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."
صداهای سکوت
چهار رهرو تصمیم می گیرند که در سکوت،بدون این که حرف بزنند برای دو هفته به مدیتیشن بپردازند. در شبانگاه روز یکم شمع شروع به کم نور شدن می کند و سپس خاموش می شود. اولین رهرو می گوید:" اوه ، نه! شمع خاموش شد.".
دومین رهرو می گوید "فرض کنید حرف نزدیم؟"
سومی می گوید:"چرا شما دو نفر باید سکوت را بشکنید؟"
چهارمی می گوید:"ها ! تنها کسی که حرف نزد من بودم."
Sounds of Silence
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."
People's reactions to this story:
"Each monk broke the silence for a different reason, each of which is a common stumbling block to meditation. The first monk became distraced by one element of the world (the candle) and so lost sight of the rest. The second monk was more worried about rules than the meditation itself. The third monk let his anger at the first two rule him. And the final monk was lost in his ego."
The path is open to its failures as they are the stones to its success.
"I am reminded of a car game I used to play with my children called 'Listening for Silence.' The object of the game for me was to stop the noise in the car. The object of the game for the children was to see who could resist speaking the longest by listening for silence. If the first child spoke and the second child automatically burst out proclaiming victory, then both children lost. The object was to listen for silence and silence speaks for itself"
Things do not always go as planned.
This is symbolic of something else, I know, but I'll just say it the way it was told. If you're used to talking, it's going to be hard to resist the temptation to talk, moreso when you're with others, which I would think they would've thought of. It's like telling someone who sees just fine to close their eyes for a week, staying awake, and not open them at all, no matter what noises they heard. It's pretty near impossible to resist temptation when you've never had to resist that type of temptation before.
You could have ended the story at the point when "the candle flickered and went out."
The four monks have each broken their silence for an altogether different reason. But another side is in the fact that the 4th monk spoke at all. Had he simply maintained his silence, he would've been successful in his endeavor. But if he had, in all likelihood, the other three would've probably continued to argue and not even noticed his silence. I know many people who are like the 4th monk; their motto: If I'm doing something good and no one is watching (or no one notices), I might as well not be doing it at all. They believe that the reward is not in the effort, but in the recognition.
Were I a fifth monk I would wait 10 minutes into the exercise, stand up and yell loudly. HAAAAAAH I LOSE!!!! Then walk out to do some non-competitive meditation.
Enter a woods and hear the wilderness listen. That's where you'll find it.... John, your "Ph.D." is not silent.
This story reminds me a teaching. When you meditate in breathing, you should concentrate your mind to your breath only and cast out all thoughts, including a thought that you are breathing.
"If you can describe the zen then you do not know it. 'The buffalo left his enclosure for the abyss, his head passed the doorway, his shoulders, girth and haunches, yet his tail would not pass through' - - koan from the gateless gate"
"Oaths and Promises - Lightly spoken..Hardly Kept."
It is the provence of knowledge to speak; it is the privilege of wisdom - to listen.
It is clear from reading the story that none of the monks are spiritually ready to perform the difficult silent meditation. Unfocused and easily distracted by their surroundings(the burnt out candle and the conversations of themselves) they all failed to reach their aim of meditating in silent for two weeks. I see the moral of the story is 'to plan thoroughly and be solidly ready before embarking on an action. Focus your mind constantly in reaching your aim, and the objective will be reached, no matter how hard it is.'
فقط دو کلمه
در یک معبد ی بسیار سخت گیر بودد. پیرو یک پیمان سکوت،هیچ کس به هیچ وجه اجازه ی حرف زدن نداشت . اما یک استثنا در این قانون وجود داشت . هر ده سال یک بار رهروان اجازه ی حرف زدن فقط دو کلمه را داشتند. پس از گذشتن نخستین ده سال سکوت در معبد ، یک رهرو نزد رهرو بالاتر خودش رفت و رهروی بالاتر گفت: "ده سالی گذشت خواسته ی تو در دو کلمه چیست؟"
رهرو گفت: " رختخواب .. سفت...."
