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Zen Stories

The Gates of Paradise

A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: "Is there really a paradise and a hell?"
"Who are you?" inquired Hakuin.
"I am a samurai," the warrior replied.
"You, a soldier!" exclaimed Hakuin. "What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar."
Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin continued: "So you have a sword ! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head."
As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: "Here open the gates of hell!"
At these words the samurai, perceiving the master's discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed.
"Here open the gates of paradise," said Hakuin.

The Present Moment

A Japanese warrior was captured by his enemies and thrown into prison. That night he was unable to sleep because he feared that the next day he would be interrogated, tortured, and executed. Then the words of his Zen master came to him,
"Tomorrow is not real. It is an illusion. The only reality is now."
Heeding these words, the warrior became peaceful and fell asleep.

Worse than a Clown

There was a young monk in China who was a very serious practitioner of the Dharma.
Once, this monk came across something he did not understand, so he went to ask the master. When the master heard the question, he kept laughing. The master then stood up and walked away, still laughing.
The young monk was very disturbed by the master's reaction. For the next 3 days, he could not eat, sleep nor think properly. At the end of 3 days, he went back to the master and told the master how disturbed he had felt.
When the master heard this, he said, "Monk, do u know what your problem is? Your problem is that YOU ARE WORSE THAN A CLOWN!"
The monk was shocked to hear that, "Venerable Sir, how can you say such a thing?! How can I be worse than a clown?"
The master explained, "A clown enjoys seeing people laugh. You? You feel disturbed because another person laughed. Tell me, are u not worse than a clown?"
When the monk heard this, he began to laugh. He was enlightened.

More Is Not Enough The Stone Cutter

There was once a stone cutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.
One day he passed a wealthy merchant's house. Through the open gateway, he saw many fine possessions and important visitors. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stone cutter. He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant.
To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever imagined, but envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself. Soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. "How powerful that official is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a high official!"
Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around. It was a hot summer day, so the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. "How powerful the sun is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be the sun!" Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. "How powerful that storm cloud is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a cloud!"
Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind. "How powerful it is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be the wind!"
Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, feared and hated by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it - a huge, towering rock. "How powerful that rock is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a rock!"
Then he became the rock, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the hard surface, and felt himself being changed. "What could be more powerful than I, the rock?" he thought.
He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stone cutter.

Time To Learn

A young but earnest Zen student approached his teacher, and asked the Zen Master:
"If I work very hard and diligent how long will it take for me to find Zen."
The Master thought about this, then replied, "Ten years."
The student then said, "But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast -- How long then ?"
Replied the Master, "Well, twenty years."
"But, if I really, really work at it. How long then ?" asked the student.
"Thirty years," replied the Master.
"But, I do not understand," said the disappointed student. "At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that ?"
Replied the Master," When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path."

Spider

A Tibetan story tells of a meditation student who, while meditating in his room, believed he saw a spider descending in front of him. Each day the menacing creature returned, growing larger and larger each time. So frightened was the student, that he went to his teacher to report his dilemma. He said he planned to place a knife in his lap during meditation, so when the spider appeared he would kill it. The teacher advised him against this plan. Instead, he suggested, bring a piece of chalk to meditation, and when the spider appeared, mark an "X" on its belly. Then report back.
The student returned to his meditation. When the spider again appeared, he resisted the urge to attack it, and instead did just what the master suggested. When he later reported back to the master, the teacher told him to lift up his shirt and look at his own belly. There was the "X".

Transient

A famous spiritual teacher came to the front door of the King's palace. None of the guards tried to stop him as he entered and made his way to where the King himself was sitting on his throne.
"What do you want?" asked the King, immediately recognizing the visitor.
"I would like a place to sleep in this inn," replied the teacher.
"But this is not an inn," said the King, "It is my palace."
"May I ask who owned this palace before you?"
"My father. He is dead."
"And who owned it before him?"
"My grandfather. He too is dead."
"And this place where people live for a short time and then move on - did I hear you say that it is NOT an inn?"

Reader's Digest Zen

This true story was actually published in one of the humor sections of Reader's Digest many years ago:

At an interdenominational religious conference in Hawaii, a Japanese delegate approached a fundamentalist Baptist minister and said, "My humble superstition is Buddhism. What is yours?"

Independence Meditation Hall
"What others do and do not do is not my concern," said the Buddha. "What I do and do not do - that is my concern."

Looking Good

A Zen abbot went dressed in rags to the door of a rich man and was turned away with an empty bowl. So he returned in his formal robe of office and was invited in and served a sumptuous meal.
Removing his robe and folding it, he placed it on front of the feast and departed with the words, "This meal is not for me; it is for the robe."

Destroying the Enemy

"How many enemies - boundless as the sky - might I destroy," wrote the Buddhist poet, Santideva. "Yet when the thought of hatred is abolished, all enemies are destroyed."
"How," asked the Buddha, "will hatred ever leave anyone who forever thinks: 'He abused me; he hit me; he lied to me; he robbed me'? There is an enduring law: hatred never ceases through hatred; hatred only ceases through love."

The Great Crossing

The Buddha said: "A man beginning a long journey sees ahead a vast body of water. There is neither boat nor bridge. To escape the dangers of his present location, he constructs a raft of grass and branches. When he reaches the other side he realizes how useful the raft was and wonders if he should hoist it on his back and carry it with him forever. Now if he did this, would he be wise? Or, having crossed to safety, should he place the raft in a high dry location for someone else to use? This is the way I have taught the dharma, the doctrine - for crossing, not for keeping. Cast aside evey proper state of mind, oh monks - much less wrong ones - and remember well to leave the raft behind!"

Recruiting an Assistant

One day abbot Chao Chou found a monk behind the meditation hall and asked him, "Where have all the virtous ones gone?"
"They have all gone to work," the monk said.
Chao Chou handed the monk a knife. Stretching out his own neck he said, "My responsibilities as abbot are many; I wonder if you could please cut off my head for me."
The monk ran off.

Yes and No

According to The Platform Sutra, Shen Hui asked the Sixth Patriarch: "When you sit in meditation, High Master, do you see or not?"
The Master hit him three times with his stick and asked: "When I hit you, does it hurt or not?"
"It both does and does not hurt."
"I both see and do not see."
"How can you both see and not see?"
The Master said: "What I see are the waverings and wanderings of my own mind. What I do not see is the right and wrong and good and bad of other people. This my seeing and not seeing."

Gratitude

Fred: "Why must we bow at the end of a meditation period?"
Ho Chi Zen: "To thank God it's over."

An Insolent Wayfarer

In ancient times it was customary for a traveling monk seeking lodging at a Zen monastery to engage in dharma combat with the abbot or head monk. If the wayfarer won the debate, he could stay; if not, he had to seek quarters elsewhere.
Once a master assigned his attendant to engage in such an encounter with a traveling monk, who challenged him to a silent debate. It so happened that this attendant had but one eye.
Soon the wayfarer returned to the master, saying, "Your man is too good for me. I must journey on. I held up one finger to symbolize the Buddha. But he held up two fingers for the Buddha and the Dharma. So I held up three fingers for the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. But then he held up a clenched fist to indicate they were all one - so I ran to indicate I am no match for him."
When the traveler who spoke these words left, the attendant arrived - angry and out of breath. "Where is that rascal?" he demanded. "First, he insulted me by holding up one finger to indicate I had only one eye. Determined to be polite in spite of that, I held up two fingers to indicate that, on the other hand, he was blessed with two eyes. But he just kept rubbing it in, for next he held up three fingers to indicate that all together there were only three eyes among us. So I went to hit him and he ran off! Where is he hiding?"

