Anecdotes | Spiritualism

Anecdotes

Shedding The Sheath Of Attachment

Abbot of Eihei temple, Kitano Gempo ventured to be unattached to things all his life. The Zen master was ninety three years when he passed away.At the age of twenty, as a wandering mendicant, he once came upon a

Soyen Shaku's Rules

Soyen Shaku was the first Zen teacher to go to America. He said “My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes”He made the following rules and adhered to them strictly. In the

When The Mind Unites With God

The mind merges with the divine without worldly consciousness when united with it. A story from the Bhaktamala carries this truth.Vilwamangal had lost himself to a prostitute and made regular visits to her. On the night on his

The Love Of God

The love of God is infinite as His grandeur.Once a servant brought a custard apple covered with a cloth for his master. He stood meekly in a corner of the master's house with reverence and humility. The master

Impersonating Shiva

As one thinks so one becomes.A Bahurupi or a professional impersonator in the disguise of Shiva, visited a house. The master of the house gave him a rupee, but the man in disguise refused to accept it.

Renunciation Once For All

Renunciation is to happen once for all.A man was about to go for his bath with a towel on his shoulder. His wife pulled at him saying that he was worthless. Despite his advancing age, he was unable

The Difference Between A Little Man And A Man Of Tao

A student once asked a Zen master, "What is the difference between a little man and a man of Tao?". The Zen master clarified, "Its simple, when a little man first becomes a student, he is in such

The Profound Dialogue

Young pupils of Zen are trained by the teachers to express themselves. Two Zen temples had two child pupil each who meet each other on the way when one goes to buy vegetables in the morning."Where are you

Noon Time Naps

Soyen Shaku, the Zen master who had left behind a treasure of teachings for his followers passed from this world whn he was sixty one years old. It was customary of his pupils to sleep in the

Gurudakshina In Advance

The realization of Brahman or one's own true nature swallows up all distinctions.Sukadeva approached King Janaka for instructions on Brahma Jnana. King Janaka demanded the Gurudakshina in advance saying that once Sukhadeva attains the knowledge of Brahman, he will

Visit To The Dreamland

A disciple of Soyen Shaku, related about his school master who regularly took an afternoon nap. "We children asked him why he slept every afternoon and our master answered : 'I go to the dreamland to meet the old

Ryonen's Realization

Ryonen a Buddhist nun was born in 1797. She was the granddaughter of the famous Japanese warrior Shingen.Ryonen's bewitching beauty and poetic genius paved way to serve the empress as one of the ladies of the court when she

Writing A Chinese Poem

An acclaimed Japanese poet was once asked as to how a Chinese poem is composed. The poet went on to explain, "The usual Chinese poem consists of four lines. The first line consists of the initial state, the

The Enlightenment Of Trees And Grass

Shinkan, in the Kamakura era studied Tendai for six years. He then studied Zen for seven years after which he went to China where he contemplated Zen for thirteen years. Having returned to Japan, many wanted to interview him

The Laughing Buddha's Zen

The statue of the Laughing Buddha, Hotei, carrying a linen sack is a familiar figure, however hardly anyone knows of him except the fact that he signifies contentment and abundance.Here is a Zen story regarding him. Hotei, one

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