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A Cup of Tea

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji Era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "it is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

Obedience

The master Banke's talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras nor indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.

His large audiences angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to debate with Bankei.

"Hey, Zen teacher!" he called out. "Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?"

"Come up beside me and I will show you," said Bankei.

Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.

Bankei smiled. "Come over to my left side."

The priest obeyed.

"No," said Bankei, "we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here."

The priest proudly stepped over to the right.

"You see," observed Bankei, "you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen."

The Moon Cannot be Stolen

Ryokan, a Zen master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal.

Ryokan returned and caught him. "you may have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift."

The thief was bewildered. he took the clothes and slunk away.

Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, "I wish I could give him this beautiful moon."

More to come

Views: 33

Comment by Patricia Alexander on October 19, 2010 at 1:14am
Love these stories, just read a beautiful one about a man whose horse ran away and son ended up crippled, but kept saying "we shall see" whenever anyone comforted or congratulated him as having good or bad fortune. Do you know of what I refer? It is a good story, but I dont want to share it as this is your blog. If you would like me to send the story let me know, perhaps you could use it here. I love these stories and hope you will keep posting them. I am sharing this blog on my Facebook.
Comment by Ryan Christopher Bourgart on October 19, 2010 at 1:05pm
Thank you for your comment! I have not heard of this story. Yes, feel free to send it. I sincerely enjoy sharing these kinds of stories with other people and I will keep doing so.

Love and Peace,

Ryan

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