Vast emptiness

The emperor, who was a devout Buddhist, invited a great Zen master to the Palace in order to ask him questions about Buddhism.
"What is the highest truth of the holy Buddhist doctrine?" the emperor inquired.
"Vast emptiness... and not a trace of holiness," the master replied.
"If there is no holiness," the emperor said, "then who or what are you?"
"I do not know," the master replied.

Serving Others

A Sufi teaching story tells of a man who prayed continually for the awareness to succeed in life. Then one night he dreamed of going into the forest to attain understanding. The next morning he went into the woods and wandered for several hours looking for some sign that would provide answers. When he finally stopped to rest, he saw a fox with no legs lying between two rocks in a cool place. Curious as to how a legless fox could survive, he waited until sunset when he observed a lion come and lay meat before the fox. "Ah, I understand," the man thought. "The secret to success in life is to trust that God will take care of all my needs. I don't need to provide for myself. All I have to do is totally surrender to my all-sustaining God." Two weeks later, weakened and starving, the man had another dream. In it he heard a voice say, "Fool. Be like the lion, not like the fox."

A Wishing Tree

There is a parable about a poor man walking through the woods reflecting upon his many troubles. He stopped to rest against a tree, a magical tree that would instantly grant the wishes of anyone who came in contact with it. He realized he was thirsty and wished for a drink. Instantly a cup of cool water was in his hand. Shocked, he looked at the water, he decided it was safe and drank it. He then realized he was hungry and wished he had something to eat. A meal appeared before him. "My wishes are being granted," he thought in disbelief. "Well, then I wish for a beautiful home of my own," he said out loud. The home appeared in the meadow before him. A huge smile crossed his face as he wished for servants to take care of the house. When they appeared he realized he had somehow been blessed with an incredible power and he wished for a beautiful, loving, intelligent woman to share his good fortune. "Wait a minute, this is ridiculous," said the man to the woman. "I'm not this lucky. This can't happen to me." As he spoke...everything disappeared. He shook his head and said, "I knew it," then walked away thinking about his many troubles.

The Thief and the Zen master

One evening, Zen master Shichiri Kojun was reciting sutras when a thief entered his house with a sharp sword, demanding "money or life". Without any fear, Shichiri said, "Don't disturb me! Help yourself with the money, it's in that drawer". And he resumed his recitation.
The thief was startled by this unexpected reaction, but he proceeded with his business anyway. While he was helping himself with the money, the master stopped and called, "Don't take all of it. Leave some for me to pay my taxes tomorrow". The thief left some money behind and prepared to leave. Just before he left, the master suddenly shouted at him, "You took my money and you didn't even thank me?! That's not polite!". This time, the thief was really shocked at such fearlessness. He thanked the master and ran away. The thief later told his friends that he had never been so frightened in his life.
A few days later, the thief was caught and confessed, among many others, his thieft at Shichiri's house. When the master was called as a witness, he said, "No, this man did not steal anything from me. I gave him the money. He even thanked me for it."
The thief was so touched that he decided to repent. Upon his release from prison, he became a disciple of the master and many years later, he attained Enlightenment.

Obeying

The master Bankei's talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras not indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners. His large audience angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to have a debate with Bankei. "Hey, Zen teacher!" he called out. "Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?" "Come up beside me and I will show you," said Bankei. Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher. Bankei smiled. "Come over to my left side." The priest obeyed. "No," said Bankei, "we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here." The priest proudly stepped over to the right. "You see," observed Bankei, "you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen."

Getting hold of emptiness

Sekkyo said to one of his monks, "Can you get hold of Emptiness?"
"I'll try," said the monk, and he cupped his hand in the air.
"That's not very good," said Sekkyo. "You haven't got anything in there!" "Well, master," said the monk, "please show me a better way."
Thereupon Sekkyo seized the monk's nose and gave it a great yank.
"Ouch!" yelled the monk. "You hurt me!". "That's the way to get hold of Emptiness!" said Sekkyo.

Little miracles

While Bankei was preaching quietly to his followers, his talk was interrupted by a Shinsu priest who believed in miracles, and thought salvation came from repeating holy words. Bankei was unable to go on with his talk, and asked the priest what he wanted to say. 'The founder of my religion," boasted the priest, "stood on one shore of a river with a writing brush in his hand. His disciple stood on the other shore holding a sheet of paper. And the founder wrote the holy name of Amida onto the paper across the river through air! Can you do anything so miraculous?"
"No," said Bankei, "I can do only little miracles. Like: when I am hungry, I eat. When I am thirsty, I drink. When I am insulted, I forgive."

Blind man with lantern

An old Zen master always told this fable to unserious students: Late one night a blind man was about to go home after visiting a friend. "Please," he said to his friend, "may I take your lantern with me?" "Why carry a lantern?" asked his friend. "You won't see any better with it." "No," said the blind one, "perhaps not. But others will see me better, and not bump into me." So his friend gave the blind man the lantern, which was made of paper on bamboo strips, with a candle inside. Off went the blind man with the lantern, and before he had gone more than a few yards, "Crack!" -- a traveler walked right into him. The blind man was very angry. "Why don't you look out?" he stormed. "Why don't you see this lantern?"
"Why don't you light the candle?" asked the traveler.

The Ghost

The wife of a man became very sick. On her deathbed, she said to him, "I love you so much! I don't want to leave you, and I don't want you to betray me. Promise that you will not see any other women once I die, or I will come back to haunt you." For several months after her death, the husband did avoid other women, but then he met someone and fell in love. On the night that they were engaged to be married, the ghost of his former wife appeared to him. She blamed him for not keeping the promise, and every night thereafter she returned to taunt him. The ghost would remind him of everything that transpired between him and his fiancee that day, even to the point of repeating, word for word, their conversations. It upset him so badly that he couldn't sleep at all. Desperate, he sought the advice of a Zen master who lived near the village.   "This is a very clever ghost," the master said upon hearing the man's story. "It is!" replied the man. "She remembers every detail of what I say and do. It knows everything!" The master smiled, "You should admire such a ghost, but I will tell you what to do the next time you see it." That night the ghost returned. The man responded just as the master had advised. "You are such a wise ghost," the man said, "You know that I can hide nothing from you. If you can answer me one question, I will break off the engagement and remain single for the rest of my life." "Ask your question," the ghost replied. The man scooped up a handful of beans from a large bag on the floor, "Tell me exactly how many beans there are in my hand."
At that moment the ghost disappeared and never returned.

A moment's delight

One day while walking through the wilderness a man stumbled upon a vicious tiger. He ran but soon came to the edge of a high cliff. Desperate to save himself, he climbed down a vine and dangled over the fatal precipice. As he hung there, two mice appeared from a hole in the cliff and began gnawing on the vine. Suddenly, he noticed on the vine a plump wild strawberry. He plucked it and popped it in his mouth. It was incredibly delicious!

Shooting the target

After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull's eye on his first try, and then split that arrow with his second shot. "There," he said to the old man, "see if you can match that!" Undisturbed, the master did not draw his bow, but rather motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain. Curious about the old fellow's intentions, the champion followed him high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a rather flimsy and shaky log. Calmly stepping out onto the middle of the unsteady and certainly perilous bridge, the old master picked a far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and fired a clean, direct hit. "Now it is your turn," he said as he gracefully stepped back onto the safe ground. Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and beckoning abyss, the young man could not force himself to step out onto the log, no less shoot at a target. "You have much skill with your bow," the master said, sensing his challenger's predicament, "but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot."

Destiny

During a momentous battle, a Japanese general decided to attack even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with doubt. On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took out a coin and said, "I shall now toss this coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If tails, we shall lose. Destiny will now reveal itself." He threw the coin into the air and all watched intently as it landed. It was heads. The soldiers were so overjoyed and filled with confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy and were victorious. After the battle, a lieutenant remarked to the general, "No one can change destiny."
"Quite right," the general replied as he showed the lieutenant the coin, which had heads on both sides.

