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Drop all 'isms'
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Mind of a Sage
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Judging a saint
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The Fake Monk
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Rinzai's Answer
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Mystic Rengetsu
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Zen
Master Sekito
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Zen Sage & Thief
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Zen Master in Jail
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Buddha’s message
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The Game of Chess
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Innocence is Divine
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Master's Compassion
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Knowledge is Trouble
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Respond with awareness
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Tetsugen
3 set of
sutras
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You are already a Buddha
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Sound of one Hand Clapping
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Master waits 4 right Moment
- Stories 1 - 2
- Stories 3 - 4
- Stories 5 - 7
- Stories 8-9
- Stories 10
- Stories 11
- Stories 12-14
- Stories 15-16
- Stories 17-18
- Stories 19 - 21
- Stories 22 - 24
- Stories 25 - 27
- Stories 28 - 32
- Stories 33 - 36
- Stories 37 - 38
- Stories 39 - 41
- Stories 42 - 44
- Stories 45 - 46
- Stories 47 - 48
- Stories 49 - 50
- Stories 51 - 53
- Stories 54 - 56
- Stories 57 - 59
- Stories 60 - 61
- Stories 62 - 64
- Stories 65 - 66
- Stories 67 - 68
- Stories 69 - 72
- Stories 73 - 75
- Stories 76 - 78
- Stories 79 - 82
- Stories 83 - 86
- Stories 87 - 89
- Stories 90 - 91
- Stories 92 - 94
- Stories 95 - 97
- Stories 98 -101
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42. The Dead Man's Answer
When Mamiya, who later became a well-known preacher, went to a
teacher for personal guidance, he was asked to explain the sound of
one hand.
Mamiya concentrated upon what the sound of one hand might be. 'You
are not working hard enough,' his teacher told him. 'You are too
attached to food, wealth, things, and that sound. It would he better
if you died. That would solve the problem.'
The next time Mamiya appeared before his teacher he was again asked
what he had to show regarding the sound of one hand. Mamiya at once
fell over as if he were dead.
'You are dead all right' observed the teacher. 'But how about that
sound?'
'I haven't solved that yet,' replied Mamiya, looking up. 'Dead men
do not speak,' said the teacher.’ Get out!'
43. Zen in a Beggar’s Life
Tosui was a well-known Zen teacher of his time. He had lived in
several temples and taught in various provinces. The last temple he
visited accumulated so many adherents that Tosui told them he was
going to quit the lecture business entirely.
He advised them to disperse and to go wherever they desired. After
that no one could find any trace of him. Three years later one of
his disciple discovered him living with some beggars under a bridge
in Kyoto. He at once implored Tosui to teach him.
'If you can do as I do for even a couple of days, I might,' Tosui
replied.
So the former disciple dressed as a beggar and spent a day with
Tosui. The following day one of the beggars died.
Tosui and his pupil carried the body off at midnight and buried it
on a mountainside. After that they returned to their shelter under
the bridge.
Tosui slept soundly the remainder of the night, but the disciple
could not sleep. When morning came Tosui said: 'We do not have to
beg food today. Our dead friend has left some over there.' But the
disciple was unable to eat a single bite of it. ‘I have said you
could not do as I.' concluded Tosui. 'Get out of here and do not
bother me again.'
44. The Thief Who Became a Disciple
One evening as Shichiri Kojun was reciting sutras a thief with a
sharp sword entered, demanding either his money or his life,
Shichiri told him: 'Do not disturb me. You an find the money in that
drawer.'
Then he resumed his recitation. A little while afterwards he stopped
and called: 'Don't take it all. I need some to pay taxes with
tomorrow.’
The intruder gathered up most of the money and started to leave.
'Thank a person when you receive a gift,' Shichiri added. The man
thanked him and made off.
A few days afterwards the fellow was caught and confessed, among
others, the offence against Shichiri. When Shichiri was called as a
witness he said: ‘This man is no thief, at least as far as I am
concerned. I gave him the money and he
thanked me for it.' After he had finished his prison term, the men
went to Shichiri and became his disciple.
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