60 TIMELESS ZEN STORIES Quotes

“The Wise Tree In an ancient Zen temple, there grew a magnificent ancient tree, known as the "Wise Tree." It was tall and majestic, with dark green leaves and deep roots. The temple monks believed that the Wise Tree possessed wisdom and spiritual power. One day, a young monk named Ren approached the Wise Tree. He was eager to learn the true nature of wisdom. He knelt before the tree and said, "Wise Tree, I beseech you, teach me wisdom. Tell me the secret to finding the truth." The Wise Tree, of course, remained silent. But Ren was determined to receive an answer. He decided to meditate under the tree for days, hoping that, with enough patience and dedication, he would attain enlightenment. After many weeks of meditating under the Wise Tree, Ren was still without answers. He began to doubt his effort. An old monk from the temple, named Master Kenzo, noticed the young monk's agitation. Kenzo approached Ren and said, "Ren, you have dedicated much time and effort to seeking wisdom from the Wise Tree. But you have forgotten one important thing." Ren, confused, asked, "What have I forgotten, Master Kenzo?"

Master Kenzo smiled and said, "You have forgotten that wisdom cannot be found externally. It is a treasure hidden within you. The Wise Tree can inspire you, but true wisdom must emerge from your heart." Master Kenzo's words illuminated Ren's mind. He understood that there was no riddle to solve, no answer to seek externally. Wisdom was within him, in every breath, in every thought, in every gesture. From that day on, Ren ceased to seek answers outside of himself and began to explore his inner world. He found wisdom not in the silence of the Wise Tree but in the stillness of his own mind.”
― Aki yama, 60 TIMELESS ZEN STORIES: A relaxing journey towards positive thoughts and true mindfulness

“Stones of Wisdom Once upon a time, there was a very wise Zen monk who lived in a small monastery in the hills. One day, a curious traveler approached the monk and asked him to teach something meaningful about life and Zen wisdom. The monk smiled gently and asked the traveler to sit down with him. The monk took three smooth stones from the nearby riverbed and showed them to the traveler. "Look at these three stones," said the monk. "Each of them represents a valuable lesson about life." The monk handed the first stone to the traveler and said, "This stone represents the past. It has already happened, and it's irreversible. We cannot change it, but we can learn from it and grow." Then, the monk handed the second stone and said, "This stone represents the present, the moment we are in right now. It's the only moment we have control over. We must live it fully, with awareness and gratitude." Finally, the monk pointed to the third stone and said, "This stone represents the future, the unknown. We cannot predict what will happen, but we can prepare for it and face it with courage and acceptance."


The monk smiled at the traveler and said, "Now, I'll give you a riddle. Which is the most important stone among the three?" The traveler deeply reflected on the monk's lesson and answered, "The most important stone is the second one, representing the present. It's the only moment we have control over, where we can make a difference." The monk nodded in approval. "Exactly. The present is the focal point of our existence. It's in the present that we can apply the lessons from the past and prepare for the future. Cultivating awareness in the present moment is the key to living a meaningful and fulfilling life." The traveler smiled, grateful for the monk's teaching, and walked away from the monastery carrying not only the three stones but also the precious wisdom he had gained that day.”
― Aki yama, 60 TIMELESS ZEN STORIES: A relaxing journey towards positive thoughts and true mindfulness

“The Eternal Game In a distant land, there was an extraordinary chess player named Ryota. He was known for his patience and his ability to play incredibly long matches without ever getting tired. One day, Ryota was challenged by a young Zen chess master named Akira. The match began, and it immediately became clear that Akira was just as skilled as Ryota. The moves were intricate, and the game extended for many days. The two players seemed immersed in a world of chess, completely focused on the strategy and art of the game. As the match dragged on, other players watched in astonishment. Ryota and Akira appeared to lose track of time and space. Despite their efforts, neither could secure a win. Weeks turned into months, and the game continued relentlessly. In the end, after nearly a year of continuous play, Ryota and Akira stopped and looked at each other with mutual respect. The match had ended in a perfect tie, and neither had managed to win. Akira smiled and said, "This has been the most extraordinary game of my life, Ryota. Neither of us won, but we both demonstrated the beauty and depth of chess."


Ryota nodded and replied, "You're right, Akira. This game has taught us that the true meaning of play lies not in victory or defeat but in the art of playing and the depth of strategy.”
― Aki yama, 60 TIMELESS ZEN STORIES: A relaxing journey towards positive thoughts and true mindfulness

“The Leaky Bucket Once upon a time, there lived a young Zen monk named Riku in a small monastery at the foot of a majestic mountain. The monastery was renowned for its wisdom and tranquility, drawing people from all over the world in search of enlightenment. One day, while Riku was fetching water from the monastery well, he tripped and fell, spilling the bucket of water. An elderly monk named Sensei witnessed the incident and said to Riku, "Now you must carry a bucket of water from the river back to the monastery to replace what you have wasted." Riku nodded and set off to the river with the empty bucket. When he arrived, he bent down to collect the water, but the bucket had a small hole at the bottom. Riku managed to fill it, but by the time he returned to the monastery, the bucket was nearly empty again. Despite his efforts, Riku couldn't bring enough water back to the monastery. Feeling frustrated, he turned to Sensei. "I tried to bring the water, but the bucket is leaking. I can't fulfill the task." Sensei smiled and said, "Go back to the river and observe the bucket carefully as you fill it with water."


