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Stories of Wisdom - Entertaining and Enlightening Stories

 
Inspiring entertaining and enlightening stories of wisdom from cultures all around the world. Enjoy and get inspired! PS: To Explore All Stories Easily, Browse from the 'Categories Quick Link' on the right hand panel

Oriental Thoughts - Stories of Wisdom

A Little Righteousness is Not True Righteousness

<Click the picture to Enlarge> <Click the picture to Enlarge> Source: The Art of Peace: Practical Teachings of Mo Zi During the chaotic Warring States Period (475-221BC), when China was


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

A Little Righteousness is Not True Righteousness


Getting The Full Picture

<Click the picture to Enlarge> Source: The Art of Peace: Practical Teachings of Mo Zi During the chaotic Warring States Period (475-221BC), when China was divided into numerous small states


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Getting The Full Picture


Something Impractical

<Click the picture to Enlarge> Source: The Art of Peace: Practical Teachings of Mo Zi During the chaotic Warring States Period (475-221BC), when China was divided into numerous small states


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Something Impractical


The Real Talent

After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Real Talent


Great Waves of the Mind

There was a wrestler named "Great Waves". He was immensely strong and knew the art of wrestling. In his private bouts, he was so powerful that even his teacher was


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Great Waves of the Mind


Drops of Water Wears Hole in Stone

Zhang Guai Ya was an honest judge very well known in his time as a figure who was totally against corruption that was literally spreading everywhere during Song Dynasty (960-1279


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Drops of Water Wears Hole in Stone


The Donkey in Kuei-Chou

There are no donkeys in Keui-Chou. Once a man brought one up the river on a cargo boat; but on his arrival he saw that it could not be used


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Donkey in Kuei-Chou


Losing Goat

There was once a goatherd named Zhang San. He raised many goats by the side of his house. One morning, as usual, before he started herding the goats, he counted


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Losing Goat


Carry a Long Pole Through the Gate

A man from Lu tried to enter the City Gate carrying a long pole. First, he held the pole upright, but the pole could not pass through the gate. Then


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Carry a Long Pole Through the Gate


Prejudice

Le Guang had a very close friend who had never yet come to visit his house again for a very long time. Le Guang was bewildered with it and asked


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Prejudice


The Greater the Haste the Slower It Is

A youth went up to a mountain to look for a famous swordsman to learn swordsmanship "Master, if i practice diligently, how long would it take me to become adept


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Greater the Haste the Slower It Is


ZhaoZhou finding out about ZhaoZhou

A traveller on journey to ZhaoZhou asked a nearby old woman, "I am looking for ZhaoZhou. How should i proceed?" The old woman instructed, ""Go straight, do not turn west


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

ZhaoZhou finding out about ZhaoZhou


Past, Present, Future

Buddha once told a parable: A man encountered a tiger in the wilderness... He ran to a cliff and with both hands grabbed hold of an overhanging vine while the


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Past, Present, Future


Laughter That Unites Heaven and Earth

One evening, Zen master Yaoshan Weiyan of the Tang Dynasty walked up to the mountain. Suddenly, the clouds and mist lifted, revealing the bright moon. Yaoshan burst into laughter. "Ha


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Laughter That Unites Heaven and Earth


Please Get In The Pot

There were two official who was very well known for their ferocity during the reign of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Each named Zhou Xing and Lai Jun. One day there was


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Please Get In The Pot


Dongshan's no Cold or Heat

A zen pupil asked master dongshan liangjie of the Tang dynasty: "When cold and heat come, how can we avoid them?" "Why not go to a place where there is


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Dongshan's no Cold or Heat


The Magic Bell

Once a theft had occurred in an inn. All the ways the police had tried, but none succeded. Finally the police came up with a unique method. The police gathered


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Magic Bell


Stamp Box and The Stamp

Once there was an official who had done so many corruptions in his office, that the emperor sent an auditor to audit him. Realizing what was going to happen, the


