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Well, I just decided to start this page. I am a zen-buddhist and figured I would share my knowledge and some stories as well. My purpose here is NOT to convert, just to share and inform. I put a few stories below to share to get you thinking. Hopefully you enjoy this page.

True Self	Ritual Cat	Buddhas Ass	Egoism	Nuisance	Maybe	Empty cup
Buddhist stories

A distraught man approached the Buddhist. "Please, I feel lost, desperate. I don't know who I am. Please, show me my true self!" But the buddhist just looked away without responding. The man began to plead and beg, but still the master gave no reply. Finally giving up in frustration, the man turned to leave. At that moment the buddhist called out to him by name. "Yes!" the man said as he spun back around. "There it is!" exclaimed the buddhist.

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.

There once was a crazy monk he thought he was buddha. He tore up various buddhist scriptures and art work and used them for toilet paper. The other monks took him to task for this and the crazy monk just said "Whats wrong with using buddhist scriptures to wipe a Buddha's ass? Eventually the master found about this and asked the monk "They say you are using buddhist scriptures for toilet paper? Is this so?" The crazy monk replied "Yes, I am a Buddha. What is wrong with a Buddha using buddhist scriptures to wipe a Buddhas ass? The master said "You are wrong, since its a Buddhas ass why use old paper you should be using clean white paper." The crazy monk was then shamed and apologized.

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 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 question is that you numbskull!" This unexpected response so shocked the Prime Minister that he became sullen and angry. The master then smiled and said, "THIS, Your Excellency, is egotism."

When Teng Yin Feng was about to die he said to the people "I have seen many monks die sitting and lying, but have any dies while standing?" "Yes, some" they replied. "How about upside down?" asked Teng. "No, not such a thing has ever happened." they said. So Teng died standing on his head and his clothes rose up close to his body. It was decided to carry him to the burning ground but he stood still without moving. His younger sister grubmled at him and said "When you were alive you took no notice of laws or customs; and even now you're dead you're still making a nuisance of yourself." She then poked her brother with her finger and he fell to the ground with a bang. They then went off to the creamatorium.

There was 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. "What bad luck," they said. "Maybe," the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Maybe," replied the old man. The next day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came and said "What bad luck." "Maybe," 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. " Maybe ," said the farmer.

A professor went to visit a Buddhist. While the buddhist quietly served tea, the professor talked about Buddhism. The buddhist poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master replied, "How can I show you Buddhism unless you first empty your cup."