Stories, tales and items of amusement

Anytime you point the finger of blame at someone, remember that there are 4 fingers pointing back at you.

~ unknown

Self-control
One day there was an earthquake that shook the entire Zen temple.
Parts of it even collapsed. Many of the monks were terrified.

When the earthquake stopped the teacher said, \"Now you have had the opportunity to see how a Zen man behaves in a crisis situation. You may have noticed that I did not panic. I was quite aware of what was happening and what to do.

I led you all to the kitchen, the strongest part of the temple. It was a good decision, because you see we have all survived without any injuries.

However, despite my self-control and composure, I did feel a little bit tense - which you may have deduced from the fact that I drank a large glass of water, something I never do under ordinary circumstances.\"

One of the monks smiled, but didn't say anything.

\"What are you laughing at?\" asked the teacher.

\"That wasn't water,\" the monk replied, \"it was a large glass of soy sauce.\"

TEACUPS

A student asked Suzuki Roshi why the Japanese make their teacups so thin and delicate that they break easily. \"It's not that they're too delicate,\" he answered, \"but that you don't know how to handle them. You must adjust yourself to the environment, and not vice versa.\"


From: \"To Shine One Corner of the World: Moments with Shunryu Suzuki: Stories of a Zen Teacher Told by His Students\" (Edited by David Chadwick