A monk asked Fuketsu: "Without speaking, without silence, how can you express the truth?" Fuketsu observed: "I always remember spring-time...

When he became emancipated the sixth patriach received from the fifth patriach the bowl and robe given from the Buddha...

Ananda asked Kashapa: "Buddha gave you the golden-woven robe of successorship. What else did he give you?" Kashapa said: "Ananda."...

Joshu went to a place were a monk had retired to meditate and asked him: "What is, is what?" The...

Joshu asked Nansen: "What is the path?" Nansen said: "Everyday life is the path." Joshu asked: "Can it be studied?"...

A monk asked Tozan when he was weighing some flax: "What is Buddha?" Tozan said: "This flax weighs three pounds."

Chu, called Kokushi, the teacher of the emperor, called to his attendant: "Oshin." Oshin answered: "Yes." Chu repeated, to test...

Tozan went to Ummon. Ummon asked him where he had come from. Tozan said: "From Sato village." Ummon asked: "In...

Nansen saw the monks of the eastern and western halls fighting over a cat. He seized the cat and told...

Tokusan went to the dining room from the meditation hall holding his bowl. Seppo was on duty cooking. When he...

Many Zen pupils were studying meditation under the Zen master Sengai. One of them used to arise at night, climb...

Zuigan called out to himself every day: "Master." Then he answered himself: "Yes, sir." And after that he added: "Become...