Zen Stories

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The Present Moment

 

A Japanese warrior was captured by his enemies and thrown into prison.

That night he was unable to sleep because he feared that the next day

he would be interrogated, tortured, and executed. Then the words of

his Zen master came to him, " Tomorrow is not real. It is an illusion.

The only reality is now. " Heeding these words, the warrior became

peaceful and fell asleep.

 

 

 

Concentration

 

After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful

champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an

archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency

when he hit a distant bull's eye on his first try, and then split that

arrow with his second shot. " There, " he said to the old man, " see if

you can match that! " Undisturbed, the master did not draw his bow, but

rather motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain.

Curious about the old fellow's intentions, the champion followed him

high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a

rather flimsy and shaky log. Calmly stepping out onto the middle of

the unsteady and certainly perilous bridge, the old master picked a

far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and fired a clean, direct

hit. " Now it is your turn, " he said as he gracefully stepped back onto

the safe ground. Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and

beckoning abyss, the young man could not force himself to step out

onto the log, no less shoot at a target. " You have much skill with

your bow, " the master said, sensing his challenger's predicament, " but

you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot. "

 

 

 

Tea Combat

 

A master of the tea ceremony in old Japan once accidentally slighted a

soldier. He quickly apologized, but the rather impetuous soldier

demanded that the matter be settled in a sword duel. The tea master,

who had no experience with swords, asked the advice of a fellow Zen

master who did possess such skill. As he was served by his friend, the

Zen swordsman could not help but notice how the tea master performed

his art with perfect concentration and tranquility. " Tomorrow, " the

Zen swordsman said, " when you duel the soldier, hold your weapon above

your head, as if ready to strike, and face him with the same

concentration and tranquility with which you perform the tea

ceremony. " The next day, at the appointed time and place for the duel,

the tea master followed this advice. The soldier, readying himself to

strike, stared for a long time into the fully attentive but calm face

of the tea master. Finally, the soldier lowered his sword, apologized

for his arrogance, and left without a blow being struck.

 

 

Without Fear

 

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly

sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village,

everyone fled just before the army arrived - everyone except the Zen

master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple

to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn't

treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was

accustomed, the general burst into anger. " You fool, " he shouted as he

reached for his sword, " don't you realize you are standing before a

man who could run you through without blinking an eye! " But despite

the threat, the master seemed unmoved. " And do you realize, " the

master replied calmly, " that you are standing before a man who can be

run through without blinking an eye? "