There’s something quite unique and fascinating about zen stories: they don’t necessarily have a reason, or a point. Quite often, such stories provide you with merely a fragment of an idea, and you’re supposed to assemble the whole thing in your own mind. In this sense, Zen stories are similar to a good joke, except they’re not necessarily meant to be funny.

This is because one of the main tenets of Zen is probably getting the mind to dismiss itself; consequently, these kind of stories are actually meant as a contraption, devised to make your thought processes collapse, so you can realize that your mind is merely a layer of who you really are. Once you think of it, such stories are not unlike those elliptical training bykes: they don’t apparently take you nowhere, even though the workout is positively good for you.

If you’re intrigued with my clumbsy metaphors, just check out the following story; if you enjoy reading it, head out towards this page for 100 more.

“Open Your Own Treasure House”

Daiju visited the master Baso in China. Baso asked: “What do you seek?”

“Enlightenment,” replied Daiju.

“You have your own treasure house. Why do you search outside?” Baso asked.

Daiju inquired: “Where is my treasure house?”

Baso answered: “What you are asking is your treasure house.”

Daiju was delighted! Ever after he urged his friends: “Open your own treasure house and use those treasures.”

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