Koans

Time to Die

Ikkyu, the Zen master, was very clever even as a boy. His teacher had a precious teacup, a rare antique. Ikkyu happened to break this cup and was greatly perplexed. Hearing the footsteps of his teacher, he held the pieces of the cup behind him. When the master appeared, Ikkyu asked: "Why do people have to die?"

"This is natural," explained the older man. "Everything has to die and has just so long to live."

Ikkyu, producing the shattered cup, added: "It was time for your cup to die."


thought this was funny!:woohoo:

Haha -- that is funny.

Can I hijack your thread and throw a funny story in here, too? (I'm lazy and don't want to open another topic, haha.)

go for it!

You know when you read something over and over again it gets less funny? I'm not sure if the "funniness" of this story has just worn off on me or if it was never funny to begin with...here it goes (what a great intro, huh?):

(This was related to me by my brother-in-law who was in the room when this happened)

My nephew is a 16 year old that belongs to a scout troop with several other boys. They were planning a campout to the Grand Canyon and they were discussing their gear and backpacks and how they were going to hike down with it. It was brought to their attention that there are 3 ways to get their gear and equipment down the Grand Canyon: on foot, on a mule, or in a helicopter.

Boy 1: How much does it cost for a mule to carry my backpack?

Leader: About 30 dollars

Boy 1: How much does it cost for the helicopter to carry my backpack?

Leader: About 75 dollars

My Nephew: How much does it cost for the helicopter to carry the mule?

(Lots of laughing)

There...what do you think?

My Heart Burns Like Fire

Soyen Shaku, the first Zen teacher to come to America, said: "My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes." He made the following rules which he practiced every day of his life.


In the morning before dressing, light incense and meditate.

Retire at a regular hour. Partake of food at regular intervals. Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction.

Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone. When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests.

Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it.

When an opportunity comes do not let it pass by, yet always think twice before acting.

Do not regret the past. Look to the future.

Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child.

Upon retiring, sleep as if you had entered your last sleep. Upon awakening, leave your bed behind you instantly as if you had cast away a pair of old shoes.

Riddle


There are 40 monks living on a deserted island, at the foot of a mountain with a monastery at the top. Each monk has either blue or green eyes--there is at least one monk of each eye color, but none of them knows which color he has. They can see each other's eyes, but cannot in any way communicate to each other anyone's eye color (ie, everyone knows everyone ELSE's eye color, but not their own). They gather every day for supper, but otherwise spend their time alone in their individual secluded huts. One day, God appears and tells them all that green-eyed monks are welcome to hike up the mountain to the monastery; but ONLY green-eyed monks are allowed. He says that one morning, every green-eyed monk will wake up knowing that he is a green-eyed monk, and when that day comes, they will each ascend the mountain during sunrise, leaving just the blue-eyed monks to gather for supper later that day. This does indeed happen. How do the green-eyed monks accomplish this?



its simple dont over think it.