سرای گذر
فرمانروا که فورن ملاقات کننده را شناخته بود پرسید:شما چه می خواهید؟
معلم پاسخ داد: جایی در این مهمانخانه برای خوابیدن می خواهم
فرمانروا گفت: اما اینجا مهمانخانه نیست بلکه قصر من است
- می توانم بپرسم پیش از شما صاحب قصر چه کسی بود؟
- پدرم . او از دنیا رفته است
- و پیش از او چه کسی صاحب قصر بود؟
- پدر بزرگم . او نیز از دنیا رفته است
- و این جایی که مردم برای زمانی کوتاه در آن زندگی می کنند و سپس می روند، آیا درست شنیدم که شما گفتید؟"اینجا یک مهمانخانه نیست"
A famous spiritual teacher came to the front door of the King's palace. None of the guards tried to stop him as he entered and made his way to where the King himself was sitting on his throne.
"What do you want?" asked the King, immediately recognizing the visitor.
"I would like a place to sleep in this inn," replied the teacher.
"But this is not an inn," said the King, "It is my palace."
"May I ask who owned this palace before you?"
"My father. He is dead."
"And who owned it before him?"
"My grandfather. He too is dead."
"And this place where people live for a short time and then move on - did I hear you say that it is NOT an inn?"
هنگام خستگی
کتاب ها
زمانی فیلسوف نامی و پژوهشگری بود که سال های زیادی را صرف آموزش ذن کرد. یک روز که بالاخره به حقیقت و روشنایی رسید ، همه ی کتاب هایش را به حیاط برد و آنها را به آتش کشید.
Books
Once there was a well known philosopher and scholar who devoted himself to the study of Zen for many years. On the day that he finally attained enlightenment, he took all of his books out into the yard, and burned them all.People's reactions to this story:
"The most important things in life you can't learn through books. You have to learn them through experience.""Life's most important lessons have to be learned for oneself, not from what other people have said."
"It's your own thoughts that are important. Everything else is indoctrination from others."
"Once you have gained a true understanding of something, the knowledge will be with you for the rest of your life. You'll never have to study it again."
"The reason that he burned the books was because he felt that he had learned all that he could possibly could from them and that it was time to move on and learn from life itself."
"One you attain a goal, you no longer need the methods that helped you get there."
"Did he burn the books because he realized their uselessness. Or did he burn them because he thought there was no more knowledge left in them to gain? I get the feeling that maybe he WASN'T very enlightened."
"I guess the scholar felt he was done with his studies, and didn't need his books anymore."
"All systems of knowledge (conceptual beliefs), including this one, limit perception."
"I don't know what enlightenment is, but I do know that you never stop learning and growing. Besides, what if the Zen master forgets something later on, and has to look it up?"
"Sounds like he wanted to rid himself of his former life."
"Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure the fire was pretty cool."
"This story stirs up mixed feelings in me about school. Will it all be worth it when I'm done?
Sometimes I just feel like giving up."
"This reminds me of the Pearl of Great Price story from the Bible. A man sold everything he owned to buy this pearl, and did so joyfully."
"I guess once you attain perfect knowledge, you don't need to read anymore."
"Why burn the knowledge attained?! Knowledge must be saved for the future. A mind can only store away so much information."
"Learn it, know it _LIVE_ it!" My drill instructor in basic training knew & taught this. I do recall that he felt the need to add a few extra embellishments to be sure we were paying attention :-) ""Maybe he realized with his enlightened mind that he was cold."
"I could never bring myself to burn a book! It's almost like burning the person who wrote it."
"Words, words, words..... They're not reality anyhow. They're just words."
نبرد چای
باز، سلاحت را بالای سرت نگه دار، به گونه ای که آماده ی ضربه زدن هستی ، و با همان تمرکز و آرامشی با او روبرو شو که هنگام اجرای مراسم چای داری". 
روز بعد در زمان و مکان مقرر برای مبارزه ،استاد آن پند را بکار بست.افسر در حالی که خودش را برای ضربه زدن آماده کرده بود، برا ی زمانی طولانی به چهره متمرکز اما آرام استاد چای نگاه کرد. بالاخره سرباز شمشیرش را غلاف کرد ، از این گستاخی خود پوزش خواست و بدون هیچ جنگی میدان را ترک کرد .
People's reactions to this story:
"Peace and tranquility are sometimes more powerful and intimidating than anything else."
"The tea master showed great courage. That's what stopped the soldier."
"The soldier bowed to the tea master because he had a higher level of confidence."
"If you are perceived as competent and able, you will be considered an equal."
"The story seems to suggest that it is the appearance of the tea master that deters the attack. He looks calm and confident, but it's an illusion. Simple illusions can defeat enemies."
"If you look like you know what you are doing, people will not think otherwise. Where I work all of the supervisors park inside the gate while everyone else parks outside. But if you act like you're SUPPOSED to be inside the gate and drive right through, the security guards won't stop you! It's a matter of confidence."
"All that we ask others to give us we already possess."
"Each of us possesses certain skills, but none of us possesses all skills."
"There is nothing to fear but fear itself."
