RSS Feed Feed Start Start Here Here S S Welcome Welcome to to Buddhaimonia Buddhaimonia S S Opt Opt in in S S Books Books Courses Courses S S Reader Reader Listener Listener Favorites Favorites S S What What Readers Readers Are Are Saying Saying Start Start Here Here Blog Blog Podcast Podcast About About Free Free Course Course Books Books Courses Courses Buddhaimonia Buddhaimonia Start Start Here Here S S Welcome Welcome to to Buddhaimonia Buddhaimonia S S Opt Opt in in S S Books Books Courses Courses S S Reader Reader Listener Listener Favorites Favorites S S What What Readers Readers Are Are Saying Saying Start Start Here Here Blog Blog Podcast Podcast About About Free Free Course Course Books Books Courses Courses November November Matt Matt Valentine Valentine Awesome Awesome Zen Zen Stories Stories That That Will Will Teach Teach You You Important Important Life Life Lessons Lessons November November Matt Matt Valentine Valentine Awesome Awesome Zen Zen Stories Stories That That Will Will Teach Teach You You Important Important Life Life Lessons Lessons Awesome Awesome Zen Zen Stories Stories That That Will Will Teach Teach You You Important Important Life Life Lessons Lessons Zen Zen has has a a rich rich tradition tradition of of storytelling storytelling Actually Actually just just about about the the entire entire human human race race has has a a rich rich history history of of storytelling storytelling Why Why do do we we like like stories stories so so much much Because Because we we can can identify identify with with them them Stories Stories whether whether real real or or not not pull pull and and tug tug at at our our emotions emotions We We connect connect personally personally with with stories stories Whereas Whereas someone someone can can tell tell us us that that it it s s important important for for us us to to appreciate appreciate and and care care for for our our parents parents another another person person can can tell tell us us a a story story about about the the life life of of a a daughter daughter and and her her mother mother and and about about how how neither neither could could ever ever see see eye eye to to eye eye all all the the way way up up until until the the day day that that the the mother mother passed passed away away Even Even if if you you aren aren t t a a daughter daughter but but a a son son or or if if it it was was your your father father whom whom you you had had that that type type of of relationship relationship with with or or even even if if you you just just feel feel like like you you don don t t appreciate appreciate your your mother mother or or father father or or both both enough enough regardless regardless a a story story like like that that can can touch touch you you in in a a way way that that someone someone simply simply telling telling you you hey hey it it s s important important that that you you appreciate appreciate your your parents parents could could never never do do We We need need to to experience experience something something directly directly in in order order to to really really learn learn what what it it s s about about This This is is wisdom wisdom as as opposed opposed to to knowledge knowledge much much like like you you d d acquire acquire in in a a class class at at school school a a parrot parrot like like type type of of learning learning that that serves serves as as a a nice nice basis basis for for establishing establishing the the necessary necessary foundation foundation for for certain certain larger larger tasks tasks but but which which can can serve serve little little real real use use elsewhere elsewhere particularly particularly in in advancing advancing your your well well being being I I love love Zen Zen stories stories Not Not just just because because I I find find them them fun fun because because I I do do most most Zen Zen Buddhist Buddhist short short stories stories require require some some level level of of meditative meditative contemplation contemplation to to figure figure out out I I love love them them because because their their purpose purpose is is to to teach teach a a lesson lesson Also Also Zen Zen short short stories stories go go beyond beyond just just Zen Zen They They re re really really just just stories stories about about life life So So keep keep in in mind mind I I only only say say Zen Zen stories stories because because they they originated originated from from the the Zen Zen Buddhist Buddhist tradition tradition They They speak speak of of truths truths which which everyone everyone can can learn learn from from though though as as does does all all of of Zen Zen The The lesson lesson can can be be anything anything any any undeniable undeniable life life truth truth which which can can be be discovered discovered through through a a life life devoted devoted to to looking looking within within yourself yourself This This is is the the life life of of any any Buddhist Buddhist many many non non Buddhists Buddhists and and should should be be the the life life of of anyone anyone who who cares cares to to find find the the path path to to true