearing the monkey screeching decided to have monkey for his dinner.
"Let go of the rice. Run!" screamed the pupils, but to no avail because the monkey in his hunger for the rice,
refused to let go and was as a consequence caught and eaten by the leopard.

"What was the trap that killed the monkey?" asked the master. "Rice," said one student. "The ground," said
another. "No," replied the wise teacher. "The trap was greed."

Source: Zen Fables For Today

A lion was taken into captivity and thrown into a concentration camp where, to his amazement, he found other lions who had been there for years, some of them all their lives, for they had been born there. He soon became acquainted with the social activities of the camp lions. They banded themselves into groups. One group consisted of the socializers; another was into show business; another was cultural, for its purpose was to carefully preserve the customs, the tradition, and the history of the times when lions were free; other groups were religious -- they gathered mostly to sing moving songs about a future jungle where there would be no fences; some groups attracted those who were literary and artistic by nature; others still were revolutionary, and they met to plot against their captors or against other revolutionary groups. Every now and then a revolution would break out, one particular group would be wiped out by another, or the guards would all be killed and replaced by another set of guards.

As he looked around, the newcomer observed one lion who always seemed deep in thought, a loner who belonged to no group and mostly kept away from everyone. There was something strange about him that commanded everyone's admiration and everyone's hostility, for his presence aroused fear and self-doubt. He said to the newcomer, "Join no group. These poor fools are busy with everything except what is essential."

"And what do you think is most essential?" asked the newcomer.

"Studying the nature of the fence."

A man approached the Blessed One and wanted to have all his philosophical questions answered before he
would practice. In response, the Buddha said, "It is as if a man had been wounded by a poisoned arrow and
when attended to by a physician were to say, 'I will not allow you to remove this arrow until I have learned
the caste, the age, the occupation, the birthplace, and the motivation of the person who wounded me.' That
man would die before having learned all this. In exactly the same way, anyone who should say, 'I will not
follow the teaching of the Blessed One until the Blessed One has explained all the multiform truths of the
world'---that person would die before the Buddha had explained all this."

Source: The Teachings of the Buddha by Jack Kornfield

"If a person's mind becomes pure, their surroundings will also become pure." - Buddha


A great and foolish King complained that the rough ground hurt his feet, so he ordered the whole country to be carpeted with cowhide.

The court jester laughed when the King told him of his order. "What an absolutely crazy idea, Your Majesty," he smiled. "Why all the needless expense? Just cut out two small pads to protect your feet!"

Originally posted by Lykan
"If a person's mind becomes pure, their surroundings will also become pure." - Buddha


A great and foolish King complained that the rough ground hurt his feet, so he ordered the whole country to be carpeted with cowhide.

The court jester laughed when the King told him of his order. "What an absolutely crazy idea, Your Majesty," he smiled. "Why all the needless expense? Just cut out two small pads to protect your feet!"
I like this format the best - that way I can read the saying and dwell on it for a bit, before reading the explanatory story. Could you post others like this? :)

Originally posted by Firefly
I like this format the best - that way I can read the saying and dwell on it for a bit, before reading the explanatory story. Could you post others like this? :)

I like that format too, but i was the one who matched that quote and that story up with each other, and of the parables that i've collected here and there over the years, that's one of the few that i've done it for. Or rather, that's one of the few that i've had it occur to me that a quote and parable were compatible enough with each other to share together like that. So, you may not end up seeing it too often.

Once there was a monk who was an expert on the Diamond Sutra, and as books were very valuable in his day, he carried the only copy in his part of the world on his back. He was widely sought after for his readings and insight into the Diamond Sutra, and very successful at propounding its profundities to not only monks and masters but to the lay people as well.

Thus the people of that region came to know of the Diamond Sutra, and as the monk was traveling on a mountain road, he came upon an old woman selling tea and cakes. The hungry monk would have loved to refresh himself, but alas, he had no money. He told the old woman, "I have upon my back a treasure beyond knowing -- the Diamond Sutra. If you will give me some tea and cakes, I will tell you of this great treasure of knowledge."

The old woman knew something of the Diamond Sutra herself, and proposed her own bargain. She said, "Oh learned monk, if you will answer a simple question, I will give you tea and cakes." To this the monk readily agreed. The woman then said, "When you eat these cakes, are you eating with the mind of the past, the mind of the present or the mind of the future?"

