The Zen master Hakuin was praised by his neighbours as one living a pure life.

A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned a food store lived near him. Suddenly, without any warning, her parents discovered she was with child.

This [...]]]> Is That So?

The Zen master Hakuin was praised by
his neighbours as one living a pure life.

A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned
a food store lived near him. Suddenly, without
any warning, her parents discovered she was
with child.

This made her parents angry. She would not
confess who the man was, but after much
harassment at last named Hakuin.

In great anger the parents went to the master.
“Is that so?” was all he would say.

After the child was born it was brought to Hakuin.
By this time he had lost his reputation, which did
not trouble him, but he took very good care of
the child. He obtained milk from his neighbours
and everything else he needed.

A year later the girl-mother could stand it no longer.
She told her parents the truth – the real father of the
child was a young man who worked in the fishmarket.

The mother and father of the girl at once went
to Hakuin to ask forgiveness, to apologize at
length, and to get the child back.

Hakuin was willing. In yielding
the child, all he said was:
“Is that so?”

Credit: 101 Zen Stories Visit

Credit: Zen Tree by bensound Visit

Tanzan and Ekido were once travelling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.

Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.

“Come [...]]]> Muddy Road

Tanzan and Ekido were once travelling together
down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.

Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a
silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.

“Come on, girl,” said Tanzan at once. Lifting
her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Ekido did not speak again until that night
when they reached a lodging temple. Then
he no longer could restrain himself.

“We monks don’t go near females,” he told
Tanzan, “especially not young and lovely ones.
It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”

“I left the girl there,” said Tanzan.
“Are you still carrying her?”

Credit: 101 Zen Stories Visit

A man goes to heaven and meets God at the Pearly Gates. God welcomes him and then asks, “Is there any last wish, my son, before you spend the rest of eternity in heaven?” “Yes,” the man replies. “I would like to see what hell is like so I [...]]]> Eating In Heaven and Hell

A man goes to heaven and meets God at the Pearly Gates.
God welcomes him and then asks, “Is there any last wish,
my son, before you spend the rest of eternity in heaven?”
“Yes,” the man replies. “I would like to see what hell is like
so I can more thoroughly appreciate my good fortune.”

“Fine,” says God, snaps his fingers and instantly they
enter hell. Before them, as far as the eye can see, is
a table piled high with the most wonderful delicacies
that anyone’s heart could desire, and on both sides of
the table, also as far as the eye can see, are millions
of unhappy people starving to death.

The man asks God, “Why are these people starving?”
God replies, “Everyone must eat from the table with 11-foot
long chopsticks.” “That’s terribly harsh,” the man says
compassionately. God snaps his fingers again, and they are
transported to heaven.

On entering heaven, the man is surprised to see an almost
identical scene…a bountiful table stretching as far as the
eye can see…except that everyone is happy and well-fed.

He turns and asks God, “What do the people eat with here?
They must have different utensils.” “No, my son,” says God,
“everyone here eats with 11-foot long chopsticks, too.”

The man is confused.
“I don’t understand. How is this possible?”

God replies,
“In heaven, we feed each other.”

Well, my friends, there is food for thought here for all of us.
This is an old story though which has appeared in many guises.

The present extract is from Hale Dwoskin’s
excellent book The Sedona Method.

For more Hale Dwoskin, go here.

Philip