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Stamp Box and The Stamp


The Knight on The Roof

In the time of East Han Dynasty (25-220) there was a very honest person named Chen Shi. As a civil worker for the government, he was respected by his co-workers


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Knight on The Roof


Saying Deer as Horse

During the reign of the second emperor of Qin dynasty, one of his minister named Zhao Gao was attempting to take over the kingdom. The biggest obstacle he was facing


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Saying Deer as Horse


The First Principle

A disciple asked a Zen master Fayan Wenyi, "What is the first principle of the dharma (divine teaching)?" The master was silent for a moment before replying, "It will be


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The First Principle


Jingqing and the Sound of the Raindrops

Jingqing Daofu of the Tang Dynasty said to his disciple: "What is the sound outside?" "The sound of the rain." "Sentinent beings are inverted. They lose themselves and follow after


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Jingqing and the Sound of the Raindrops


The Fragrance of the Osmathus

A commoner ask a Zen master, "What is the profound mystery of Zen?" The Zen master answered, " The Analects of Confucius say: 'I have concealed nothing from you'. In


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Fragrance of the Osmathus


No Substitute

"May i ask what is the meaning of Zen?" "I would very much like to tell you..." "But now i have to go to urinate. Think about it. Even for


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

No Substitute


There Is and There Is Not

Scholar ZhangZhou asked Zen master Xitang Chizang of the Tang dynasty, "Is there paradise and hell?" Master Xitang answered, "Yes". With an unbelieving face the scholar said, "That is not


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

There Is and There Is Not


A Bunch of Idiots

When the disciples was busy planting the seeds at the temple farm, Master Guizong Zhichang drew a circle around one vegetable seed, "No one shall move it." He came back


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

A Bunch of Idiots


Finger pointing at the moon

The nun Wu Jincang asked the Sixth Patriach Huineng, "I have studied the Mahaparinirvana sutra for many years, yet there are many areas i do not quite understand. Please enlighten


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Finger pointing at the moon


Ordinary Mindedness is The Way

"Master, how to dilligently practice the Tao?" "When hungry, eat: when tired, sleep." "Is this not what most people do?" "No, no, no! Most people are not like that." "Most


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Ordinary Mindedness is The Way


I am Here

Yuyan was brewing tea when his fellow disciple DaoWu walked in... DaoWu: "Who are you brewing tea for?" YuYan: "Someone wants to drink it." DaoWu: "Cant the person who wants


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

I am Here


Hidden Bliss

Among the villagers that live on the border, there was a family head who was very eloquent in speaking. One day his family horse without any clear reason fled to


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Hidden Bliss


Is Xhi Shi Really Beautiful

If from the beginning we had called the sky 'horse'. And called the ground "point". Then the sky would be "horse" and the ground would be "point". When people think


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Is Xhi Shi Really Beautiful


A Story of Bhakti

Yen Siau, a 7 year old boy was a smart, wise and devoted child. He had a father who doesnt care for his parents (Yen Siau's grandfather) and intended to


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

A Story of Bhakti


Too Near but Cant See

One day, while Nanquan Puyuan of the Tang dynasty was cutting grass, a wandering monk asked him for directions, "May i ask how to get to the famous temple of


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Too Near but Cant See


The General Antique

A general was toying with his prized antique, then it almost fell to the ground, "Aiyah! That was close!" The general was silent for some moment thinking, "I have commanded


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The General Antique


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


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Time To Die


Struggling Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. On that day a small


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Struggling Butterfly


Perseverance of the Spider

Once an emperor who was in furious pursuit by his enemies managed to hide himself inside a cave . The rain was pouring very heavily outside the cave. Suddenly the


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Perseverance of the Spider


No Work, No Food

Hyakujo, the Chinese Zen master, used to labor with his pupils even at the age of eighty, trimming the gardens, cleaning the grounds, and pruning the trees. The pupils felt


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

No Work, No Food


Nothing exists

Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student of Zen, visited one master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku. Desiring to know his attainment, he said: "The mind, Buddha, and