It will pass

A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!"
"It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly.
A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's just wonderful!'
"It will pass," the teacher replied matter-of-factly.

Egotism

The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty was a national hero for his success as both a statesman and military leader. But despite his fame, power, and wealth, he considered himself a humble and devout Buddhist. Often he visited his favorite Zen master to study under him, and they seemed to get along very well. The fact that he was prime minister apparently had no effect on their relationship, which seemed to be simply one of a revered master and respectful student. One day, during his usual visit, the Prime Minister asked the master, "Your Reverence, what is egotism according to Buddhism?" The master's face turned red, and in a very condescending and insulting tone of voice, he shot back, "What kind of stupid question is that!?" This unexpected response so shocked the Prime Minister that he became sullen and angry. The Zen master  then smiled and said, "THIS, Your Excellency, is egotism."

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 his teacher. "What is Zen?" the student asked. The Roshi produced a banana, peeled it, and started eating. "Is that all? Can't you show me anything else?" the student said. "Come closer, please," the master replied. The student moved in and the Roshi waved the remaining portion of the banana  before the student's face. The student prostrated, and left. A second student rose to address the audience. "Do you all understand?" When there was no response, the student added, "You have just witnessed a first-rate demonstration of Zen. Are there any questions?" After a long silence, someone spoke up. "Roshi, I am not satisfied with your demonstration. You have shown us something that I am not sure I understand. It must be possible to TELL us what Zen is." "If you must insist on words," the Roshi replied, "then Zen is an elephant copulating with a flea."

A cup of tea

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

Full awareness

After ten years of apprenticeship, Tenno achieved the rank of Zen teacher. One rainy day, he went to visit the famous master Nan-in. When he walked in, the master greeted him with a question, "Did you leave your wooden clogs and umbrella on the porch?"
"Yes," Tenno replied.
"Tell me," the master continued, "did you place your umbrella to the left of your shoes, or to the right?"
Tenno did not know the answer, and realized that he had not yet attained full awareness. So he became Nan-in's apprentice and studied under him for ten more years.

The returned gift

There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him. One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move. Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior's challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling shamed. Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him.
"How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?"
"If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it," the master replied, "to whom does the gift belong?"

Accomodating the water

A Taoist story tells of an old man who accidentally fell into the river rapids leading to a high and dangerous waterfall. Onlookers feared for his life. Miraculously, he came out alive and unharmed downstream at the bottom of the falls. People asked him how he managed to survive. "I accommodated myself to the water, not the water to me. Without thinking, I allowed myself to be shaped by it. Plunging into the swirl, I came out with the swirl. This is how I survived."

Holy Man

Word spread across the countryside about the wise Holy Man who lived in a small house atop the mountain. A man from the village decided to make the long and difficult journey to visit him. When he arrived at the house, he saw an old servant inside who greeting him at the door. "I would like to see the wise Holy Man," he said to the servant. The servant smiled and led him inside. As they walked through the house, the man from the village looked eagerly around the house, anticipating his encounter with the Holy Man. Before he knew it, he had been led to the back door and escorted outside. He stopped and turned to the servant,
"But I want to see the Holy Man!"
"You already have," said the old man. "Everyone you may meet in life, even if they appear plain and insignificant... see each of them as a wise Holy Man. If you do this, then whatever problem you brought here today will be solved." 

Is that so?

A beautiful girl in the village was pregnant. Her angry parents demanded to know who was the father. At first resistant to confess, the anxious and embarrassed girl finally pointed to Hakuin, the Zen master whom everyone previously revered for living such a pure life. When the outraged parents confronted Hakuin with their daughter's accusation, he simply replied "Is that so?" When the child was born, the parents brought it to the Hakuin, who now was viewed as a pariah by the whole village. They demanded that he take care of the child since it was his responsibility. "Is that so?" Hakuin said calmly as he accepted the child. For many months he took very good care of the child until the daughter could no longer withstand the lie she had told. She confessed that the real father was a young man in the village whom she had tried to protect. The parents immediately went to Hakuin to see if he would return the baby. With profuse apologies they explained what had happened. "Is that so?" Hakuin said as he handed them the child. 

The monastery

There once was a monastery that was very strict. Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. "It has been ten years," said the head monk.
"What are the two words you would like to speak?"
"Bed... hard..." said the monk.
"I see," replied the head monk.
Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office. "It has been ten more years," said the head monk. "What are the twowords you would like to speak?"
"Food... stinks..." said the monk.
"I see," replied the head monk.
Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked,
"What are your two words now, after these
ten years?"
"I... quit!" said the monk.
"Well, I can see why," replied the head monk. "All you ever do is complain."

You're not ....

One day Chuang Tzu and a friend were walking by a river. "Look at the fish swimming about," said Chuang Tzu,
"They are really enjoying themselves."
"You are not a fish," replied the friend, "So you can't truly know that they are enjoying themselves."
"You are not me," said Chuang Tzu. "So how do you know that I do not know that the fish are enjoying themselves?" 

May be

There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said  sympathetically. "May be," the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "May be," replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "May be," answered the farmer. The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "May be," said the farmer. 

Buddha and mind

A renowned Zen master said that his greatest teaching was this: Buddha is your own mind. So impressed by how profound this idea was, one monk decided to leave the monastery and retreat to the wilderness to meditate on this insight. There he spent 20 years as a hermit probing the great teaching. One day he met another monk who was traveling through the forest. Quickly the hermit monk learned that the traveler also had studied under the same Zen master. "Please, tell me what you know of the master's greatest teaching." The traveler's eyes lit up, "Ah, the master has been very clear about this. He says that his greatest teaching is this: Buddha is NOT your own mind." 

Moving mind

Two men were arguing about a flag flapping in the wind. "It's the wind that is really moving," stated the first one. "No, it is the flag that is moving," contended the second. A Zen master, who happened to be walking by, overheard the debate and interrupted them. "Neither the flag nor the wind is moving," he said, "It is MIND that moves." 

Nature of things

Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was drowning. One monk immediately scooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung. He went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in. The monk saved the scorpion and was again stung. The other monk asked him,
"Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion when you know it's nature is to sting?"
"Because," the monk replied, "to save it is my nature." 

Helping people

Upon meeting a Zen master at a social event, a psychiatrist decided to ask him a question that had been on his mind. "Exactly how do you help people?" he inquired. "I get them where they can't ask any more questions," the Master answered. 

Enlightenment after death

The Emperor asked Master Gudo, "What happens to a man of enlightenment after death?"
"How should I know?" replied Gudo.
"Because you are a master," answered the Emperor.
"Yes sir," said Gudo, "but not a dead one." 

Carrying in the mind

Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman. Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across. One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed. As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. "Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried her!"
"Brother," the second monk replied, "I set her down on the other side, while you are still carrying her." 

The order of things

A rich man asked a Zen master to write something down that could encourage the prosperity of his family for years to come. It would be something that the family could cherish for generations. On a large piece of paper, the master wrote, "Father dies, son dies, grandson dies."
The rich man became angry when he saw the master's work.
"I asked you to write something down that could bring happiness and prosperity to my family. Why do you give me something epressing like this?" "If your son should die before you," the master answered, "this would bring unbearable grief to your family. If your grandson should die before your son, this also would bring great sorrow. If your family, generation after generation, disappears in the order I have described, it will be the natural course of life. This is true happiness and prosperity." 