رهرو ی بالاتر گفت: " صحیح ،"
ده سال بعد، رهرو به دفتر کار رهرو بالاتر رفت و رهروی بالاتر گفت: "بیش از ده سالی گذشت خواسته ی تو در دو کلمه چیست؟"
رهرو پاسخ داد:" غذا...بوی گند می دهد...."
رهروی بالاتر پاسخ داد: "صحیح،"
ده سال دیگر هم گذشت و رهرو بار دیگر نزدرهرو بالاتر رفت که پرسید: " پس از گذشتن این ده سال دو کلمه ای که می خواهی بگویی چیست؟"
رهرو گفت:" من ... ول کردم "
رهروی بالاتر پاسخ داد: " من می دانم چرا. شما همیشه شاکی بودی."
There once was a monastery that was very strict. Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. "It has been ten years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"
"Bed... hard..." said the monk.
"I see," replied the head monk.
Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office. "It has been ten more years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"
"Food... stinks..." said the monk.
"I see," replied the head monk.
Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these ten years?"
"I... quit!" said the monk.
"Well, I can see why," replied the head monk. "All you ever do is complain."
"Bed... hard..." said the monk.
"I see," replied the head monk.
Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office. "It has been ten more years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"
"Food... stinks..." said the monk.
"I see," replied the head monk.
Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these ten years?"
"I... quit!" said the monk.
"Well, I can see why," replied the head monk. "All you ever do is complain."
بیداری
Enlightened
One day the Master announced that a young monk had reached an advanced state of enlightment. The news caused some stir. Some of the monks went to see the young monk. "We heard you are enlightened. Is that true?" they asked.
"It is," he replied.
"And how do you feel?"
"As miserable as ever," said the monk.
People's reactions to this story:
"The master was either lying or decieved, and the student was at the least lying to himself. As a wise man once said, 'Enlightened people take things lightly.'"
"To be enlightened doesn't mean to be lucky simultaneously.We all know why."
"Once achieving enlightenment the monk could see the state of the world and life with clarity. What he sees is not good. It is ironic that this wonderful achievement only brings him misery through the enlightened truth he now sees."
"It doesn't matter if your enlightened or not, you still have the same feelings as before. Only now things are much clearer. "
"Reality is reality whether you're enlightened or not."
"Knowledge is infinite. The more you learn, the more you will realise that you know nothing."
"Enlightenment changes nothing and everything. Nothing is solved! Enlightenment is not a goal but a state of being that has to be rediscovered on a continual basis."
"o.k. smile."
"The reason I believe this being to say "miserable as ever" is because now the others will be expecting him to be a certain being and act in certain ways. One cannot be free if there are always expectations of him."
"the more you know, the less you know."
"After "enlightenment" the young monk finally understands the world, how it works, and all of its component parts. Now this feat is a large one, one that many do not achieve. The reason the monk is now more miserable is because he feels the situation that he now is "enlightened" upon is a helpless one. Unfortunately the monk is pessimistic, and cannot forsee a solution for all of the problems that he has just begun to understand. Maybe the monk is not truly enlightened."
"the journey is more important than the destination."
"Enlightenment is a state of consciousness beyond emotions, positive or negative. An enlightened person would be totally accepting of his state of mind at each moment, however miserable that might be. Ultimately however true enlightened would in time lead to a wholly positive emotional state which would reflect and express the bliss of transcendence."
"If enlightenment is the state of seeing things as they truly are, then it isn't necessarily going to make you happy...."
"We have no valid way of predicting how we shall feel once enlightenment is attained - although we all have presumptions and curiosity. The reality may (probably will?) be wonderful yet different from our assumptions."
"When a person is enlightened, they discover that they still know so much less, than ever they did."
"For monks to became enlightened doesn't require to change feelings."
"I think that the young monk told his peers that he was as miserable as ever so that they would not envy him or his enlightenment. If they were to envy him then it would hinder their own development because in order to reach this higher consciousness one is supposed to have let go of any desires. To want this enlightenment so much would just add on another 'want'".
"Many people believe that with enlightenment comes peace, power and a sense of knowing, but with each stage of enlightenment we must still chop wood and carry water."
"I used to be different, now I'm the same..."