Riku followed Sensei's advice and returned to the river. As he filled the bucket, he observed the hole at the bottom. Something surprising happened: he noticed flowers blooming along the path he walked. When he returned to the monastery, Sensei smiled again. "Riku, did you notice the flowers along the way? The hole in the bucket allowed them to grow. Despite its flaw, the bucket brought beauty to the world. Do you understand its secret now?" Thanks to Sensei's teaching, Riku grasped the profound lesson of the leaky bucket. Riku learned to see the positive aspects of seemingly negative situations and find meaning even in imperfections.”
― Aki yama, 60 TIMELESS ZEN STORIES: A relaxing journey towards positive thoughts and true mindfulness

“The Forest Temple In the heart of a dense forest, there stood an ancient Buddhist temple run by a wise monk named Lao Chen. The temple was renowned throughout the region for its peace and tranquility. One day, a group of curious travelers ventured into the forest and reached the temple, captivated by its aura of serenity. The travelers hailed from different parts of the world and belonged to various cultures and religions. They wanted to know the secret behind the temple's peace. They asked Lao Chen how it was possible for people with such diverse beliefs to coexist peacefully within the temple. Lao Chen smiled and led the travelers to a wide garden filled with colorful flowers. "Look at these flowers," he said. "Each flower has a unique color, shape, and fragrance. Yet, despite their differences, they bloom together in the same soil. So it is with different religions and beliefs. Each has its beauty and uniqueness, but all can peacefully coexist in our minds and hearts." The travelers were struck by Lao Chen's words and asked how they could apply this wisdom in their daily lives, even in situations of conflict. Lao Chen guided them to a small pond in the woods. "Look at the water," he said. "Water is formless, yet it can adapt to any container.
If we want to resolve conflicts, we must be like water, flexible and adaptable, so that we can blend harmoniously even in the most challenging situations." The story tells us… The story underscores the importance of embracing diversity and finding harmony among different beliefs and cultures. The analogy of the flowers in the garden illustrates that, like diverse flowers coexisting peacefully, people from various religions and backgrounds can live harmoniously together.”
― Aki yama, 60 TIMELESS ZEN STORIES: A relaxing journey towards positive thoughts and true mindfulness

“The Lesson of the Butterfly One day, a Zen monk was walking in the forest when he saw a butterfly cocoon hanging from a branch. The monk stopped and observed the cocoon carefully. Soon, he noticed a small opening in the cocoon, and a butterfly struggling to emerge. The monk decided to help the butterfly. Gently, he took a small knife and cut the opening in the cocoon to allow the butterfly to come out more easily. The butterfly emerged without having to struggle much, but something was wrong. Its wings were swollen, and it couldn't fly. The monk, puzzled, continued to watch. Then, over time, he realized the mistake. The butterfly needed the struggle through the narrow opening of the cocoon to force the fluid from its wings and make them strong enough to fly. By helping it come out easily, the monk had deprived the butterfly of its life force. The monk understood nature's profound lesson: sometimes, it is through challenges and difficulties that we gain the strength to face life.”
― Aki yama, 60 TIMELESS ZEN STORIES: A relaxing journey towards positive thoughts and true mindfulness

“The Greedy Merchant Once upon a time, there was a rich merchant known for his extreme greed, despite having accumulated great wealth over the years. He never wanted to spend even a cent more than absolutely necessary. He led a very simple and frugal life, depriving himself of many pleasures to save every possible coin. One day, the merchant heard about a Zen master renowned for his wisdom and ability to teach important life lessons. He decided to visit the master and seek advice about his attachment to greed. He wanted to free himself from the prison of his material desires and find greater happiness and inner peace. The merchant arrived at the monastery where the Zen master resided and was welcomed kindly. He asked the master how he could rid himself of greed and find inner peace. The master, smiling, said to him, "I have a challenge for you. Tomorrow morning, put a handful of rice in your pouch and carry it with you throughout the day”. The merchant was perplexed but decided to follow the master's advice. The next morning, he put a handful of rice in his pouch and began his day. Throughout the day, the merchant realized he was hungry but refused to eat the rice in the pouch because he didn't want to “waste” it.
The day passed, and the merchant returned to the monastery, exhausted and famished. He told the Zen master about his dilemma and how he had refused to consume the rice in the pouch. The master, with a compassionate smile, said, "Look inside your pouch." The merchant opened the pouch and realized that the rice had become unusable. It had turned into dust and was full of insects. His attachment to greed had prevented him from enjoying the rice when he had the chance, and now it was too late. The Zen master said to the merchant, "Greed has imprisoned you in a mindset of lack and fear. Material wealth is worthless if not shared and appreciated. Learn to enjoy the small joys of life and share them with others.”
― Aki yama, 60 TIMELESS ZEN STORIES: A relaxing journey towards positive thoughts and true mindfulness