Religious significance

When the spiritual teacher and his disciples began their evening meditation, the cat who lived in the monastery made such noise that it distracted them. So the teacher ordered that the cat be tied up during the evening practice. Years later, when the teacher died, the cat continued to be tied up during the meditation session. And when the cat eventually died, another cat was brought to the monastery and tied up. Centuries later, learned descendants of the spiritual teacher wrote scholarly treatises about the religious significance of tying up a cat for meditation practice. 

Speak Not

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said, "Oh, no! The candle is out." The second monk said, "Aren't we not suppose to talk?" The third monk said, "Why must you two break the silence?" The fourth monk laughed and said, "Ha! I'm the only one who didn't speak." 

The old farmer

 A farmer got so old that he couldn't work the fields anymore. So he would spend the day just sitting on the porch. His son, still working the farm, would look up from time to time and see his father sitting there. "He's of no use any more," the son thought to himself, "he doesn't do anything!" One day the son got so frustrated by this, that he built a wood coffin, dragged it over to the porch, and told his father to get in. Without saying anything, the father climbed inside. After closing the lid, the son  dragged the coffin to the edge of the farm where there was a high cliff. As he approached the drop, he heard a light tapping on the lid from inside the coffin. He opened it up. Still lying there peacefully, the father looked up at his son. "I know you are going to throw  me over the cliff, but before you do, may I suggest something?" "What is it?" replied the son. "Throw me over the cliff, if you like," said the father, "but save this good wood coffin. Your children might need to use it." 

Enlightenment

A student once asked his teacher,
"Master, what is enlightenment?"
The master replied, "When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep." 

The Zen master and the general

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived - everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn't treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. "You fool," he shouted as he reached for his sword, "don't  you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!" But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved. "And do you realize," the master replied calmly, "that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?" 

"There are two rules for being successful in Martial Arts.
 Rule 1: Never tell others everything you know."

"a one sided martial artist is a blind martial artist"-unknown

"Pain is the best instructor, but no one wants to go to his class."
     Choi, Hong Hi      Founder of Taekwon-Do
 

"He who hesitates, meditates in a horizontal position" -Ed Parker

"A black belt is nothing more than a belt that goes around your waist. Being a black belt is a state of mind and attitude."-Rick English

"It is not the accumulation of extraneous knowledge, but the realization of the self within, that constitutes true progress."- Okakura Kakuzo

"The art of the sword consists of never being concerned with victory or defeat, with strength or weakness, of not moving one step forward, nor one step backward, or the enemy not seeing me and my not seeing the enemy. Penetrating to that which is fundamental before the separation of heaven and earth where even yin and yang cannot reach, one instantly attains proficiency in the art."- Takuan

"To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."-Sun-Tsu

"A Man Who Has Attained Mastery of An Art Reveals It in His Every Action.

"Five Secrets of Japanese Goju Ryu.
Move quickly.
Sound, calm mind.
Be light in body.
Have a clever mind.
Master the basics."

- Gogen Yamaguchi

"Even though surrounded By several enemies set to attack, Fight with the thought That they are but one." - Ueshiba

"The sword has to be more than a simple weapon; it has to be an answer to life's questions."- Miyamoto Musashi

"The way of the sword and the Way of Zen are identical, for they have the same purpose; that of killing the ego." - Yamada Jirokichi

"Sword and mind must be united. Technique by itself is insufficient, and spirit alone is not enough." - Yamada Jirokichi

"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of the character of its participants." - Gichin Funakoshi

"Where questioning is rewarded, virtues are promoted, respect is demanded, and love
is central........"-L'abri

Traditionalists often study what is taught, not what there is to create." - Ed Parker, Grandmaster, American Kenpo.
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 "If you don't realize you can kill someone with a bokken, I don't want you using one in *MY* dojo..." - Frederick J. Lovret
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 "The fastest draw is when the sword never leaves the scabbard,
The strongest way to block, is never to provoke a blow,
And the cleanest cut is the one withheld."
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 "The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." -- Master Gichin Funakoshi
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 "Karate is a defensive art from beginning to end" - Gichin Funakoshi
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 "Knowledge does not grow like a tree where you dig a hole, plant your feet, cover them with dirt, and pour water on them daily. Knowledge grows with time, work, and dedicated effort. It cannot come by any other means." -- Ed Parker.
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 "The Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) were conquered and united into one kingdom. To insure his rule, the king confiscated and banned possession of weapons by people other than his troops. A second ban on weapons was instituted by Japanese conquerors approximately 200 years later. These two incidents are generally credited as the cause for the intense development of the emptyhanded fighting techniques..." -- Special Forces (USA) manual ST 31-204
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 My instructor once told me that the first five dan ranks come for what you've gotten out of the system, the next ranks come for what you've given back.
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 "You may train for a long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning a dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do." - Gichin Funakoshi
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 "We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling...I slipped through his grip..." The Return of Sherlock Holmes
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 The FAQ that can be read is not the True FAQ
The answers that can be posted are not the True Answers.
The Superior Man hears not the whining of newbies
and is not singed by the flames of the Net.
Belts do not bind him, nor trophies burden him.
Discarding all, he gains all, and follows the Way.
Got any spare change, pal?
-- Lao-tzu, as paraphrased on rec.martial-arts
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 "Aikido is not a defensive martial art. Being defensive is a terrible way to go through life." -quote on a dojo wall. This means be proactive. It does not mean hit first.
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 "An unwillingness to deal forcibly with violence does not equate to moral rectitude." -- Mary Malmros
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 "It should be easy to spot a black belt in a crowd, s/he should walk like a Marine on roller skates" - Fredrick Lovret
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 I am a Cobra And these Words are my Venom And through My Magickal Lore I shall capture your Mind And Spew My Poison into Your Eyes Then My world will become Your world And You Shall Die -- Some Twit on rec.martial-arts who let his prozac perscription run out.
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 "We staunch traditionalists know that appearence is everything. Technique is nowhere near as important as having your pleats straight when you die" - Steve Gombosi
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 When in trouble or in doubt, Cut down all who move about. - Frederick J. Lovret
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 "When in doubt, knock 'em out" - "Big" Vinny Girolamo - NY Hell's Angels
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 Never leave an enemy standing. - Shaka Zulu (the original one, King of the Zulu Nation...not the American karate instructor who appropriated his name)
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 He who hesitates, meditates in the horizontal position. -- Edmund K. Parker
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 "When pure knuckles meet pure flesh, that's pure Karate, no matter who executes it or whatever style is involved." -- Ed Parker
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 "When two tigers fight, one is certain to be maimed, and one to die." -- Master Funakoshi
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 "Of those who start TaeKwonDo training, only about 5% stick with it until they achieve the Black Belt Rank. Then perhaps 80% of those who earn a Black stop there." (Duk Sung Son, Black Belt Korean Karate)
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 "1-2 out of every 100 students reach Black Belt and of those only 1 out of every 1,000 achieves his 2nd Dan. ( Masutatsu Oyama, This is Karate.)
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 "We are creating a fighting force of extra-ordinary measure! We forge our bodies in the spirit of our ancestors." - Kentucky Fried Movie: Fistfull of Yen.
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 "The Time to Strike is When the Opportunity Presents Itself." -- 6th Code of Isshinryu Karatedo
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 "Hoping to see karate included in the universal physical education taught in our public schools, I set about revising the kata so as to make them as simple as possible. Times change, the world changes, and obviously the martial arts must change too. The karate that high school students practice today is not the same karate that was practiced even as recently as ten years ago [this book was written in 1956], and it is a long way indeed from the karate I learned when I was a child in Okinawa."
- Gichin Funakoshi, in his book "Karate-do: My Way of Life" (page 35-36):
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 "It's not just self defense, it's about...self control, body discipline, and mind discipline...and breath techniques. It involves yoga. It involves meditation. It's an art, not a sport." - Elvis Presley.
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 The Art of Peace is medicine for a sick world. There is evil and disorder in the world, because people have forgotten that all things emanate from one source. Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts, petty desires, and anger. Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything. -- Morihei Ueshiba (O'Sensei)
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 The teaching of one virtuous person can influence many; that which has been learned well by one generation can be passed on to a hundred. -- Jigoro Kano (1860-1938)
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 "follow not in the footsteps of the masters, but rather seek what they sought"
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 If you can't beat your computer at chess, try kick-boxing.
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 "'Ow' is not a Kempo word" - Jonathan Vance
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"Truth is universal. Perception of truth is not."