No answer occurred to the monk, so he took the pack from his back and got out the text of the Diamond Sutra, hoping he could find the answer. As he studied and pondered, the day grew late and the old woman packed up her things to go home for the day.

"You are a foolish monk indeed," said the old woman as she left the hungry monk in his quandary. "You eat the tea and cakes with your mouth."

Source: A lighter side of Buddhism (http://www.serve.com/cmtan/buddhism/Lighter/index.html)

____________________________________________
Firefly: Regarding the format of the stories - although you
addressed your request to Lykan, I wanted to let you know
that I will keep your request in mind the next time I post
a story. :)

One day a man approached Ikkyu and asked: "Master, will please write for me some maxims of the highest wisdom?"

Ikkyu took his brush and wrote: "Attention."
"Is that all?" asked the man.
Ikkyu then wrote: "Attention, Attention."
"Well," said the man, "I really don't see much depth in what you have written."
The Ikkyu wrote the same word three times: "Attention, Attention, Attention."
Half-angered, the man demanded: "What does that word 'Attention' mean, anyway?"
Ikkyu gently responded, Attention means attention."

Source <u>The Little Zen Companion</u>

Dave the Druid

Originally posted by Lykan
i was the one who matched that quote and that story up with each other
Well done, I so have problems understanding those quotes. :confused: :)

Where do you get the quotes from?

Are you asking me or someone else?

Anyone who has really short cryptic quotes like "If a person's mind becomes pure, their surroundings will also become pure." - Buddha

Firefly,
I think any decent book store will have a number of Zen resources.
Consider the concepts of 'being' and 'nothingness' as being completely related and totaly seperate.
Dave the Druid

I was hoping for online links, I'm not that devoted to by a book... :o :)

if it's a web site you are after
http://www.classicaldressage.com/zen/zq/
Dave The Druid

Originally posted by Dave the Druid
if it's a web site you are after
http://www.classicaldressage.com/zen/zq/
Wow, thanks, cool site. :) Though I never understand the little saying, which is why I thought it so good when EvilPoet explained them with a story.

Hey, if I post one here every some time, would you be up to the challenge?

Two Zen debaters, reputedly the best in all of Japan, were to meet in verbal combat in Edo at the great celebration honoring the birth of Buddha. For this event scholars flocked from as far away as Hokkaido to marvel at the brilliance of these teachers.

During the competition, first one master would prevail on one day and on the next day the other master would counter, until by the end of the fourth day they were even.

Each of these masters traveled with retinues of supporters, who cheered their champions and pampered them like minor princes.

During the night of the fifth and final debate the two great adversaries parried and thrust at each other, to the delight and cheers of their separate retinues. As each master would score a telling point, he would puff himself up and walk in a circle to the applause of his supporters.

All of which was fine until a great explosion ripped through the hall, an explosion so great that all the lanterns and candles were blown out. When order and light were restored, it was discovered that both of the masters had exploded -- making a huge mess over the altar and ceiling and even those sitting in the front rows.

A gifted young painter of extraordinary talent had been apprenticed to a renowned painter, who when he recognized the boy's gifts became intensely jealous.

"No, that is not the way to do it!" he would shout. "You will do better painting houses than pictures."

Slowly the boy's confidence ebbed. No matter how hard he tried, the painter found fault and humiliated the boy in front of the other students.

One day the painting assignment was goldfish. The boy closed his eyes and called up a splendid fat fish from his uncle's pond. This he painted.

"No. No. No!" screamed the teacher and threw the boy's picture into the water, where to everyone's amazement the painted fish proceeded to swim away.

lol :)

See, I like these stories, but I just don't understand what they're trying to say. :(

Firefly,

I know you addressed this question to Dave the Druid but curiosity has gotten the better of me - what challenge are you referring to?

"See, I like these stories, but I just don't understand what they're trying to say."

"Zen stories - The Zen tradition has thousands of short, illustrative stories about how earlier masters gained insight. Many are in the form of dialogues, usually between a master and a student. They are like "cases" or "precedents" in the study of law or business. They are intended to point out the way, like a finger pointing out at the moon. Some of these stories are quite beautiful, while many others seem to involve pointless or incomprehensible behavior. In fact they can always be explained, and they always have a point. However, in explaining them, something vital is lost, just as when one explains a joke. In Rinzai, some of these stories are distilled into koans, and used as focal points for meditation."