true peace peace and and happiness happiness These These stories stories only only seek seek to to point point the the way way Don Don t t take take any any of of them them for for the the truth truth without without investigating investigating them them for for yourself yourself The The point point isn isn t t to to believe believe blindly blindly it it s s to to develop develop confidence confidence in in your your life life and and in in the the way way By By the the way way I I mean mean the the way way to to live live our our best best life life and and ultimately ultimately find find peace peace within within ourselves ourselves and and with with others others Here Here s s some some of of my my favorite favorite Zen Zen stories stories ZfELBlankLogoGreenBackground ZfELBlankLogoGreenBackground png png ZfELBlankLogoGreenBackground ZfELBlankLogoGreenBackground png png Zen Zen for for Everyday Everyday Life Life Online Online Course Course Coming Coming Soon Soon If If you you re re interested interested in in learning learning how how to to live live a a more more authentic authentic Zen Zen life life and and bring bring peace peace joy joy and and balance balance into into your your everyday everyday life life then then you you ll ll love love my my upcoming upcoming course course Zen Zen for for Everyday Everyday Life Life If If you you d d like like to to be be notified notified when when more more information information is is available available as as well well as as get get some some cool cool exclusive exclusive bonuses bonuses from from here here until until release release fill fill in in your your name name and and email email below below Awesome Awesome Zen Zen Stories Stories That That Will Will Teach Teach You You Important Important Life Life Lessons Lessons Everything Everything changes changes Suzuki Suzuki Roshi Roshi I I ve ve been been listening listening to to your your lectures lectures for for years years a a student student said said during during the the question question and and answer answer time time following following a a lecture lecture but but I I just just don don t t understand understand Could Could you you just just please please put put it it in in a a nutshell nutshell Can Can you you reduce reduce Buddhism Buddhism to to one one phrase phrase Everyone Everyone laughed laughed Suzuki Suzuki laughed laughed Everything Everything changes changes he he said said Then Then he he asked asked for for another another question question Explanation Explanation One One of of the the foremost foremost teachings teachings in in Buddhism Buddhism is is that that everything everything in in life life is is impermanent impermanent Suzuki Suzuki Roshi Roshi Shunryu Shunryu Suzuki Suzuki of of Zen Zen Mind Mind Beginner Beginner s s Mind Mind is is referring referring to to this this impermanence impermanence by by saying saying everything everything changes changes This This is is a a very very deep deep teaching teaching but but I I ll ll attempt attempt to to sum sum it it up up in in a a way way that that can can be be understood understood and and immediately immediately helpful helpful in in a a few few words words Because Because it it encompasses encompasses everything everything you you can can contemplate contemplate for for hours hours on on end end and and not not realize realize the the full full magnitude magnitude of of the the principle principle of of impermanence impermanence You You are are impermanent impermanent your your loved loved ones ones are are impermanent impermanent your your home home is is impermanent impermanent even even our our planet planet is is impermanent impermanent Why Why is is this this important important Because Because it it teaches teaches us us that that grasping grasping onto onto things things is is one one of of the the major major reasons reasons as as to to why why we we suffer suffer We We need need to to live live being being aware aware of of the the ever ever changing changing nature nature of of reality reality and and appreciate appreciate the the present present moment moment It It s s not not about about letting letting go go it it s s really really about about not not grasping grasping in in the the first first place place If If we we can can learn learn to to live live in in this this way way we we can can find find peace peace in in everyday everyday life life Empty Empty your your cup cup Nan Nan in in a a Japanese Japanese master master during during the the Meiji Meiji era era received received a a university university professor professor who who came came to to inquire inquire about about Zen Zen Nan Nan in in served served tea tea He He poured poured his his visitor visitor s s cup cup full full and and then then kept kept on on pouring pouring The The professor professor watched watched the the overflow overflow until until he he no no longer longer could could restrain restrain himself himself It It is is overfull overfull No No more more will will go go in in Like Like this this cup cup Nan Nan in in said said you you are are full full of of your your own own opinions opinions and and speculations