"No one nation or people has a monopoly on the sun and no one art or
system as a monopoly on truth." - Mike Casto
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 "That which does not kill us, must have missed us." - Miowara Tomokata
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"You are reconsidering your training, or perhaps even contemplating beginning a new system. You have been told by the teacher that to obtain proficiency, you may have to train hard for the next two to three years. You begin to wonder if all of that time out of your life is really worth it. No matter what your choice is, your going end up there anyway in two to three years with or without the training." - Michael R. Boyce

The specific date of birth of Lao Tzu is unknown. Legends vary, but scholars place his birth between 600 and 300 B.C.E. Lao Tzu is attributed with the writing of the "Tao-Te Ching," (tao-meaning the way of all life, te-meaning the fit use of life by men, and ching-meaning text or classic). Lao Tzu was not his real name, but an honorific given the sage, meaning "Old Master."
Lao Tzu's wise council attracted followers, but he refused to set his ideas down in writing. He believed that written words might solidify into formal dogma. Lao Tzu wanted his philosophy to remain a natural way to live life with goodness, serenity and respect. Lao Tzu laid down no rigid code of behavior. He believed a person's conduct should be governed by instinct and conscience.
Lao Tzu believed that human life, like everything else in the universe, is constantly influenced by outside forces. He believed "simplicity" to be the key to truth and freedom. Lao Tzu encouraged his followers to observe, and seek to understand the laws of nature; to develop intuition and build up personal power; and to use that power to lead life with love, and without force.
Legend says that in the end Lao Tzu, saddened by the evil of men, set off into the desert on a water buffalo leaving civilization behind. When he arrived at the final gate at the great wall protecting the kingdom, the gatekeeper persuaded him to record the principles of his philosophy for posterity. The result was the eighty-one sayings of the "Tao-Te Ching." This ancient Chinese text is the world's most translated classic next to the Bible.

"Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river." Lao Tse
Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way. It "refers to a power which envelopes, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)"
The founder of Taoism was Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE), a contemporary of Confucius. (Alternate spellings: Lao Tze, Lao Tsu). He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted life during his lifetime.
The result was his book:  Tao-te-Ching
Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religion in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion. At that time Lao-Tse became popularly venerated as a deity. Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, became the three great religions of China. With the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911, state support for Taoism ended. Much of the Taoist heritage was destroyed during the next period of warlordism. After the Communist victory in 1949, religious freedom was severely restricted. "The new government put monks to manual labor, confiscated temples, and plundered treasured. Several million monks were reduced to fewer than 50,000" by 1960.During the cultural revolution in China from 1966 to 1976, much of the remaining Taoist heritage was destroyed. Some religious tolerance has been restored under Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 to the present time.
Taoism currently has about 20 million followers, and is primarily centered in Taiwan. About 30,000 Taoists live in North America; 1,720 in Canada (1991 census). Taoism has had a significant impact on North American culture in areas of "acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine, medication and martial arts..."
Taoist Beliefs and Practices:
Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life.
The goal of everyone is to become one with the Tao.
The concepts of a personified deity is foreign to Taoism, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Thus, they do not pray as Christians do; there is no God to hear the prayers or to act upon them. They seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and outer observation.
Time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking.
Yin (dark side) is the breath that formed the earth. Yang (light side) is the breath that formed the heavens. They symbolize pairs of opposites which are seen throughout the universe, such as good and evil, light and dark, male and female. Intervention by human civilization upsets the balances of Yin and Yang. The symbol of Taoism, seen at the top of this page, represents Yin and Yang in balance.
"The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment." 8
Five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five parts of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth.
Each person must nurture the Ch'i (air, breath) that has been given to them.
Development of virtue is one's chief task. The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility.
Taoists follow the art of "wu wei", which is to achieve action through minimal action. "It is the practice of going against the stream not by struggling against it and thrashing about, but by standing still and letting the stream do all the work. Thus the sage knows that relative to the river, he still moves against the current. To the outside world the sage appears to take no action - but in fact he takes action long before others ever foresee the need for action."
One should plan in advance and consider carefully each action before making it.
A Taoists is kind to other individuals, largely because such an action tends to be reciprocated.
Taoists believe that "people are compassionate by nature...left to their own devices [they] will show this compassion without expecting a reward."
Tai Chi
There is a long history involvement by Taoists in various exercise and movement techniques. Tai chi in particular works on all parts of the body. It "stimulates the central nervous system, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress and gently tones muscles without strain. It also enhances digestion, elimination of wastes and the circulation of blood. Moreover, tai chi's rhythmic movements massage the internal organs and improve their functionality." Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that illness is caused by blockages or lack of balance in the body's "chi" (intrinsic energy). Tai Chi is believed to balance this energy flow.

Zen is a word similar to the Sanskrit word "Dhyana" means meditation. Bodhidharma, the Indian monk is considered to be the founder of Zen.The Zen method of pointing to higher consciousness teaches us to look at what is right before our eyes. "It is simply This!". It has always been in plain sight from the beginning, and yet for this very reason it is hard to see.Thus, as the Zen scholar Dr. Suzuki put it,"Zen is like looking for the spectacles that are sitting on your nose." Or "like looking for an ox when you are riding on the back of it."
Purpose of Zen Practice and Motivation
The Purpose of practising Zen is not just to achieve health of body and mind. but also to aim for the spiritually highest way of life as a human being.
Zen practices consists of two functions : Physical functions like movements, respiration and posture; respiration and posture ; and psychological functions such as concentration and meditation. Simply stated. Zen is a practice in which the body and mind is united indivisibly as one. Enlightenment attained from Zen is not an understanding obtained through intellectual analysis. but rather it is an "intuitive awareness" obtained through direct experience. The ultimate purpose of Zen practice is to reach the enlightened state of mind, SATORI. as Buddha did, and to be able to give a clear answer to the question "What is self".
Active Zen (Daily Activities)
Zen Buddhism is said to be the religion of our daily life. Daily activities are regulated by the regulations for the Zen monastic life. A practitioner believes and performs daily activities in Zen monastic life to be the Buddha's Way itself and devote himself wholeheartedly to his activities.
Walking, cross-legged sitting, cooking, having breakfast. chanting sutras, prostrating oneself to the Buddhas, bathing, going to the toilet, etc. are all done according to extremely detailed regulations. Also, although not regulated in detail, fatigue work of a temple. like sweeping the ground or gathering the firewood. is one of important practices. These activities all included in the Active Zen.
Static Zen (ZAZEN)
Static Zen (Zazen) essentially does not differ that much from Active Zen in the sense that its goal is to follow the way of Buddha-Way. In daily life, Static Zen is integrated in active Zen. They affect each other, and together they deepens the stage of enlightenment. The mental state attained in Zazen maintains its effect in daily activities.
Zazen consists of an interaction between the following elements : CHOSHIN (regulation of body), CHOSOKU (regulation of respiration) and CHOSHIN (regulation of mind).
Zen is neither a religion nor a philosophy, But a way of liberation, a way of disentangling ourselves from the social level of masks and role playing which we have mistaken for our true identity. For the purpose of Zen is the opening of a "third eye", the eye of insight or enlightenment that cuts through the crust of verbal knowledge and reveals the underlying unity and inseparability of the individual and the universe.chikung

