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101 zen stories

101 Zen Stories

My favorite collection of Zen koans and stories is the 101 Zen Stories. When I was a young man, looking for alternatives and guidance in how to approach life as a human, this book presented me with material for thought.

I wanted to revisit it and thought there was no better way than to transcribe it here. I hope it provides food for thought for you as well. It is presented here without analysis so that people can read, review, discuss, and find their own meaning.

For a physical copy, check the link below.

  1. A Cup of Tea
  2. Finding a Diamond on a Muddy Road
  3. Is That So?
  4. Obedience
  5. If You Love, Love Openly
  6. No Loving-Kindness
  7. Announcement
  8. Great Waves
  9. The Moon Cannot be Stolen
  10. The Last Poem of Hoshin
  11. The Story of Shunkai
  12. Happy Chinaman
  13. A Buddha
  14. Muddy Road
  15. Shoun & His Mother
  16. Not Far From Buddahood
  17. Stingy in Teaching
  18. A Parable
  19. The First Principle
  20. A Mother’s Advice
  21. The Sound of One Hand
  22. My Heart Burns Like Fire
  23. Eshun’s Departure
  24. Reciting Sutras
  25. Three Days More
  26. Trading Dialogue For Lodging
  27. The Voice of Happiness
  28. Open Your Own Treasure House
  29. No Water, No Moon
  30. Calling Card
  31. Everything is Best
  32. Inch Time Foot Gem
  33. Mokusen’s Hand
  34. A Smile in His Lifetime
  35. Every-Minute Zen
  36. Flower Shower
  37. Publishing the Sutras
  38. Gisho’s Work
  39. Sleeping in the Daytime
  40. In Dreamland
  41. Joshu’s Zen
  42. The Dead Man’s Answer
  43. Zen in a Beggar’s Life
  44. The Thief Who Became a Disciple
  45. Right & Wrong
  46. How Grass & Trees Become Enlightened
  47. Stingy Artist
  48. Accurate Proportion
  49. Black-Nosed Buddha
  50. Ryonen’s Clear Realization
  51. Sour Miso
  52. Your Light May Go Out
  53. The Giver Should Be Thankful
  54. The Last Will & Testament
  55. The Tea-Master & The Assassin
  56. The True Path
  57. The Gates of Paradise
  58. Arresting the Stone Buddha
  59. Soldiers of Humanity
  60. The Tunnel
  61. Gudo and the Emperor
  62. In the Hands of Destiny
  63. Killing
  64. Kasan Sweat
  65. The Subjugation of a Ghost
  66. Children of His Majesty
  67. What Are You Doing! What Are You Saying!
  68. One Note of Zen
  69. Eating the Blame
  70. The Most Valuable Thing in the World
  71. Learning to be Silent
  72. The Blockhead Lord
  73. Ten Successors
  74. True Reformation
  75. Temper
  76. The Stone Mind
  77. No Attachment to Dust
  78. Real Prosperity
  79. Incense Burner
  80. The Real Miracle
  81. Just Go To Sleep
  82. Nothing Exists
  83. No Work, No Food
  84. True Friends
  85. Time to Die
  86. The Living Buddha & The Tubmaker
  87. Three Kinds of Disciples
  88. How to Write a Chinese Poem
  89. Zen Dialogue
  90. The Last Rap
  91. The Taste of Banzo’s Sword
  92. Fire-Poker Zen
  93. Storyteller’s Zen
  94. Midnight Excursion
  95. A Letter to a Dying Man
  96. A Drop of Water
  97. Teaching the Ultimate
  98. Non-Attachment
  99. Tosui’s Vinegar
  100. The Silent Temple
  101. Buddha’s Zen