speculations How How can can I I show show you you Zen Zen unless unless you you first first empty empty your your cup cup Explanation Explanation The The story story tells tells it it how how it it is is so so I I ll ll leave leave it it at at that that Non Non judgment judgment Once Once upon upon the the time time there there was was an an old old farmer farmer who who had had worked worked his his crops crops for for many many years years One One day day his his horse horse ran ran away away Upon Upon hearing hearing the the news news his his neighbors neighbors came came to to visit visit Such Such bad bad luck luck they they said said sympathetically sympathetically Maybe Maybe the the farmer farmer replied replied The The next next morning morning the the horse horse returned returned bringing bringing with with it it three three other other wild wild horses horses How How wonderful wonderful the the neighbors neighbors exclaimed exclaimed Maybe Maybe replied replied the the old old man man The The following following day day his his son son tried tried to to ride ride one one of of the the untamed untamed horses horses was was thrown thrown and and broke broke his his leg leg The The neighbors neighbors again again came came to to offer offer their their sympathy sympathy on on his his misfortune misfortune Maybe Maybe answered answered the the farmer farmer The The day day after after military military officials officials came came to to the the village village to to draft draft young young men men into into the the army army Seeing Seeing that that the the son son s s leg leg was was broken broken they they passed passed him him by by The The neighbors neighbors congratulated congratulated the the farmer farmer on on how how well well things things had had turned turned out out Maybe Maybe said said the the farmer farmer Explanation Explanation The The farmer farmer is is practicing practicing non non judgment judgment He He understands understands the the true true nature nature of of life life that that you you can can t t judge judge any any event event as as an an end end in in a a way way Our Our life life doesn doesn t t play play out out like like a a work work of of fiction fiction There There aren aren t t definite definite breaks breaks that that separate separate one one moment moment versus versus another another and and there there isn isn t t a a perfectly perfectly formulated formulated end end which which everything everything builds builds to to There There s s always always tomorrow tomorrow And And whether whether the the day day was was good good or or bad bad there there are are a a million million effects effects which which can can arise arise from from one one event event Good Good and and bad bad are are interconnected interconnected They They are are in in fact fact two two sides sides of of the the same same coin coin If If things things seem seem perfect perfect they they aren aren t t If If it it seems seems like like it it s s Armageddon Armageddon in in your your corner corner of of the the world world it it s s not not Things Things can can change change in in an an instant instant at at all all times times And And they they will will at at some some point point or or another another This This doesn doesn t t mean mean that that we we can can t t be be happy happy On On the the contrary contrary it it means means that that we we need need to to realize realize this this truth truth and and live live in in a a way way that that we we re re constantly constantly aware aware of of it it in in order order to to find find peace peace and and happiness happiness Don Don t t let let this this change change the the way way you you live live too too much much just just yet yet though though For For now now just just think think on on it it observe observe your your life life through through the the lens lens of of this this infinitely infinitely co co arising arising universe universe This This act act in in itself itself can can bring bring you you a a great great sense sense of of peace peace Right Right and and Wrong Wrong When When Bankei Bankei held held his his seclusion seclusion weeks weeks of of meditation meditation pupils pupils from from many many parts parts of of Japan Japan came came to to attend attend During During one one of of these these gatherings gatherings a a pupil pupil was was caught caught stealing stealing The The matter matter was was reported reported to to Bankei Bankei with with the the request request that that the the culprit culprit be be expelled expelled Bankei Bankei ignored ignored the the case case Later Later the the pupil pupil was was caught caught in in a a similar similar act act and and again again Bankei Bankei disregarded disregarded the the matter matter This This angered angered the the other other pupils pupils who who drew drew up up a a petition petition asking asking for for the the dismissal dismissal of of the the thief thief stating stating that that otherwise otherwise they they would would leave leave in in a a body body When When Bankei Bankei had had read read the the petition petition he