Source: Learning Guide to Buddhism (http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/Guy_Newland/REL%20320/Learning%20Guide%20Folder/learning_guide.htm)

Well, I understand that the stories are pointing 'the way' or have a hidden message or something, but I don't understand what.

Like, for example, this:
A great and foolish King complained that the rough ground hurt his feet, so he ordered the whole country to be carpeted with cowhide.

The court jester laughed when the King told him of his order. "What an absolutely crazy idea, Your Majesty," he smiled. "Why all the needless expense? Just cut out two small pads to protect your feet!"

Is trying to say "If a person's mind becomes pure, their surroundings will also become pure." but unless someone makes the link, and tells me what the story is saying, then to me I just don't see the relevance or applicability (or even the philosophy) of the story.

Why should the king have the whole country carpeted
with cowhide when pads on the bottom of his feet will
do exactly the same thing?

One night, under the starry sky, the circle was quiet and members
seemed pensive. Badger broke the silence and said, "You know, I
can't visualize myself expiring completely."
Raven said, "A ghost."
Badger said, "Even ghosts are not impermanent, though, are they?"
Raven said, "Take care of your miseries now, and they won't abide."

Source: Zen Master Raven

During a great storm at sea a band of terrified pilgrims huddled in a circle around their Zen master as the vessel pitched and the bulkheads groaned.

"We shall all die," lamented one.

"I wish I had been better to my wife and children," moaned another.

"I had hoped to marry after the pilgrimage," said a young woman. "It is your fault, Master; you led us on this vessel and now we will perish with so many regrets and so many blighted futures."

"Look at this," said the patient master. He took two wooden triangles and placed them with just the tips barely touching.

"This bottom triangle is the past. Nothing can bring it back or change it. This top triangle is the future. It is equally futile to predict it. And, this tiny intersecting speck is the present, which changes with each beat of your heart."

"So..?" the pilgrims said.

"So it's useless to agonize over what is gone or pine for what might be. Live now in the only moment of the world available to you."

"What is that?"

"The present."

"How do we do that?"

"Let's eat," said the master.

Originally posted by Firefly
Well, I understand that the stories are pointing 'the way' or have a hidden message or something, but I don't understand what.


Your brain may not understand, but a deeper part of you does understand what is being said with each story. And this will end up benefiting you in one way or another anyway. It's like planting some magical seeds within your psyche -- eventually the seeds will sprout and thrive and grow fruit, though by the time it happens you may have forgotten about anything having been planted in that spot within you.

:m:

If consciously understanding what is being said is that important to you however, then i would suggest you spend 30 minutes sitting in a chair and pondering the story, and asking yourself what messages it might be conveying. It helps to kinda clear your mind as you do this though, instead of intellectualizing.

---

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meji 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 then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup", Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

"Mother, what is water?" asked the baby fish of the mother fish.

"Water is what you swim in. Water is what you're mostly made of."

"But where is it?"

"All around you."

"But I can't see it," said the baby.

"Of course you can."

"Where?"

"Everywhere."

"And I'm made of water?"

"Mostly."

"And after I die..?"

"You go back to being water," said the mother.

Soyen Shaku, the first Zen teacher to come to America, said: "My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes." He made the following rules which he practiced every day of his life.

In the morning before dressing, light incense and meditate.

Retire at a regular hour. Partake of food at regular intervals. Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction.

Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone. When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests.

Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it.

When an opportunity comes do not let it pass you by, yet always think twice before acting.

Do not regret the past. Look to the future.

Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child.

Upon retiring, sleep as if you had entered your last sleep. Upon awakening, leave your bed behind you instantly as if you had cast away a pair of old shoes.

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Tanzan and Ekido were once travelling together down a muddy
road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they
met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the
intersection. "Come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in
his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a
lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. "We
monks don't do near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not
young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"

"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?"

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

The master sculptor surveyed the different blocks of marble at the quarry. In his lifetime he had learned that there existed a "suchness" to every piece of stone. Finding that suchness and releasing it to its true life had been the secret of the sculptor's success.

"Ah-ha," he would say. "There is a heroic figure locked in that piece and a saint trapped inside that other one. But where will I find the stone from which I will sculpt my masterwork, a glorious statue of the Buddha?"

