“The River Cannot Go Back” by Kahlil Gibran
It is said that before entering the seaa river trembles with fear.She looks back at the path she has traveled,from the peaks of the mountains,the long winding road crossing forests and villages.
"REALIZATION-WAY SONG" — Cheng-tao Ke, translated by Alan Watts in The Way of Zen
Like the empty sky
it has no boundaries,
Yet it is right in this place,
ever profound and clear.
When you seek to know it,
you cannot see it.
"The Song of the Bird" — Anthony de Mello
The disciples were full of questions about God.
Said the Master, “God is Unknown, the Unknowable. Every statement about Him, every answer to your questions, is a distortion of the Truth.”
The disciples were bewildered. “Then why do you speak about Him at all?”
"Agents of Grace" by William Martin
The sage can find a welcome
in the most inhospitable places
because no one perceives a threat.
People soften in the sage's presence
and minds open up to learning.
Kindly spoken words
open doors that crowbars couldn't budge.
"The Empty Boat" by Chuang Tzu
Who can free himself of achievement and fame
Then descend and be lost
Amidst the masses of men?
He will flow like Tao, unseen…
He will go about like life itself,
With no name and no home.
“The Gates of Paradise " by Japanese Zen teacher Muju
A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: "Is there really a paradise and a hell?"
"Who are you?" inquired Hakuin.
"I am a samurai," the warrior replied.
"You, a soldier!" exclaimed Hakuin. "What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar."
"Can You Hear The Mountain Stream?" — Unknown
A Zen Master was walking in silence with one of his disciples along a mountain trail. When they came to an ancient cedar tree, they sat down under it for a simple meal of some rice and vegetables. After the meal, the disciple, a young monk who had not yet found the key to the mystery of Life, broke the silence by asking the Master, "Master, how do I enter Life (inner-freedom)?"
These Zen Buddhist Koans Will Open Your Mind by Carol Kuruvilla (excerpt by Kosin Paley Ellison) Huffington Post
"These Zen Buddhist Koans Will Open Your Mind" by Carol Kuruvilla (excerpt by Kosin Paley Ellison) Huffington Post
Once a monk made a request of Joshu.
“I have just entered the monastery,” he said. “Please give me instructions, Master.”
Joshu said, “Have you had your breakfast?”
“Yes, I have,” replied the monk.
“Then,” said Joshu, “wash your bowls.”
The monk had an insight.
A Cartoon by Jeremy Nguyen
Realizing that not every moment in life will be deep, or meaningful, or vibrating with energy that would give him the fulfillment that he'd always hoped for, Todd unloaded the dishwasher.
“The Acorn” by Dianne Bautch
The acorn grows into the grand oak tree,
not caring if the little sapling
longs to be something else …
a maple, a birch, an evergreen.
It becomes what it was created to be,
what it was meant to be.