"The best defense is not to let the attack get started, to keep the opponent continually on the defensive." - Bruce Lee

"Pain is the best instructor, but no one wants to go to his class "

-Choi, Hong Hi

"The Martial Artist uses the sword but does not kill others. He uses the sword and gives others life. When it is necessary to kill, he kills. When it is necessary to give life, he gives life. When killing, he kills in complete concentration; when giving life, he gives life in complete concentration. Without looking at right and wrong, he is able to see right and wrong; without attempting to discriminate, he is able to discriminate well. Treading on water is just like treading on land, and treading on land is just like treading on water. If he is able to gain this freedom, he will not be perplexed by anyone on earth. In all things, he will be beyond companions." -Takuan Soho

"For those who study the sword, let them not be thoughtless, but strive to heighten their own luster." -Takuan Soho

"One must search for the perfect combination between control and instinct. If you go to the extreme of one you become total chaos, if you go to the extreme of the other then you become a mechanical man." -Bruce Lee - The Lost Interview

"It is compassion rather than principle of justice which can guard us against being unjust to our fellow man." -Bruce Lee

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy," -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Karate is a form of martial arts in which people who have had years and years of training can, using only their hands and feet, make some of the worst movies in the history of the world," -Dave Barry--American humorist.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Lao-Tzu

"Simplicity is the key to Brilliance" Yip Man - Bruce Lee

"Listen to those who say they are seeking the truth, Doubt those who say they have found it."

"I don't want somebody that doesn't make mistakes, because they never learn anything." - Tommy Lasorda - Los Angeles Dodgers

"The difference between the possible and the impossible is one's will." - Hironori Otsuka (Founder of Wado-Ryu Karate)

No matter how you may excel in the art of te,
And in your scholastic endevours,
Nothing is more important than your behavior
And your humanity as observed in daily life.

(Nagamine,1976)

There is no problem that cannot be solved by the application of an appropriate measure of high explosive...- Unknown

"Words do not describe facts, they create images."  - Niels Bohr

"A man's got to know his limitations"  - Dirty Harry

If you do today what others are doing now you'll be competitive... to win, you must seek to do today what other's will be doning tomorrow... - Unknown

By Failing To Prepare You Are Preparing To Fail! - Unknown

Sometimes great concentration happens, mostly it requires work - Unknown

Good mental skills are avaliable to every one, but it take's courage to learn... - Unknown

Mistakes Happen, it's what I do after making one that's important...

A positive person is a happy person motivated by challenge and success, rather than fear of falure.! - Unknown

If you follow the present day world,
you will turn your back on the Way;
if you would not turn your back on the Way,
do not follow the world.
Takuan Soho.

The Great Way is gateless,
Approached in a thousand ways.
Once passed this checkpoint
You stride in through the universe.
Mumon Ekai

From the beginning it's best to do zazen in the midst of strife and confusion. A samurai, in particular, must be able to do zazen while uttering his battle cry. Guns are firing, lances are flying, and amidst the confusion , you send up a battle cry. It's here that you can clearly make good use of your practice. What use can there be for a zazen requiring a quiet place? However appealing Buddhist teachings may be, the samurai should throw away anything he can't use when the moment for his battle cry arrives. So he never needs anything but the mind of Nio at all times...
Suzuki Shosan

Not to borrow the strength of another, nor to rely on one's own strength; to cut off past and future thoughts, and not to live within the everyday mind...then the Great Way is right before your eyes.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo

While thinking about the future, and about tomorrow's livelihood, if you don't let go of worldly affairs, if you don't practice the Way, and if you pass your days and nights in vain, you'll regret it. You should rouse your mind, and determine that even if there is no livelihood for tomorrow, and you might freeze, or starve, or even die -- still today, you should hear the Way, and follow's Buddha's intention. If you do this you will certainly achieve practice of the Way.
Dogan

Swift as the wind
Calmly majestic as the forest
Plundering like fire
Steady as the mountains
Takeda Shingen

Although it stands to reason that a samurai should be mindful of the Way of the Samurai, it would seem that we are all negligent. Consequently, if someone were to ask, "What is the true meaning of the Way of the Samurai?" the person who would be able to answer promptly is rare. This is because it has not been established in one's mind beforehand. From this, one's unmindfulness of the Way can be known.

Negligence is an extreme thing.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

"The unfolding of all phenomenon are a manifestation of the miraculous  activity of the divine." 

-Steven Seagal

"Budo is not a means of felling the opponent by force or by lethal weapons.  Neither is it intended to lead the world to destruction by arms and other illegitimate means.  True Budo calls for bringing the inner energy of the Universe in order, protecting the peace of the world and molding, as well as preserving, everything in nature in its right form.  Training in Budo is tantamount to strengthening, within my body and soul, the love of Kami, the deity who begets, preserves and nurtures everything in nature." 

-Grandmaster Morihei Ueshiba

THE MAN IN THE ARENA

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, who's face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high acheievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."

- Theodore Roosevelt

I found a art call: Aiki-verbal. It is a psychological and verbal
self-defense. We use only verbal and non-verbal communication to ends
conflict and psychological violence in Interpersonal and intrapersonal
conflicts. Each time I give a lecture or a seminar in this psychological and
verbal martial art, I start with this short but sweet story.

"A Australian student (my story change in each countries I told it) went to
Japan to ask a great old master to be is student. He ask the old master:
"Please master, Teach me your art of Self-defense".The old master look at
him very carefully and with attention and answer : "Against which Self you
want to defend".

- Sensei Gaetan
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada

“Nothing under heaven is more important than teaching. The teaching of one virtuous person can influence many; that which has been learned well by one generation can be passed on to a hundred.”

- Dr. Jigoro Kano, the Founder of KodoKan Judo

"...Although it is true that formal exercise are a most important part of karate, it does not do to neglect the practice fighting and the training in tameshiwari, etc. The way to a truly effective karate is to avoid idleness and practice seriously with the idea that the formal exercise (kata) are fifty percent of your work and the remainder of your training is the other fifty percent."

- Mabuni Kenwa

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first...  the lesson afterward."

-Unknown

A man who has attained Mastery of an art Reveals it in his every action

-    Samurai maxim

"It is impossible to defend perfectly against the attack of those who want to die."

-Unknown

The mind of a perfect man is like a mirror. It grasps nothing. It expects nothing. It reflects but does not hold. Therefore, the perfect man can act without effort.

-    Chung-Tzu

When I left Sosai at the Haneda (old International airport in Japan) his parting words to me were,    " I want you to go with the attitude that you are dying, because if you live this way you will understand the meaning of OSU."

-Shihan Isobe

-quote from Blitz mag

King Husan of Chou heard of Po Kung-i, who was reputed to be the strongest man in his kingdom.The King was dismayed when they met, since Po looked so weak.

When the King asked Po how strong he was, Po said mildly, "I can break the leg of a spring grasshopper and withstand the winds of an autumn cicada."

Aghast, the King thundered, "I can tear rhinoceros leather and drag nine buffaloes by the tail, yet I am shamed by my weakness. How can you be famous?"

Po smiled and answered quietly, "My teacher was Tzu Shang-chi'ui, whose strength was without peer in the world, but even his relatives never knew it because he never used it."

-    Anonymous.

2 of my favorite quotes :

"Don't win after you punch, but punch after you won"

"The way you train is the way you'll fight"

- Sensei Gaetan
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada

"Do not wish to be rare like jade, nor common like stone."

-    unknown

"A bad student can only excel under a good teacher.

A good student can excel whether his teacher is good or bad."

- Rev. Kensho Furuya
- Kodo Ancient Ways

"The hardest thing for the student when he begins training is to throw away all of his preconceived notions and conclusions."