He had been searching for what he called the "Buddha block" for over forty years and now he felt his energies waning. He had traveled to the great quarries of the world: Italy where Michelangelo had mined his stone, Vermont where the stone glowed with light, and to obscure regions of the mountains of China. Nowhere could he find that one perfect slab from which he knew he could release the most perfect likeness of Buddha.

He consulted experts from around the world. He hired a specialist to scour obscure areas. No success. In search of consolation, he sought out a local Zen priest, who headed a small temple just at the end of his street. When he explained his fruitless search, the priest smiled and said, "No problem."

"Do you mean you can tell me where I might find the perfect material from which I can release the Buddha of my dreams??" said the excited sculptor.

"Of course."

"Where?"

"Over there," said the priest, pointing to a stone well in the courtyard.

The excited sculptor ran to the well and looked down. There he saw his own image looking back at him.

Originally posted by Lykan
i would suggest you spend 30 minutes sitting in a chair and pondering the story, and asking yourself what messages it might be conveying. It helps to kinda clear your mind as you do this though, instead of intellectualizing.
OK, thanks, I'll try. btw, what effect do these stories have on you? do you always understand the deeper moral? Do you have to think about it? Are you a buddhist?

Evilpoet,
Well put. I may be too far in my understanding of the Koans et,c. Thanks for your input as well. I think Firefly, the best path toward understanding the short quotes and storeys is to listen to as many voices as you can and glean whatever truth you see fit to grasp. With the path to enlightenment often the closer we are to it the farther we are. If you want me to be of assistance I will reply as often as I can but there are other excellent people to listen to.
Dave the Druid

After Bankei had passed away, a blind man who lived near the master's temple told a friend:
"Since I am blind, I cannot watch a person's face, so I must judge his character by the sound
of his voice. Ordinarily when I hear someone congratulate another upon his happiness or
success, I also hear a secret tone of envy. When condolence is expressed for the misfortune
of another, I hear pleasure and satisfaction, as if the one condoling was really glad there was
something left to gain in his own world.

"In all my experience, however, Bankei's voice was always sincere. Whenever he expressed
happiness, I heard nothing but happiness, and whenever he expressed sorrow, sorrow was all
I heard."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Dave: Thanks. Got anymore stories? I liked the
one you added. :)

I was thinking about this earlier, would creating
an new thread for disscusion of the koans, etc.
be helpful? What do you guys think?

Originally posted by Firefly
OK, thanks, I'll try. btw, what effect do these stories have on you? do you always understand the deeper moral? Do you have to think about it? Are you a buddhist?

No, i'm not a Buddhist. I'm not really anything, in those terms. Somewhere in the middle. :D I am spiritual, though i'm not religious. (my own definition of those words is that religion is "organized spirituality," and almost always comes with dogma, rituals, and limiting beliefs of various sorts -- which i'm not interested in)

What effect do these stories have on me? They offer me another perspective of viewing things, that i often find insightful and apply to how i live my life as best i can. Sometimes the effect of a parable has been very powerful for me, and other times it hasn't been very apparent.

Do i always understand the deeper moral? To think that i did would be making a huge assumption, and i do my best not to make assumptions. I think that there is more than one way to view most parables -- kinda like how you can interpret dreams differently. But do i always have an insightful meaning occur to me with them? In retrospect, usually. And sometimes when i read the same parable again later on, something else will occur to me that i hadn't realized before.

Do i have to think about it? Sometimes a meaning has seemed obvious to me, and other times i've had to internally open myself more for one to occur.

If i was in your shoes, i think that i would print these parables out -- so that i could read them in later years and see what new insight and meaning i might find in them. ;) Oh, and i would suggest that you always question with an open mind any ready answers that people offer you on your path. Ask yourself if it feels right to you, deep down inside.

There is a mountain, far beyond the plains and hills, whose great summit overlooks the dark valley and the open seas.
Neither cloud nor deep mists ever hide its calm face. It is above the shadows of day and night.
From the vast plain, no man can behold it. Some have seen it but there be few that have reached its feet.
One in many thousand years gathers his strength and gains that abode of eternity.
I speak of that mountain top, serene, infinite, beyond thought.
I shout for joy!


One day, a man beheld through the opening of a cloud, the calm face of the mountain. He stopped every passer-by, that would stay to give an answer, and inquired of the way that would lead him beyond the mists. Some said take this path, and others said take that path. After many days of confusion and toil, he arrived among the hills.