he called called everyone everyone before before him him You You are are wise wise brothers brothers he he told told them them You You know know what what is is right right and and what what is is not not right right You You may may go go somewhere somewhere else else to to study study if if you you wish wish but but this this poor poor brother brother does does not not even even know know right right from from wrong wrong Who Who will will teach teach him him if if I I do do not not I I am am going going to to keep keep him him here here even even if if all all the the rest rest of of you you leave leave A A torrent torrent of of tears tears cleansed cleansed the the face face of of the the brother brother who who had had stolen stolen All All desire desire to to steal steal had had vanished vanished Explanation Explanation This This story story is is pretty pretty straightforward straightforward but but it it certainly certainly doesn doesn t t make make you you think think any any less less than than the the rest rest How How quickly quickly would would most most people people turn turn their their back back on on those those who who commit commit a a crime crime like like stealing stealing just just as as the the pupils pupils did did But But look look deeper deeper and and you you might might just just see see another another human human being being Someone Someone that that simply simply needs needs to to be be shown shown the the path path Don Don t t write write people people off off so so easily easily Expressing Expressing compassion compassion isn isn t t always always easy easy but but we we re re all all together together in in this this life life so so we we can can t t just just help help those those that that keep keep good good behavior behavior Those Those people people who who commit commit such such crimes crimes are are often often some some of of the the people people that that need need help help with with the the most most basic basic spiritual spiritual and and human human principles principles such such as as right right and and wrong wrong If If you you have have a a loved loved one one who who s s committed committed a a crime crime before before you you ll ll know know exactly exactly what what I I mean mean You You know know they they can can be be better better and and they they shouldn shouldn t t be be thrown thrown out out just just because because they they did did something something wrong wrong at at some some point point Sure Sure we we need need to to keep keep order order so so they they should should be be disciplined disciplined for for their their behavior behavior but but we we also also need need to to take take the the time time to to teach teach them them right right and and wrong wrong We We should should strive strive to to lift lift them them up up just just as as we we strive strive to to lift lift ourselves ourselves and and those those we we love love up up despite despite their their own own flaws flaws Be Be the the boss boss A A horse horse suddenly suddenly came came galloping galloping quickly quickly down down the the road road It It seemed seemed as as though though the the man man had had somewhere somewhere important important to to go go Another Another man man who who was was standing standing alongside alongside the the road road shouted shouted Where Where are are you you going going and and the the man man on on the the horse horse replied replied I I don don t t know know Ask Ask the the horse horse Explanation Explanation This This is is a a short short but but well well known known Zen Zen story story with with a a powerful powerful meaning meaning behind behind it it The The horse horse symbolizes symbolizes our our habit habit energy energy The The story story explains explains the the way way we we usually usually live live at at the the mercy mercy of of our our old old habit habit energies energies which which have have been been established established not not by by our our intentional intentional actions actions but but by by our our surroundings surroundings and and mindless mindless activity activity The The horse horse is is pulling pulling us us along along making making us us run run here here and and there there and and hurry hurry everywhere everywhere and and we we don don t t even even know know why why If If you you stopped stopped to to ask ask yourself yourself from from time time to to time time why why exactly exactly you you re re running running around around so so much much sometimes sometimes you you might might have have an an answer answer but but it it s s never never a a very very good good one one You You re re just just used used to to it it it it s s how how we we re re taught taught to to live live But But as as much much as as we we run run it it gets gets us us nowhere nowhere We We need need to to learn learn how how to to take take back back the the reigns reigns and and let let the the horse horse know know who who s s boss boss You You re re the the boss boss you you ve ve always always been been the the boss boss so so start start acting acting like like it it Watch Watch yourself