"More Is Not Enough - The Stone Cutter " by Benjamin Hoff
There was once a stone cutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life. One day he passed a wealthy merchant's house. Through the open gateway, he saw many fine possessions and important visitors. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stone cutter. He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant
“The Great Way” by Wu Men
Wumen Huikai (1183–1260) was a Zen Master most famous as the compiler of and commentator on the 48-koan collection The Gateless Gate (Japanese: Mumonkan.
“A Path Less Travelled” by Sean O’Laoire
I believe that we have to become serial killers in order to reach enlightenment. Firstly, we have to kill the ego, in the sense that it needs to be confined to its appropriate tasks (ensuring that I pay my taxes on time, stop at red lights and tie my shoe-laces) but not become my identity. Then I have to kill my father, by which I mean that I have to outgrow the cultural traditions into which I was born, and, instead, embrace a global identity.
“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."