Category: Humor

  • The original face

    Hui Neng asked Hui Ming, “Without thinking of good or evil, show me your original face before your mother and father were born”

  • What is Zen?

    Roshi Kapleau agreed to educate a group of psychoanalysts about Zen. After being introduced to the group by the director of the analytic institute, the Roshi quietly sat down upon a cushion placed on the floor. A student entered, prostrated before the master, and then seated himself on another cushion a few feet away, facing…

  • Books

    Once there was a well known philosopher and scholar who devoted himself to the study of Zen for many years. On the day that he finally attained enlightenment, he took all of his books out into the yard, and burned them all.

  • Clear Light of Illumination Exploded

    Approaching the gates of the monastery, Hakuin found Ken the Zen preaching to a group of disciples. “Words…” Ken orated, “they are but an illusory veil obfuscating the absolute reality of –” “Ken!” Hakuin interrupted. “Your fly is down!” Whereupon the Clear Light of Illumination exploded upon Ken, and he vaporized. On the way to…

  • Children of His Majesty

    Yamaoka Tesshu was a tutor of the emperor in Japan. He was also a master of fencing and a profound student of Zen. His home was the abode of vagaonds. He had but one suit of clothes, for they kept him always poor. The emperor, observing how worn his garments were, gave Yamaoka some money…