A man, full in years, wise in the ways of the hills, said, "I know the way. You cannot reach the mountain, O friend, unless you are strengthened by the power that comes from the adoration of the image in yonder shrine."

Many days passed in peaceful worship.

Tired of worship, he asked of men that seemed great with understanding.

"Yea," said one, "I know the way. But if you would gain the fulfillment of your desire, carry this on you. It will uphold you in your weariness." He gave him the symbol of his struggle.

Another cried, "Yea, I know the way. But many days of contemplation must be passed in the seclusion of a sanctuary, with my picture of eternity."

"I know the way," said another, "But you must perform these rites, understand these hidden laws, you must enter the association of the elect and hold fast to the knowledge that we shall give you."

"Be loud in the song of praise of the reflection that you seek," said another.

"Come, follow me, obeying all things I say. I know the way," cried another.

Eventually, the calm face of the mountain was utterly forgotten. Now he wanders from hill to hill, crying aloud, "Yes, I know the way, but..."


There is a mountain far beyond the plains and hills whose summit overlooks the dark valley and the open seas.
Neither cloud nor deep mists ever hide its calm face. It is above the shadows of day and night.
One in many thousand years gathers his strength and gains that abode of eternity.
I speak of that mountain top, serene, infinite, beyond thought.
I shout for joy!

- J. Krishnamurti

A certain lord who studied Zen from Bankei was young
and fond of martial arts. One day he decided to test the
master's "gut" by suddenly attacking him with a lance as
he sat quietly.
The Zen master calmly deflected the trust with his rosary.
Then he said to the lord, "You technique is still immature,
your mind moved first."

Source: Zen Antics

Evilpoet,
If you want, a new thread on the koans would be acceptable. I don't think that limiting the discussion would pose a problem, but I am concerned about loosing the broad appeal that this thread has. Consider Firefly who is learning.
Thanks for your kind words on my story. It is one of my absolute favorites operating on so may levels.
Dave The Druid

Dave,

Perhaps my post wasn't clear enough (very, very possible). I don't want to limit disscussion, quite the opposite, I want to encourage it. The new thread I suggested was meant to be in addition to the 101 Zen Stories thread not in place of it. That way the flow of the stories/koans doesn't get interupted by discussion and discussion doesn't get interrupted by the stories/koans. Upon further reflection, I think that maybe my thought to do this is one of those Winnie-the-Pooh thoughts that I have quite often. :D

"When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things,
you sometimes find that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside
you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other
people looking at it."

New thread,
Let me read back what you are suggesting, youwant to start a new thread that is limited to the koans and stories but not interrupted by discussion. Correct? If so that would be a great resource for looking at the stories but it would be limiting in so much as I feel that discussion at the time of posting encourages a wider reading of the stories. Still, I'm up for either or as a way to learn and share more of the zen teachings.
dave the Druid

A farmer requested a Tendai priest to recite sutras for his wife,
who had died. After the recitation was over the farmer asked:
"Do you think my wife will gain merit from this?"

"Not only your wife, but all sentient beings will benefit from the
recitation of sutras," answered the priest.

"If you say all sentient beings will benefit," said the farmer, "my
wife may be very weak and others will take advantage of her,
getting the benefit she should have. So please recite sutras just
for her."

The priest explained that it was the desire of a Buddhist to offer
blessings and wish merit for every living being.

"That is a fine teaching," concluded the farmer, "but please make
one exception. I have a neighbor who is rough and mean to me.
Just exclude him from all those sentient beings."

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Originally posted by Dave the Druid
New thread, Let me read back what you are suggesting,
youwant to start a new thread that is limited to the koans
and stories but not interrupted by discussion. Correct?
No - other way around. This thread stays and a new one for discussion is created. Does that make more sense? Like I said, this might be a case of Pooh thoughts on my end. In any case, I will create a new thread for it and see what happens. Give me a few to collect my thoughts and then I will post it. I really didn't intend this to be a big deal or confusing, I apologize. :(

Why can't we have discussion in this thread too?

You can, it doesn't matter imo. I just thought separate threads would be less
confusing. It appears that my thought is the thing that is confusing not the
thread. Again, I apologize. Like I said before, Pooh thoughts. ;)

Evilpoet,
No need to apollogize! Go ahead and post the new thread.I guess my take on it is this, limiting a thread to stories, koans or just sayings limits the broad scope of zen to single entities and to certian extent quashes the learning. A story is as good as a koan as good as a saying. All carry equal weight and validation.
If I am still reading this wrong let me know. I am willing to share what I understand and learn from others.

