101 Zen Stories

"101 Zen Stories" is a 1919 compilation of Zen koans including 19th and early 20th century anecdotes, and "Collection of Stone and Sand", written in the 13th century by Japanese Zen master Muju (literally, "non-dweller"). The book is transcribed by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki in "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones". Well-known koans in the collection include "A Cup of Tea" (1), "The Sound of One Hand" (21), "No Water, No Moon" (29), and "Everything is Best" (31).

A Cup of Tea

: "Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen."

: "Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring."

: "The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

: "Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

ee also

* "Blue Cliff Record"
* "Book of Serenity"
* "The Gateless Gate"

External links

* [http://www.101zenstories.com/ 101 Zen Stories]
* [http://101-zen-stories.blogspot.com/ 101 Zen Stories]
* [http://www.ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html 101 Zen Koans]
* [http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVLPages/ZenPages/KoanStudy.html Koan Studies Pages]
* [http://www.spiritualinquiry.com/zen-stories/ Zen Stories]