- Kodo Ancient Ways

"Even though one has never offered a single service to the Buddha or made a pilgrimage to a shrine, if his heart is upright and full of compassion, neither the gods, nor Buddha's will look at him amiss."

- Shiba Yoshimasa
- Ideals of the Samurai

"If the domestic duties are duly performed, where is the necessity to go afar to burn incense?"

- Anonymous

"The moral law takes its rise in the relation between men and women, but in its utmost reaches it reigns supreme over Heaven and Earth."

- Confucius

"Only a fool who loves practice can continue his practice for his whole life."

- Rev. Kensho Furuya

- Kodo Ancient Ways

"Knowledge is boundless, but the capacity of one man is limited."

- Anonymous

"No guts, no glory.
No pain, no gain."

-Unknown

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first...  the lesson afterward."

-Unknown

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.
It's the life in your years."

-Abraham Lincoln

"Even if a man is bad, how can it be right to cast him off?"

- Lao Tze

"Like the clear stream, we must go with the flow."

- Rev. Kensho Furuya
- Kodo Ancient Ways

"What man shall dare to oppose him whose words are consistent with reason, and whose actions are squared by the rule of rectitude?"

- Anonymous

Don't forget, as someone once said:

"Wise men make proverbs, fools repeat them"

"One who is conscious of his strength and yet is content to be weak shall be the paragon of mankind. And being the paragon of mankind, virtue will never desert him. He will return to the state of a little child."

- Lao Tze

"If you think you cannot do it, then you cannot. If you think you can, seek deeply, and you will always find a way"

- Ashihara Webpage

"Knowledge is only potential power! Action AND knowledge is power!"

- Unknown

Confuscioue Say -

" If you aim at nothing...

you are sure to hit it... "

"There's always a way - if you're committed"

- Anthony Robbins

"It is the mind that maketh good or ill, that maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor."

- Edmund Spenser

I seek not to know the answers,

but to understand the questions.

- Caine

To know is not what is important to us. Even to learn is not so important.

What is important is to study.

- The Sage

From the unreal lead me to the real;

From darkness lead me to the light!

From death lead me to immortality!

-Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad

There is a tale among us, a legend persevered by the old tellers from the farthest distance of our past...

It is said that upon the edge of the Earth at the end of time stands a lone man who holds the meaning of it all...

It is said that he has mastered all skill and prowess that we desire, all restraint and calm, and has become perfection - passion and mastery like unto the poised grandeur of mountains.

And it is said, should ever one of us seek him out... and contest with him, we will learn the measure of our worth, in defeat or triumph.

Therefore are we a seeking people. In the heart among us beats a yearning for this test and the knowledge it offers.

Yet the path which leads to him is unknown, has never been known. It is said that this path must not be known - that it may only be found by one who knows without knowledge and has not come seeking the thing he seeks.

You are that one.

-S.R. Donaldson, 'The One Tree'

The creative works sublime success,

Furthering through perseverance.

- I Ching

Patience, Strength, Fortitude.

- Sifu Kan Yuen

How is it you hear these things?    :Grasshopper

How is it you do not?    :Master Po

- Kung Fu (TV series)

I had the Thunderbird on my back who was one with me;

I could change into the Coyote if I had to;

I had the Rattlesnake coiled around my arm;

I could see through the eyes of the Eagle.

- an Indian lore

Difficulty at the Beginning works supreme success.

- I Ching

"The dark is dissolved by the penetrating light. The gentle wind disperses the gathering clouds, leaving the sky clear and serene. The tiny soft roots of the wood pierce the hardest rock, breaking up those dark intrigues which shun the light of day. All the while, the whispering music of the wind, and the gradual uncurling of the leaves produce tranquility and peace, appearing soft, gentle, unthreatening. The results of gentle penetration by the wind are less striking then the effect of aggressive force, but more enduring and more complete."

- I Ching

The Gentle, penetrating;

Wind and wood.

Success through what is small.

- I Ching

Holding Together brings good fortune. Those who are uncertain gladly join. Whoever comes too late, Meets with misfortune.

- I Ching

He who knows he has enough is rich. To die but not to perish Is to be eternally present.

One must know when to stop.

- Lao Tzu

The Turning Point.

It furthers one to have someplace to go...

- I Ching

Tie two birds together;

Though they have four wings, They cannot fly.

- Ah Sahm

"One of the convenient things about martial arts mastery is that really dangerous fighters rarely feel they have to prove it to you."

- David Carradine

Mastering others requires force;

Mastering the self requires enlightenment.

- Lao Tzu

A Journey of a thousand miles Starts under one's feet.

- Lao Tzu

"Even though one has never offered a single service to the Buddha or made a pilgrimage to a shrine, if his heart is upright and full of compassion, neither the gods, nor Buddha's will look at him amiss."
- Shiba Yoshimasa
- Ideals of the Samurai

"If the domestic duties are duly performed, where is the necessity to go afar to burn incense?"
- Anonymous

"The moral law takes its rise in the relation between men and women, but in its utmost reaches it reigns supreme over Heaven and Earth."
- Confucius

"Only a fool who loves practice can continue his practice for his whole life."
- Rev. Kensho Furuya

- Kodo Ancient Ways

"The hardest thing for the student when he begins training is to throw away all of his preconceived notions and conclusions."
- Kodo Ancient Ways

"Knowledge is boundless, but the capacity of one man is limited."
- Anonymous

U.S. Army Special Forces:
The Green Berets

Murphy's Laws of Combat

• You are not a superman.

• If it's stupid but works, it's not stupid.

• Don't look conspicuous, it draws fire.

• When in doubt, empty your magazine.

• Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are.

• Remember:  Your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.

• If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush.

• No plan survives the first contact intact.

• All 5-second grenade fuses will burn out in 3.

• Try to look unimportant.  The enemy may be low on ammo.

• If you are forward of your position the artillery will always fall short.

• The important things are always simple.

• The simple things are always hard.

• The easy way is always mined.

• If you are short of everything except enemy, you're in combat.

• When you have secured an objective, don't forget to let the enemy know about it.

• Incoming fire has the right of way.

• If the enemy is in range, SO ARE YOU.

• No combat ready unit ever passed inspection.

• Beer math: two beers times 37 men equal 49 cases.

• Body count math: two guerillas plus one portable plus two pigs equal 37 enemy KIA.

• Things that must be together to work usually can't be shipped together.

• Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately.

• Anything you do can get you shot, including doing nothing.

• Tracers work both ways.

• The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.

• Make it tough for the enemy to get in any you can't get out.

• If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share of objectives to take.

• When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose, they are both right.

• Professional soldiers are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs.

• Murphy was a grunt.

If the sage would guide the people, He must serve with humility.

If he would lead them, he must follow behind .

- Lao Tzu

Words of Wisdom

Whatever good ye give, shall be rendered back to you, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.

- Surah Al-Baqara (2:72)

O' ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others.

- Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11)

 

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"You can only see as far, and speak as deep, as your capacity to use language in its most varied forms. Similarly can you only hear, and understand truth, and meaning as far as your language abilities enable you. The truth is often very simple. The capacity to comprehend it, is however, not as simple."

- A Quotation by Ebrahim Alexander

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Be determined, Be dedicated to your art, And have the desire To WIN!!!

- Formula for Success

 

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A New Day

This is the beginning of a New Day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it - or use it for good, but what I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it! When tomorrow comes this day will be gone for ever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good and not evil; success and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price that I have paid for it.

 

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You progress not through what has been done, but reaching towards what has yet to be done.

Courage, which is the sixth-sense, finds the shortest way to triumph.