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Nothing exists


Brotherhood

Two brothers worked together on a farming field passed on from their parents. The one, the older brother, had married and have quite a big family. The younger brother was


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Brotherhood


The Stone Mind

Hogen, a Chinese Zen teacher, lived alone in a small temple in the country. One day four travelling monks appeared and asked if they might make a fire in this


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Stone Mind


Real Prosperity

A rich man asked Sengai to write something for the continued prosperity of his family so that it might be treasured from generation to generation. Sengai obtained a large sheet


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Real Prosperity


Temper

A Zen student came to Bankei and complained: "Master, I have an ungovernable temper. How can I cure it?" "You have something very strange," replied Bankei. "Let me see what


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Temper


Too Full to Learn

Nan Yin master is a very well known Zen master at that time of Ming dynasty. One day, he was visited by a scholar who came to ask about Zen


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Too Full to Learn


The Greedy Farmer

Long time ago, there was a very greedy farmer who had possesed more than hundreds hectares of land went to see Dalai Lama of Tibet to ask for land. Upon


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Greedy Farmer


The Blockhead Lord

Two Zen teachers, Daigu and Gudo, were invited to visit a lord. Upon arriving, Gudo said to the lord: "You are wise by nature and have an inborn ability to


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Blockhead Lord


The Real Poison

After marrying with the man she loves dearly, a young beautiful woman lived together with her mother in law. In just short time, she realized that there were clashes and


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Real Poison


Learning To Be Silent

The pupils of the Tendai school used to study meditation before Zen entered Japan. Four of them who were intimate friends promised one another to observe seven days of silence


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Learning To Be Silent


The King's Dream

A King woke up dreaming about losing all his teeth. He summoned a very well known fortune teller of his kingdom to interpret his dream. "All losing teeth means the


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The King's Dream


In The Hands Of Destiny

A great Japanese warrior named Nobunaga decided to attack the enemy although he had only one-tenth the number of men the opposition commanded. He knew that he would win, but


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

In The Hands Of Destiny


The Neglected Temple

Once, three monks gathered at an unattented lonely temples. "Why is this temple so unattended?", nobody knew who started the conversation, but then, "Must be because the monks do not


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Neglected Temple


The Thief Who Became A Disciple

One evening as Shicirin Kojun was reciting sutras, a thief with a sharp sword entered, demanding either his money or his life. Shichiri told him: "Do not disturb me. You


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Thief Who Became A Disciple


The Tunnel

Zenkai, the son of a samurai, journeyed to Edo and there became the retainer of a high official. He fell in love with the official's wife and was discovered. In


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Tunnel


The Bad and Good People

One day, a young monk went to see his master. "Teacher, you said that we should save both bad and good people. But then bad people had lost their True


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Bad and Good People


The Stingy Artist

Gessen was an artist monk. Before he would start a drawing or painting he always insisted upon being paid in advance and his fees were high. He was known as


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Stingy Artist


Seeking Truth

A man had been wounded by a poisoned arrow and when attended to by a physician were to say, 'I will not allow you to remove this arrow until I


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Seeking Truth


The Gates Of Paradise

A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: "Is there really a paradise and a hell?" "Who are you?" inquired Hakuin. "I am a samurai," the warrior replied. "You


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Gates Of Paradise


No Talk!

Before Zen teachings was spread throughout Japan, ThienTai teachings had already taught meditation. At that time, there were four monks who were very close to each other. But for the


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

No Talk!