yourself There There was was once once a a pair pair of of acrobats acrobats The The teacher teacher was was a a poor poor widower widower and and the the student student was was a a young young girl girl by by the the name name of of Meda Meda These These acrobats acrobats performed performed each each day day on on the the streets streets in in order order to to earn earn enough enough to to eat eat Their Their act act consisted consisted of of the the teacher teacher balancing balancing a a tall tall bamboo bamboo pole pole on on his his head head while while the the little little girl girl climbed climbed slowly slowly to to the the top top Once Once to to the the top top she she remained remained there there while while the the teacher teacher walked walked along along the the ground ground Both Both performers performers had had to to maintain maintain complete complete focus focus and and balance balance in in order order to to prevent prevent any any injury injury from from occurring occurring and and to to complete complete the the performance performance One One day day the the teacher teacher said said to to the the pupil pupil Listen Listen Meda Meda I I will will watch watch you you and and you you watch watch me me so so that that we we can can help help each each other other maintain maintain concentration concentration and and balance balance and and prevent prevent an an accident accident Then Then we we ll ll surely surely earn earn enough enough to to eat eat But But the the little little girl girl was was wise wise she she answered answered Dear Dear master master I I think think it it would would be be better better for for each each of of us us to to watch watch ourself ourself To To look look after after oneself oneself means means to to look look after after both both of of us us That That way way I I am am sure sure we we will will avoid avoid any any accidents accidents and and earn earn enough enough to to eat eat Explanation Explanation This This one one isn isn t t a a specifically specifically Zen Zen story story but but it it s s said said to to have have been been told told by by the the Buddha Buddha himself himself This This story story is is meant meant to to illustrate illustrate that that taking taking care care of of yourself yourself is is the the most most important important thing thing you you can can do do to to take take care care of of others others By By learning learning how how to to nourish nourish your your mind mind and and body body you you ll ll naturally naturally begin begin to to treat treat those those around around you you with with more more compassion compassion love love and and kindness kindness and and create create a a more more positive positive impact impact on on the the world world around around you you as as a a whole whole There There is is no no division division taking taking care care of of yourself yourself in in a a spiritual spiritual sense sense not not in in a a material material buy buy myself myself things things kind kind of of sense sense equals equals taking taking care care of of others others Specifically Specifically by by taking taking care care of of yourself yourself the the Buddha Buddha was was referring referring to to mindfulness mindfulness The The Buddha Buddha also also said said that that by by taking taking care care of of others others by by showing showing them them compassion compassion and and loving loving kindness kindness we we take take care care of of ourselves ourselves Living Living Zen Zen Spirit Spirit Coming Coming Soon Soon If If you you re re interested interested in in learning learning how how to to bring bring more more authentic authentic Zen Zen spirit spirit into into your your life life then then you you ll ll love love my my upcoming upcoming book book Living Living Zen Zen If If you you d d like like to to be be notified notified when when more more information information is is available available as as well well as as get get some some cool cool exclusive exclusive book book bonuses bonuses from from here here until until release release fill fill in in your your name name and and email email below below November November Matt Matt Valentine Valentine format format w w Matt Matt Valentine Valentine Important Important Life Life Lessons Lessons My My Children Children Have Have Taught Taught Me Me Simple Simple Steps Steps to to Simple Simple Living Living in in Days Days How How to to Simplify Simplify Your Your Life Life from from Start Start to to Finish Finish in in Days Days Get Get The The Little Little Book Book of of Mindfulness Mindfulness Join Join others others who who receive receive weekly weekly insights insights inspiration inspiration and and wisdom wisdom for for a a more more mindful mindful peaceful peaceful and and stress stress free free life life and and get get a a free free download download of of my my beginner beginner s s guide guide to to mindfulness mindfulness The The Little Little Book Book of of Mindfulness Mindfulness get get the the book book Back Back To To Top Top About About Contact Contact BOOKS BOOKS COURSES COURSES Buddhaimonia