Stories
2659 translated items
Rediscovering Virtue
A practitioner realizes that the true purpose of cultivation is not to attain supernatural powers or enlightenment, but to rediscover the profound virtue within the soul.
Victory Over Oneself
The thundering of war drums echoed through the air, and the crowd roared with fervor. On the fighting stage, two powerful combatants clashed like mighty beasts. Sweat and blood flew, and the impact of punches made the…
The Qigong Practitioner's Secret and the Lesson of Relaxation
A story about the difference between muscular strength and inner energy, along with a profound lesson on the meditation posture: keeping the back straight while relaxing the entire body to attain inner peace.
The Poor Man Who Aroused the Thought of Non-Self (Anatta)
A poor man, a lottery ticket seller living under a leaking roof, aroused the thought of non-self (anatta) while practicing meditation. He entered the rank of the noble ones, was protected by celestial beings, and escaped the lower realms.
Two Masters Within One Person
The temple bell had just faded, leaving the meditation hall in profound stillness. Late afternoon sunlight slipped through the door cracks, illuminating the wooden benches where practitioners sat. A middle-aged man ro…
A Full Glass of Water and the Lesson of Simplicity
The meditation room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Afternoon sunlight slanted through the wooden window frames, casting a delicate layer of golden dust upon the floor. In the corner sat a senior monk, cu…
The Silent Battle
The story of a middle-aged man finding peace in meditative concentration amidst life's pressures, from livelihood and relationships to illness.
The Little Novice Who Loved to Play
On the roof of an ancient temple, golden afternoon sunlight stretched across moss-covered tiles. A young novice sat with his knees drawn up on the veranda, gazing out at the fields beyond. A gentle breeze rustled the …
Swallowing Your Tongue Seven Times: A Lesson on Speech
The story of a young monk who learns to weigh his words through the example of inviting a fellow monk to eat cold rice, and from that, deeply absorbs the principle of "Right Speech" in the Noble Eightfold Path.
The Flavor of Banzo's Sword
The wind of Mount Futara swept through the pine branches, carrying the chill of early morning, as the young man Matajuro stood before the door of a small wooden house nestled into the mountainside. He clenched his han…
The Hidden Knight
The sun stood directly overhead, casting no shadow. The village road was deserted, empty of any human presence. Red dust hung in the air, blurring the bamboo groves on either side. Beneath an old banyan tree, a man we…
Henry Ford's Secret and the Lesson of Taking It Easy
The story of tycoon Henry Ford and his philosophy of healthy living, combined with the teachings of Venerable Thích Chân Quang on emerging from meditation properly in order to protect both health and mind.