Inspiring stories to brighten your mind
"The Empty Cup" - A Zen master pours tea for his student, but keeps pouring even after the cup is full. The student asks why he doesn't stop, and the master replies, "Your mind is like this cup. If it is already full, how can you receive anything new?"
"The Farmer's Luck" - A farmer's horse runs away, and his neighbors say it's bad luck. The farmer replies, "Good luck, bad luck, who knows?" The horse returns with several wild horses, and the neighbors say it's good luck. The farmer again responds, "Good luck, bad luck, who knows?" The farmer's son breaks his leg trying to tame one of the wild horses, and the neighbors say it's bad luck. The farmer once again says, "Good luck, bad luck, who knows?" Later, a war breaks out and all able-bodied men are drafted, but the farmer's son cannot go because of his broken leg. The neighbors say it's good luck, and the farmer responds, "Good luck, bad luck, who knows?"
"The Gateless Gate" - A student asks his Zen master for the key to enlightenment. The master replies, "There is no key. The gate to enlightenment is gateless."
"The Stonecutter" - A stonecutter is dissatisfied with his life and wishes to be more powerful. He is granted his wish and becomes a powerful king, but then he sees the sun is more powerful and wishes to be the sun. He then sees the clouds are more powerful and wishes to be the clouds, and so on until he realizes that he is happiest being himself.
"The Two Monks and the River" - Two monks, one old and one young, come across a river with a strong current. A young woman is struggling to cross, so the old monk carries her across. The young monk is shocked because monks are not supposed to touch women. Hours later, the young monk finally speaks up and asks the old monk how he could touch the woman. The old monk replies, "I left her by the river, but you are still carrying her."
"The Moon Cannot Be Stolen" - A thief breaks into a Zen master's house, but the master tells him, "The moon cannot be stolen." The thief is confused and asks what he means. The master explains that the moon is always there, and cannot be taken away, just like our true nature.
"The Tiger and the Strawberry" - A man is being chased by a tiger and falls off a cliff. He grabs onto a vine to stop his fall, but sees a tiger waiting for him at the bottom. He notices a ripe strawberry growing on the vine and plucks it, savoring its sweetness before letting go and falling to his death. The moral of the story is to live in the present moment and enjoy the small things in life.
"The Lost Horse" - A farmer's horse runs away and his neighbors say it's bad luck. The farmer replies, "Good luck, bad luck, who knows?" The horse returns with a herd of wild horses, and the neighbors say it's good luck. The farmer's son tries to tame one of the wild horses and falls, breaking his leg. The neighbors say it's bad luck, but the farmer again responds, "Good luck, bad luck, who knows?" Later, a war breaks out and all able-bodied men are drafted, but the farmer's son cannot go because of his broken leg. The neighbors say it's good luck, and the farmer responds, "Good luck, bad luck, who knows?"
"The Stonecutter and the Diamond" - A stonecutter is envious of a diamond's beauty and wishes to be a diamond. A benevolent spirit grants his wish, but then he sees a stonecutter working with ease and wishes to be a stonecutter again. The moral of the story is to be content with who you are and not to wish for what others have.
"The Lost Coin" - A woman loses a valuable coin and searches frantically for it. She lights a candle to help her search, and when she finally finds the coin, she realizes that the light from the candle was more valuable than the coin itself. The moral of the story is to not get caught up in material possessions and to appreciate the simple things in life.
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