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

If Buddhism must be described in one word, that word is non-attachment. The eighty-four thousand teachings of the Buddha could be reduced to...

Once upon a time, Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, went to an assemblage of Buddhas. By the time he arrived, all had departed except for...

One day, Jizo received one of Hofuku's disciples and asked him, “How does your teacher instruct vou? “My teacher instructs me to shut my...

A philosopher asked Buddha: “Without words, without silence, will vou tell me the truth?” The Buddha sat quietly. The philosopher then bowed...

Dogo paid a visit to his sick fellow monk, Ungan. “Where can I see y ou again if you die and leave only your corpse?" Dogo asked. “I wi...

Wakuan complained when he saw a picture of bearded Bodhidharma, “Why hasn't that fellow a beard?”  COMMENT: Bodhidharma, the Hindu who b...

Emperor Wu of China was a very benevolent Buddhist. He built many temples and monasteries, educated many monks, and performed countless phil...

Joshu addressed an assembly of monks: “The Real Way" is not difficult, but it dislikes the Relative. If there is but little speech, it ...

Zen Master Unmon said: “The world is vast and wide, Why do you put on your robes at the sound of a bell?” COMMENT: In a Zen temple the lives...

Chokan had a very beautiful daughter named Seijo. He also had a handsome young cousin named Ochu. Joking. he would often comment that they w...

  Koans are stories, or questions, given to students and monks  by their Masters to discipline them and to test their understanding  of Zen....

Joshu  was a famous Chinese Zen Master who lived in Joshu, the province from which he took his name. One day a troubled monk approached him,...

Shuzan held out his short staff and said, “If you call this a short staff, you oppose its reality. If you do not call it a short staff, you ...

  A monk asked Tozan, “How can we escape the cold and heat?” Tozan replied, “Why not go where there is no cold and heat?” “Is there such a p...

Unmon said: “I do not ask vou about fifteen days a go. But What about fifteen days hence? Come, say a word about this!” Since none of the mo...

  One day as Manjushri stood outside the gate, the Buddha called to him, Manjushri, Manjushri, why do you not enter? Manjushri replied, I do...

Two monks were arguing about the temple flag waving in the wind.  One said the flags moves and t he other said the wind moves.  They argued ...

In early times in Japan, bamboo-and-paper lanterns were used with candles inside. A blind man, visiting a friend one night, was offered a la...

The Zen Master warns: “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!” This admonition points up that no meaning that comes from outside of o...