Kisah Bijaksana

A Drop of Water

A Zen master named Gisan asked a young student to bring him a pail of water to cool his bath. The student brought the water and, after cooling the bath, threw on to the ground the little that was lef

Cerita Zen 93 kata

Teaching the Ultimate

In early times in Japan, bamboo-and-paper lanterns were used with candles inside. A blind man, visiting a friend one night, was offered a lantern to carry home with him. "I do not need a lantern," he

Cerita Zen 123 kata

Non-Attachment

Kitano Gempo, abbot of Eihei temple, was ninety-two years old when he passed away in the year 1933. He endeavored his whole life not to be attached to anything. As a wandering mendicant when he was tw

Cerita Zen 299 kata

Tosui's Vinegar

Tosui was the Zen master who left the formalism of temples to live under a bridge with beggars. When he was getting very old, a friend helped him to earn his living without begging. He showed Tosui ho

Cerita Zen 118 kata

The Silent Temple

Shoichi was a one-eyed teacher of Zen, sparkling with enlightenment. He taught his disciples in Tofuku temple. Day and night the whole temple stood in silence. There was no sound at all. Even the re

Cerita Zen 74 kata

Buddha's Zen

Buddha said: "I consider the positions of kings and rulers as that of dust motes. I observe treasures of gold and gems as so many bricks and pebbles. I look upon the finest silken robes as tattered ra

Cerita Zen 152 kata

A Handful of Dust

God told Gabriel, “Fetch me a handful of Earth’s dust.” “No!” said Earth. She didn’t want God to create Adam. God sent Michael. Earth refused. Then Seraphiel. Earth refused. Finally, God sent Azrael.

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

Noah and Canaan

God flooded the whole earth. Deep waters covered all the land. Noah and his family were safe in the ark upon the waters, but Noah’s son Canaan was trying to swim on his own. “I won’t get into Noah’s a

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

The Child in the Shipwreck

“Why are you grieving?” God asked Azrael, Angel of Death. “Because of the child from the shipwreck,” said Azrael. “Remember? I saw a mother and child clinging to a plank. You let me save the mother, b

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

Abraham in the Fire

There is a living fire that gives life, and a death-dealing fire that brings fear. All believers should burn with the living fire as Abraham did, the son of Azar. Azar was a maker of idols, but Abraha

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

The Sound of Joseph’s Cup

During a famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for relief. Joseph received them, his face covered with a veil. As they spoke, Joseph kept striking a cup which resounded mournfully. Finally, Joseph’s

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

Pharaoh and the Newborns

Pharaoh’s astrologers predicted the night of Moses’s conception, and nine months later, Pharaoh summoned the Israelite mothers and their newborns. “Bring your babes,” Pharaoh proclaimed, “and I will g

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

Moses and Khidr

Moses was traveling with Khidr, his teacher. “Obey,” Khidr told Moses, “and be silent.” They saw a child drowning in a river. “Save him!” shouted Moses. “Be silent,” Khidr said, “and obey.” They saw a

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

The Language of Animals

A man said to Moses, “Teach me the language of animals!” “You’ll regret it,” Moses warned him, but the man insisted. So Moses taught him. The man then understood what the animals said. “Cock-a-doodle-

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

Moses and the Bearded Dervish

A dervish begged Moses for help. “Please ask God why I can’t make spiritual progress despite my endless prayers and deep devotion.” When Moses asked God, God explained, “That dervish is obsessed with

Kisah Sufi 108 kata