Buddha and a Pile of Shit

Zen Master, Fo Yin was especially intimate with Su Dongpo, a distinguished and mischievous poet. Their friendship had grown so deep that the...

The Eight Winds Cannot Move Him, but One Fart Blows Him Across the River

Su Dongpo (蘇東坡) was an avid student of Buddhist teachings and a distinguished and mischievous poet. He was quick-witted and humorous; as a Z...

Ajahn Brahm's Inspiring Wisdom: All Is Well

People often ask, "How can you say all is well if I am sick or I do not have any money or my sweetheart leaves me ?" All is well ...

Walking on Water

Once a monk approached the Buddha and stated that he had been meditating for over 30 years. The Buddha asked, "What have you learned ?...

A Story of a Poor Sparrow

When the dry season has just started, a sparrow feel his body heat. And he swore to his hostile environment, then he decided to leave the pl...

Nasrudin's Sufi Story - Color of The Mayor's Bread

One day, a barber was trimming the mayor’s beard at the village palace. After he finished up, he remarked, "Your beard is starting to...

The Story of a Blind Girl

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. Not just for herself, but she also hated everyone, except her loving bo...

Jing Si Aphorism - Inspirational Wisdom by Dharma Master Cheng Yen

Because seeing virtue in others is in itself a virtue, in appreciating others, we in fact dignify ourselves. Material object were meant...

A Stone Cutter Story - An Inspirational Story About Contentment

There was once a stone cutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life. One day he passed a wealthy merchant's ho...

The Restaurant Bill

Judge Nasrudin was presiding over a case. The plaintiff went first and exclaimed, "The defendant refuses to pay his restaurant bill !...

Work While You Are Working, Play While You Are Playing

Once there was a donkey which works in a rice mill. Day after day, the donkey just walked in a circle way. One day, the donkey became too ol...

The Rat Trap in the Farmhouse Story

A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain ? He was aghast to dis...

Jing Si Aphorism - Inspirational Wisdom by Dharma Master Cheng Yen

Abide by your principles in everything you do. Never do thing just to satisfy others. For rather than satifsfying them, you may get in ov...

A Fox and Vineyard

Once upon a time, there was a fox saw a vineyard full of ripe grapes. The fox thought, "I'll go in there and enjoy a great meal....

An Allergic to Life Story

A man approached a spiritual teacher. He said, "Master, I was tired of living. I was completely saturated. My marriage life has messed ...

Jing Si Aphorism - Inspirational Wisdom by Dharma Master Cheng Yen

It is easy to reflect on major mistakes, and hard to eliminate small bad habits. Repentance purifies the mind ; a pure mind can readi...

The Orange Story: Interest-Based Negotiation and Communication

Here is a simple story to illustrate the difference between positions and interests. Once there was an orange and two people who sat toget...

Mulla Nasruddin is Looking for Sweet Peppers

One day Mulla Nasruddin went to market and bought a bushel of peppers. He took them home and began to eat them, one by one. An hour later ...

Jing Si Aphorism - Inspirational Wisdom by Dharma Master Cheng Yen

To be humble is shrink our ego until we are small enough to enter another's eyes and reside in their heart and mind. *** To reg...

An Old Sailor and a Young Professor

Once a young professor was making a sea voyage. He was a highly educated man with a long tail of letters after his name, but he had little e...

Life Is Death Penalty

Once there was a king called Asoka. Asoka was a king from India and he was also a Buddhist. He had a younger brother named Vitasoka. Vitasok...

Adages of Wisdom Quotes by Master Sheng Yen

To develop good interpersonal relationships, one needs to broaden the mind, and be more affable and tolerant. *** Change your mind-set, ...

Ajahn Brahm's Inspiring Wisdom: Two Bad Bricks

After we purchased the land for our monastery in 1983 we were broke. We were in debt. There were no buildings on the land, not even a shed. ...

Jing Si Aphorism - Inspirational Wisdom by Dharma Master Cheng Yen

Transient though life may be, one's contribution will live on; as we love knows no boundaries, its spirit will always remain. *** ...

Nasrudin Gets a Cow

One day, Nasrudin’s wife told him, "Let's buy a cow so that we can have milk every day." Nasrudin replied, "We don'...

Nice Inspirational Quotes - A Gift From A Friend

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." ---Margaret Mead...

Jing Si Aphorism - Inspirational Wisdom by Dharma Master Cheng Yen

When walking, as we step one foot forward, we lift the other foot up. In the same way, we should let go of yesterday and focus on today. ...

The Coke Story - Your Environment Determines Your Price

There were 3 cans of coke. All 3 cans were manufactured from the same factory. During the day of delivery, a truck came to the factory, load...

Ajahn Brahm on the Issue of the End of the World

Has Ajahn Brahm ever felt lonely ? This question was asked by audience in a talk show entitled "All is Well" by Ajahn Brahm. The e...

Adages of Wisdom Quotes by Master Sheng Yen

To seek inner peace is to enjoy peace in life; to care for others is to attain happiness. *** Virtues are equal to fortunes, and giving ...

Adversity Is An Opportunity For Improvement

Frederick Brotherton Meyer, an English Baptist clergyman, once gave an illustration of the process that produced quality, as follows : A b...

Adages of Wisdom Quotes by Master Sheng Yen

May good words be spoken by all; may good deeds be done by all; then may the fortunes of all be transformed. *** May all speak good word...

Don't Be Arrogant - A Frog and Swans Story

A pair of swans was ready to leave a drought lake. A frog asked the swans to take him together. But, the swans were confused how to take the...

Pastor and Taxi Driver

A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is this guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a T-shirt, leather jac...