Chop wood, carry water - Zen Saying

Dave the Druid

In modern times a great deal of nonsense is talked about masters and disciples, and about the inheritance of a master's teaching by favorite pupils, entitling them to pass the truth on to their adherents. Of course Zen should be imparted in this way, from heart to heart, and in the past it was really accomplished. Silence and humility reigned rather than profession and assertion. The one who received such a teaching kept the matter hidden even after twenty years. Not until another discovered through his own need that a real master was at hand was it learned that the teching had been imparted, and even then the occasion arose quite naturally and the teaching made its way in its own right. Under no circumstance did the teacher even claim "I am the successor of So-and-so." Such a claim would prove quite the contrary.

The Zen master Mu-nan had only one successor. His name was Shoju. After Shoju had completed his study of Zen, Mu-nan called him into his room. "I am getting old," he said, "and as far as I know, Shoju, you are the only one who will carry on this teaching. Here is a book. It has been passed down from master to master for seven generations. I have also added many points according to my understanding. The book is very valuable, and I am giving it to you to represent your successorhip."

"If the book is such an important thing, you had better keep it," Shoju replied. "I received your Zen without writing and am satisfied with it as it is."
"I know that," said Mu-nan. "Even so, this work has been carried from master to master for seven generations, so you may keep it as a symbol of having received the teaching. Here."

They happened to be talking before a brazier. The instant Shoju felt the book in his hands he thrust it into the flaming coals. He had no lust for possessions. Mu-nan, who never had been angry before, yelled: "What are you doing!" Shoju shouted back: "What are you saying!"

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
_______________________________________
Please note: If you want to discuss this story you
can post in this thread or over here in this thread (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15924).
The obstacle is the path- Zen proverb

"The purpose of a fishtrap is to catch fish, and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.
The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits. When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.
The purpose of words is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.
Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to."
-Chuang-Tsu

The Dead Man's Answer

When Mamiya, who later became a well-known preacher, went to
a teacher for personal guidance, he was asked to explain the
sound of one hand. Mamiya concentrated upon what the sound
of one hand might be.

"You are not working hard enough," his teacher told him. "You
are too attached to food, wealth, things, and that sound. It
would be better if you died. That would solve the problem."


The next time Mamiya appeared before his teacher he was again
asked what he had to show regarding the sound of one hand.
Mamiya at once fell over as if he were dead.

"You are dead all right," observed the teacher, "But how about
that sound?" "I haven't solved that yet," replied Mamiya, looking
up. "Dead men do not speak," said the teacher. "Get out!"

Source: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

________________________________________
Please note: If you want to discuss this story or any
other story, you can post in this thread or over here
in this thread (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15924). The obstacle is the path- Zen proverb

Precision has it's place in spirituality as it does in math and science.

Rabbi Isadore was a wise teacher. A student asked, "How is one to know the precise time when night ends and day begins?"

One student volunteered, "It is when one can distinguish between a dog and a sheep in the far distance, that is when day begins."

Another said, "It is when you can tell the difference between a fig tree and a date tree, then night is fully gone."

"No, it is neither of those things," said the Rabbi. "It is when you can see your brother or sister in the face of a stranger. Until then, night is still with us."

My formal training has included chemistry and astrophysics amongst other hard sciences.

The great Taoist master Chuang Tzu once dreamt that he was a butterfly fluttering here and there. In the dream he had no awareness of his individuality as a person. He was only a butterfly. Suddenly, he awoke and found himself laying there, a person once again. But then he thought to himself, "Was I before a man who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly who dreams about being a man?"

Source: Zen Stories To Tell Your Neighbors (http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/zenstory/dreaming.html)

Evilpoet,
I like that storey. It makes lying on a grassy hillside in summer a bit more meaningful.
Dave the Druid
:)

Dave,

Glad you liked the story. Have you ever read Jonathan
Livingston Seagull? If not, I recommend it highly. After
I first read it I never looked at seagulls the same way
again. Very cool imo. :D

Eve, ;D
I've read all of those books and it's not just sea gulls that deserve to be looked at differently
Dave the Druid
:)