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 thoughts and emotions.”...

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 Ikkyū brought out...

The Chan disciple Yamaoka Tesshū (Japanese: 山岡鉄舟, Yamaoka Tesshū) wandered from master to master, in search of true insight. Finally, he appeared before Dokuon (Japanese: 独園承珠, Dokuon Jōshu) at Shōkoku Temple. To demonstrate his insight, Tesshū said: "Mind, Buddha, and all beings ultimately do not exist. The true nature of all phenomena is emptiness. There is no realization, no delusion, no wisdom, no means. There is no giving and nothing that is received." Dokuon sat silently and smoked his...