- Kahlil Gibran, Saying

 

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Words of Wisdom

Treat with kindness your parents and kindred, orphans and those in need. Speak fair to the people, be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity.

Surah Al-Baqara (2:83)

 

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The training of Karate is like walking on a thorny road.

But because I love Karate I can take it.

I hold the anxious tears of training within my clenched fist:

dreaming of an everlasting world of peace.

Even if more people approach you with hostility -

to shun a fight is also a form of bravery.

The more I learn, the more I find I must learn more.

This is whatever draws my heart to the way of Karate.

I have learned to respect my teacher to the point

to where I would not even tread on his shadow

Traditional etiquette requires I wear my Black Belt -

The usage of a man in a karate gi. Someday our day will come.

 

- Karate by Larry Giordano (6th Dan USA)

Sayings

The longest journey begins with the first step.

Every minute that you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of joy.

Seven days a week without karate makes one weak.

 

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Be Positive

A positive manner is not just something with which you are born. It is a process that requires a certain amount of work to start and to keep it going. You have often heard, I'm sure, the phrase- "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT" and this is perfectly true. But perhaps even more important - "YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK."

Thoughts lead to action

Action repeated lead to habits and

Your habits create your destiny.

You become what you think, so if your vocabulary consists of phrases such as- " I CAN'T, I'M NOT AS GOOD AS, I'M TOO STIFF, TOO OLD, TOO SMALL, NOT CLEVER ENOUGH, it's not your limitation that is holding you back, but your NEGATIVE THINKING!

It's your attitude that's letting you down and, WHO creates that attitude, YOU DO! So you are the only one who can change it. The first thing you need to know (and I am not saying it's easy, but it is easier than you think) is to eliminate all those negative thinking words and phrases from your vocabulary, but most important, from your thoughts. So instead of thinking "I can't" change it to "I can if I want to". Stop apologizing for being yourself. You have the same right to "be" as anyone else, and the same right to a full potential.

Don't cramp your style, be positive about yourself and you will soon see that others will begin to be positive about you too!

Performance both in karate and outside the dojo will improve, because a positive attitude breeds positive results. Don't believe me, try it for yourself and see.

REMEMBER: "Argue for your limitations and sure enough they are yours"

> Life is a self fulfilling prophecy. Make yours a POSITIVE one!

- by Ikki Naka

 

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Kindle my Spirit by Ebrahim Alexander

Kindle my spirit

As I fly upon the wind

Passions ascending high

Touching a cloud that is only mine

Kindle my spirit

Enchanted by the moon against a transparent sky,

Flying, flying high amongst the oceanic stars

Kindle my spirit

And I shall stop to cry

As the morning sunrays stalk my cushion

With eternal open windows

I shall always try

 

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Something to think about!

Whenever you are the biggest, the best, or stand out the most, when you have got the goodies, there are those who look at you in one or two ways. They are so jealous of what you have, or cannot wait until the day that they can pass you up and have more, or have equal. The only way that they can see you is as an obstacle in their way.

Another way is with envy. They are so envious and jealous of you that they cannot see themselves clearly.

Such attitudes should not be tolerated. Unfortunately you will find a lot of people in Martial Arts with one or both of these attitudes. Realistically, they should be contacting the people who are successful at it and ask them how they do it!

 

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Training

Training is an attitude

a Way of thinking about

effort and challenge.

It becomes not only

acceptable but something

to be desired

 

- Joko Ninomiya

We must lead by Example

 

First I must stress that I feel strongly about the title of my essay. To lead by example is easy to write or say, but to put action to words is a different story. This is one of the reasons why I have great admiration for our Senpai. I truely feel that he leads by example. In meetings with other groups he handles himself with dignity and shows that he is a man with strong principles and in my opinion comes out tops every time against shrewd opposition.

Physically he keeps himself in shape, still partakes in tournaments and keeps our training sessions serious and hard.

My point to all this (sincere) flattery-------- fellow students, is, to follow up on this lead. In our training we must really work hard. In karate circles, a karateka is judged by the goods he or she can produce. We must try to attend our training sesions as frequently as possible. Remember Blue Belts - the White Belt or Beginner already looks to you for lead as does the Yellow to the Green or Brown Belts. So please, Senpai, Kohai and other colored belts - to keep the training intense and spirited "Be There Whenever You Can".

If funds are needed we must commit ourselves to raise the amount to cover our needs. In this way too we are giving our Senpai the support he needs and showing him our appreciation. As for people who are trying to put us in a bad light, we must show them that we are not weak but will rise too the occasion and prove that we are a force to be reckoned with. We can do it, if we all LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

- Cashief Lee (Ashihara Honbu)

 

"Indulging in hate and revenge is like drinking saltwater - the thirst can only grow..."

- Unknown, from Dave's Shotokan Karate Page

"Learning and teaching should never be a matter of ego."

- Rev. Kensho Furuya
- Kodo Ancient Ways

Muga-mushin: "Non-ego, non-mind."

This is the Void, where you transcend everything.

Knowing others is wisdom, Knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

- Lao-Tzu

For the uncontrolled there is no wisdom, nor for the uncontrolled is there the power of concentration; and for him without concentration there is no peace. And for the unpeaceful, how can there be happiness?

- Bhagavad Gita

 

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Star Wars - Quotes

"Luke, don't give in to hate. That leads to the dark side." --Obi-Wan Kenobi

"A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense-never for attack." --Yoda

When ordered to undertake a particularly daunting task, Luke says he'll try. "No! Try not," Yoda says. "Do. Or do not. There is no try."

Yoda's path to Jedi wisdom seems simple, yet profound. He makes his students unlearn what they had been taught, helping them to tune in to the subtle world around them to learn its truths. "A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge. Never for attack."

 

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Some Quotes From Yoda "No! Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try." "You must unlearn what you have learned." "Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will..." "You will know (the good from the bad) when you are calm, at peace. Passive." "A Jedi's strength flows from the Force." "Beware of the dark side. Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight." "A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind." "Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things." "The dark side is quicker, easier, more seductive." "Always in motion is the future."

 

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"When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good, you will not...hmmm?" - Master Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back   "Hey! I'm not fat, I'm just festively plump" - Eric Cartman, SouthPark "I'm wearing a cardinal's hat because I'm Cardinal Chunder; I have an ostrich feather up my bottom because Mr Ostrich put it there to keep in the little pixies, and I'm grinning inanely because I think I've just about succeeded in conning you and your daft husband out of a whopping great inheritance -- hee hee hee hee hee!" - Edmund Blackadder, Blackadder; The Historical 2nd series  "What are we going to do tomorrow night Brain? Same thing we do every night, Pinky; try to take over the world!" - Pinky and the Brain "Right, Wadsworth, am I right in thinking that there is no one else in the house? Mmm...no. Then there IS someone else in the house? Sorry, I meant no meaning yes. No meaning yes? Look, I just want a straight answer; is there someone else; yes or no? No. No there IS, or no there ISN'T? Yes." - Wadsworth and Colonel Mustard, Clue   "I believe that I have reached the age in which if I do not wish to wear my socks, I do not have to." - Albert Einstein. The best way to judge a man's character is to see what he does when he thinks no one's looking. - Jim Poserina (1977).  Men willingly believe what they will. - Caesar.  Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils. - Hector Berlioz (1803-1869).  Experience is the name that everyone gives to his mistakes. - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). ''Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.'' - Winston Churchill.

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This Webpage has been collected from various sources, and compiled by P.DiFiore. If you have any proverbs, life motto's, riddles, sayings, writing, poems you think would make a good addition (or any corrections) on this page, please email them to Paul DiFiore, c/- RookieKill. All All credits are given, noted. If you use any items from this page please give credit to this page, and link back to this page. Your honesty is appreciated. Thankyou.

 

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21/02/00 13:36