The Giver Should Be Thankful

While Seisetsu was the master of Engaku in Kamakura he required larger quarters, since those in which he was teaching was overcrowded. Umezu Seibei, a merchant of Edo, decided to


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Giver Should Be Thankful


Right and Wrong

When Bankei held his seclusion-weeks or meditation, pupils from many parts of Japan came to attend. During one of these gatherings, a pupil was caught stealing. The matter was reported


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Right and Wrong


Publishing the Sutras

Tetsugen, a devotee of Zen in Japan, decided to publish the sutras(holy scripts), which at that time were available only in Chinese. The books were to be printed with wood


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Publishing the Sutras


The Real Problem

Centuries ago, in South Korea, there lived a wise respected monk named Cing Si. He had many followers. One night, he brought in a woman into his room, and closed


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Real Problem


Every Minute Zen

Zen students are with their master at least ten years before they presume to teach others. Nan-in was visited by Tenno, who, having passed his apprenticeship, become a teacher. The


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Every Minute Zen


Everything Is Best

When Banzan was walking through market he overheard a conversation between a butcher and his customer. "Give me the best piece of meat you have," said the customer. "Everything in


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Everything Is Best


Kitagaki - Who is He

Keichu, the great Zen teacher of the Meiji era, was the head of Tofuku, a cathedral In Kyoto. One day the governor of Kyoto called upon him for the first


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Kitagaki - Who is He


Trading Dialogue for Lodging

Provided he makes and wins an argument about Buddhism with those who live there, any wandering monk can remain in a Zen temple. If he is defeated, he has to


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Trading Dialogue for Lodging


Happy Chinaman

Anyone walking about Chinatown in America will observe statues of a stoud fellow carrying a linen sack. Chinese merchants call him Happy Chinaman or Laughing Buddha. This Hotei lived in


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Happy Chinaman


Pretty Girl across Muddy Road

Tanzan and Ekido were once travelling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Pretty Girl across Muddy Road


Obedience

The master Bankei's talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras nor indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Obedience


Learning to Walk in Handanese way

There was once a little boy who went to the city of Handan to learn how to walk like the people there. Their way of walking is absolutely different, that


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Learning to Walk in Handanese way


Passing on the Flame

When oil is used to sustain a flame, even though the oil may be consumed, the flame can be transferred to another fuel and theoretically burn forever. Our bodies will


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Passing on the Flame


Dreaming inside Dream

Zhang Wu Zi said to Ju Que, A person having a dream is never aware of it, and in his dream he might even do things like predict his own


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Dreaming inside Dream


Tears of Unknowingness

On Li Ji's Wedding day, she was to be married against her will to prince Xian of Jin. She was so sad that she drenched her wedding dress in tears


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Tears of Unknowingness


The Smile Project

I am a mother of three and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Smile Project


Zhuangzi Borrows Grain

Zhuangzi came from a very poor family and once when he went to borrow some grain from Marquis Jian he... "I'd like to borrow thirty gold pieces to meet an


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Zhuangzi Borrows Grain


Catch The Fish, Discard The Trap

Some people catch fish with traps. After catching the fish, the trap can be discarded. Just like snares for catching rabbits, after catching the rabbit, the snare can be forgotten


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Catch The Fish, Discard The Trap


What is the sea?

A small fish asked a great fish "I often hear others speak of the sea. But what exactly is it?" The great fish replied "Your environment is the sea. The


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

What is the sea?


Knowledge and The Dao

One day, a man named knowledge was on his way to the north when he ran into a fellow named can't say, he asked, "Excuse me, could you tell me


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Knowledge and The Dao


The Mantis Getting The Cicada

One day, when Zhuangzi was strolling through a chestnut orchard, a bird flew past him and hit him accidentally. Insulted, he searched around and returned back with a small catapult


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Mantis Getting The Cicada


The Old Wheelwright

One day while King Huan sat in his palace reading, an old man named Bian the wheelwright sat just outside making wheels. Bian: What's that you are reading? King: It's


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Old Wheelwright


Scorpion Stings

A hindu elder saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

Scorpion Stings


The Tidy Garden

A priest was in charge of the garden within a famous temple. He had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the temple


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

The Tidy Garden


A Lesson From The Chinese Bamboo Tree

You take a little seed, plant it, water it, and fertilise it for a whole year, and nothing happens The second year you water it and fertilise it, and nothing


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Category: Oriental Thoughts

A Lesson From The Chinese Bamboo Tree




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