A monk asked the master:“If there is no self,why do you care for posture, breath, and the body?” The master took a simple clay bowl, rinsed it and placed it before the monk. The bowl was empty. The master went to the well, filled it with water and handed it to the monk. “Drink.” After the monk had drunk, the master turned the bowl upside down on the table. The master said: “Precisely because it is empty,it can hold clearly.” The monk asked: “And if it breaks?” The master repl

A student asked Master Weizhen: “Why do we care for the bodyif everything is impermanent?” “He is like a mandala, ” said Weizhen.“We spend hours, days, sometimes even weekscreating an almost perfect mandala.But when it is finished,we offer it to the riverand let it dissolve.” The student was confused. “Why all this effortif it is destroyed?” The master replied: “Precisely because it passes,we care for it.This is the practice of life.” Then he continued: “This body is my manda

Zhuāngzǐ (莊子) and Huìzǐ (惠子) were once walking together across the bridge over the Hào River (濠水, Hào shuǐ). Zhuāngzǐ stopped and looked into the clear water. “Look how joyfully the fish leap about in the water—that is the joy of the fish,” he said. Huìzǐ frow ned. “You are not a fish, Zhuāngzǐ. How can you know what the joy of the fish is?” Zhuāngzǐ smiled. “And you are not me, Huìzǐ. How can you know that I do not know?” Huìzǐ was silent for a moment, then said: “You are no

When Thich Nhat Hanh was still a young novice,one evening he was polishing the temple bell. The rain began — softly at first, then heavier. He listened as the drops fell on the roof, uneven yet harmonious in their rhythm. His hand moved in the same flow, his breath followed the sound. In that moment, everything merged —rain, sound, breath, movement. He no longer perceived any separation between himself and what was happening. There was only doing — and complete presence. Late

It was at the end of a training session,when a little time still remained — just enough for one last question. Master Weizhen looked around the room and spoke calmly: “Students, do you have any questions?But there is only time for one.” For a moment, there was silence. “No one has a question?” asked Weizhen. At last, Reifa raised a hand and said, “Master, I actually have many questions.” Weizhen nodded. “Then simply ask one of them.” Reifa fell silent, thinking…and thinking a

A student asked the Master: “Master, how can I know if my soul is at peace?” The Master lit a small lantern and placed it in the wind. The flame flickered, but he said nothing. After a while, the student spoke: “The flame trembles — perhaps my soul is the same.” The Master blew out the lantern.“And now?” he asked. The student was silent. The Master smiled: “When the path remains bright even without the light —then your soul is at rest.”

A student asked Master Zhuang: “Master, why do some choose the difficult pathwhen they could live comfortably in luxury?” Zhuangzi pointed to a heron walking through the marsh. “Do you see that bird over there?” “Yes, Master.” “He must take ten steps to find something to peck,and a hundred steps to find water to drink —and yet, he sings.” said Zhuangzi. The student asked: “And if someone feeds him?” Zhuangzi replied: “Then he stops singing.” The student asked again, “But why

A student came to Master Weizhen and said: “Master Weizhen, I often feel frozen inside. My thoughts keep circling around,and I don’t know...

A young student came to his Chan master, burning with anger. “Master! I’ve been watching another student—he constantly shows off, boasts,...

Bodhidharma sat in silence, facing the wall.A monk named Huike came to him again and again, asking for instruction. But Bodhidharma...

In a Chan monastery, it was once tradition for students to take a solemn vow:Even if their master were to kill them one day, they would...

A farmer came to a venerable Tendai priest and asked him to recite sutras for his wife, who was lying on her deathbed. When the...

A monk asked Master Xuěfēng Yìcún (雪峰義存): "Master, where can I find the Way? Where is Buddha?" Xuěfēng gazed into the distance. "Do you...

A monk, tirelessly seeking the truth, came one morning to his master, Xuěfēng Yìcún, and spoke: “Master, I have read the scriptures and...

One day, the monks of the monastery gathered around their master, Xuěfēng Yìcún, who was seated on a rock, holding his staff in hand. The...

Was ist denn schon fair?

One morning, Master Xuěfēng sat in front of the monastery under a clear blue sky, the sun shining brightly down. An eager monk stepped...

A student came to Master Weizhen and said, "Master, I believe I have found my inner peace." "That is wonderful. But calm down first,"...

Soyen Shaku (释宗演, Shì Zōngyǎn), one of the first Chan teachers to come to America. A new student asked him: "What should we look to each...

One day, Weizhen was walking in the countryside with his student Tianlai  (天籁). As they passed by a garden, Tianlai saw ripe oranges and...