At the edge of a small village lived Takeshi. One windy day, his student Hiroshi came to him and said, “I feel that my soul is wild and stormy, unable to find rest—like the crashing surf of the ocean. How can I find peace?” Takeshi smiled and said, “Come, let us go to the sea.” So they walked together to the shore, where the waves pounded against the coast. Takeshi pointed to the raging ocean and said,“Look, Hiroshi—this is like your soul: wild and restless, stirred by though

The Zen Master Ikkyū Sōjun (Japanese: 一休宗純, Ikkyū Sōjun) Even as a young student, Ikkyū was known for his sharp mind. His teacher owned a precious tea bowl, a rare and valuable antique. One day, Ikkyū broke the bowl. Hearing footsteps, he was startledand hid the broken pieces behind his back. His teacher entered the room. Ikkyū asked, “Master, why must people die?” The teacher replied calmly, “It is natural.Everything must dieand lives only as long as it is meant to.” Then I

Once there was a young monk whose soul was as restless as the waves of a storm-tossed sea. He had read much about “enlightenment” and heard that it was like a mighty wind that sweeps away the old and clears the soul. He wanted to possess this state at any cost. One night, when a powerful storm swept across the mountains, he ran out into the darkness. In his hands he carried a delicate paper lantern. He believed that if he ran fast enough and opened the lantern at just the rig