A man went into the forest to meditate on silence. One day, he returned to the village and told everyone that he’d found true silence. They laughed, and someone asked, “How can you find silence?” The man replied, “It’s not something you find; it’s something you become.” Inner peace and silence are states of being, […]

A student once broke a treasured vase belonging to a monk. The student was distraught, but the monk smiled and said, “I’ve already let go of it in my mind, knowing it could break any day.” The student realized that by accepting impermanence, he too could find peace. Accepting impermanence helps free us from attachment.

Two monks were caught in a downpour while traveling. One monk grumbled about the wetness, while the other laughed and embraced the rain. The first monk asked, “Why are you laughing?” The second monk replied, “The rain will fall regardless. Better to enjoy it than resist it.” We can’t control life’s circumstances, but we can

A monk saw a scorpion drowning and reached in to save it. The scorpion stung him, yet he tried again, getting stung each time. A passerby asked why he kept trying. The monk replied, “The scorpion’s nature is to sting, and mine is to help. Should I stop doing good because of its nature?” Remain

A sage was asked, “How should we act toward people who have wronged us?” The sage poured two glasses of water, placing one in the sun and the other in a dark room. After some time, he showed that one had grown warm while the other remained cool. “People, like water, change with conditions. Treat

A small mouse wished to climb a tall mountain, though many doubted it could. Undeterred, the mouse took small steps each day. Slowly, others joined, inspired by its determination, and together they reached the summit. Great achievements are possible through persistence, humility, and collective effort.

A monk was constantly asked, “What is the purpose of life?” He replied each time, “To live.” His disciples pondered over the simplicity of the answer. Over time, they realized that life itself was the answer, and one only needed to be present and aware. Sometimes, life’s answer is simply to experience it fully and

A prince demanded that his kingdom cover all paths in soft leather so he could walk comfortably. His advisor suggested instead, “Why not simply wear shoes?” The prince laughed, realizing the wisdom—sometimes changing ourselves is simpler than trying to change the world. Adapt yourself rather than attempting to control external conditions.

A monk asked his disciples to taste water mixed with a handful of salt. It tasted bitter. Then he poured the same amount of salt into a lake and asked them to taste again. The lake tasted fresh. The monk explained that the salt was like suffering, and the water was like our mind. If

Three monks traveled to different villages, doing nothing but standing together and laughing. Villagers were puzzled, but their laughter was infectious. Eventually, people in every village joined them in laughter. When one of the monks passed away, the two remaining monks laughed even harder, celebrating the impermanence of life and joy. Embrace life with joy