"I like this story because it demonstrates how you can do things you never thought you could - like face death."
"I really thought the soldier would fight anyway! But I guess people in Japan think differently than we do. Maybe they are more able to see bravery in others, and even step back to swallow their pride."
"I don't like this story because it's not realistic. If you stand your ground and show others you are not afraid, they won't necessarily leave you alone. You might get shot! Hey, I live in the city! What can I tell you."
"Good overpowers evil."
"This reminds me of the movie Star Wars. Oby just stands there and lets Darth Vader
strike him down. But as a result, Oby becomes even more powerful than before."
"Musashi Kensei once said something like: 'Underneath the upraised sword you tremble at the gate of hell. But advance fearlessly and there you find heaven.'"
"Seems like some kind of assertiveness training that failed."
"Maybe the tea master's quiet determination made the soldier see that a fight was not
necessary. It moved him to see the master's intrinsic worth and to accept the apology
that the master had offered."
"The actions that one performs daily may actually be special skills that only others truly
see in you. These skills are an extension of who you are. Maybe that's what the soldier
suddenly realized about the master."
"It's not easy showing kindness in the face of hostility. But kindness does win over
anger. The other person comes away with a changed heart."
"You can't control other people's actions, only your own actions and your own state of
mind. This is what stopped the soldier. He couldn't control his own mind, but he saw
that the tea master could."
"I like that the tea master didn't try to control what would happen. He just accepted the
situation and whatever outcome might result. That's true wisdom. That's what the
soldier noticed."
خود پسندی
نخست وزیر تانگ دیناستی یک قهرمان ملی بود چون در هر دو زمینه ی سیاست و نظامی رهبر موفقی بود. اما او باوجود شهرت، قدرت و ثروتش ، متواضعانه و با پارسایی در مورد آیین بودایی می اندیشید. اغلب او به ملاقات پیشوای ذن مورد علاقه اش می رفت و زیر نظر او آموزش می دید و به نظر می آمد خیلی خوب با هم سر می کردند. نخست وزیر بودن او هیچ اثری در رابطه ی بین آنها نداشت ،ارتباط آنها به سادگی یک استاد قابل احترام و یک شاگرد مودب به نظر می رسید
یک روز در حین دیدار معمول آنها ، نخست وزیر از پیشوا پرسید "قربان ،در بودیسم خودبینی چیست؟"
صورت پیشوا سرخ شد، با لحن مهربانی ولی مسخره وتو هین کننده ای ،جمله ای پراند:"این دیگه چه پرسش احمقانه ایه؟!"
این پاسخ غیر منتظره و این لحن توهین آمیز، نخست وزیر را تکانی داد و او کج خلق و عصبانی شد. سپس پیشوای ذن لبخندی زد و گفت:" این،عالیجناب، خودپسندی است."
The master's face turned red, and in a very condescending and insulting tone of voice, he shot back, "What kind of stupid question is that!?"
This unexpected response so shocked the Prime Minister that he became sullen and angry. The Zen master then smiled and said, "THIS, Your Excellency, is egotism."
Egotism
The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty was a national hero for his success as both a statesman and military leader. But despite his fame, power, and wealth, he considered himself a humble and devout Buddhist. Often he visited his favorite Zen master to study under him, and they seemed to get along very well. The fact that he was prime minister apparently had no effect on their relationship, which seemed to be simply one of a revered master and respectful student.
One day, during his usual visit, the Prime Minister asked the master, "Your Reverence, what is egotism according to Buddhism?" The master's face turned red, and in a very condescending and insulting tone of voice, he shot back, "What kind of stupid question is that!?"
This unexpected response so shocked the Prime Minister that he became sullen and angry. The Zen master then smiled and said, "THIS, Your Excellency, is egotism."
People's reactions to this story:
"The best way to learn something is not by having it explained to you, but by EXPERIENCING it yourself, firsthand."
"Actions speak louder than words."
"It's interesting that the Zen master referred to his student as 'Your Excellency' just before he zaps him with the egotism comment. I wonder if he ever called the Prime Minister that before the Prime Minister asked the question about egotism."
"People need to put aside their petty titles in order to really relate to each other. Titles are very egotistical... But then, you also should never forget who you are."
"This story illustrates how enlightenment does not put the master above the student. They relate to each other as equals, including BOTH of them acting egotistical."
"Egotism is a large part of who we be, Without it I'm sure the daily obits would take up most of the paper. I think I was more frightened that a man in his position would ask such a question. Fictional I Hope!"
"I think the message of the story is that people already know the answer to most questions that they ask. Many questions are egotistical in themselves."
"Whenever we call someone else's question stupid, we are being egotistical. Questions are necessary."
"I hope the Prime Minister had a good sense of humor."
"Was the Zen master really insulted by the question, or was it just an act?"
"If the question got the Zen master angry, it must be because he thought the Prime Minister should know better. Maybe he really thought he was better than the Prime Minister. Or maybe the master felt inadequate because he thought he had taught the Prime Minister better. In either case, HE was the one being egotistical."
"People of status sometimes try to pretend that it's no big deal, but it is... to them."