Below are nearly 100 stories of spiritual enlightenment. please look past any religious overtones and appreciate the spiritual meaning of each story.

Story #1A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly,I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it?

The teachers reply was casual,Ten years.

Impatiently, the student answered,But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice every day, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?

The teacher thought for a moment,20 years.Story #2Two traveling Zen monks reached a river where they met a young woman. Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across. One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed.

As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable to hold his silence, he spoke out.Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried her!

Brother, the second monk replied,I set her down on the other side, while you are still carrying her.

Story #3When the Zen spiritual teacher and his disciples began their evening meditation, the cat who lived in the monastery made such noise that it distracted them. So the teacher ordered that the cat be tied up during the evening practice. Years later, when the teacher died, the cat continued to be tied up during the meditation session. And when the cat eventually died, another cat was brought to the monastery and tied up.

Centuries later, learned descendants of the spiritual teacher wrote scholarly treatises about the religious significance of tying up a cat for meditation practice.

Story #4A Japanese warrior was captured by his enemies and thrown into prison. That night he was unable to sleep because he feared that the next day he would be interrogated, tortured, and executed. Then the words of his Zen master came to him,Tomorrow is not real. It is an illusion. The only reality is now.

Heeding these words, the warrior became peaceful and fell asleep.

Story #5During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived everyone except the Zen master.

Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasnt treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger.

You fool, he shouted as he reached for his sword,Dont you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!

But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved.

And do you realize, the master replied calmly, that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?Story #6Four Zen monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out.

The first monk said, Oh, no! The candle is out.

The second monk said, Arent we not suppose to talk?

The third monk said, Why must you two break the silence?

The fourth monk laughed and said, Ha! Im the only one who didnt speak.

Story #7A beautiful girl in the village was pregnant. Her angry parents demanded to know who was the father. At first resistant to confess, the anxious and embarrassed girl finally pointed to Hakuin, the Zen master whom everyone previously revered for living such a pure life. When the outraged parents confronted Hakuin with their daughters accusation, he simply replied Is that so?

When the child was born, the parents brought it to the Hakuin, who now was viewed as a pariah by the whole village. They demanded that he take care of the child since it was his responsibility. Is that so? Hakuin said calmly as he accepted the child.

For many months he took very good care of the child until the daughter could no longer withstand the lie she had told. She confessed that the real father was a young man in the village whom she had tried to protect. The parents immediately went to Hakuin to see if he would return the baby.

With profuse apologies they explained what had happened. Is that so? Hakuin said as he handed them the child.

Story #8A student went to his meditation teacher and said, My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or Im constantly falling asleep. Its just horrible!

It will pass, the teacher said matter-of-factly. A week later, the student came back to his teacher.

My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! Its just wonderful!

It will pass, the teacher replied matter-of-factly.

Story #9A Zen Master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned and found him.

You have come a long way to visit me, he told the prowler, and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as a gift.

The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away. The Master sat naked, watching the moon.

Poor fellow, he mused, I wish I could give him this beautiful moon.

Story #10A disciple who loved and admired his Zen teacher decided to observe his behavior minutely, believing that if he did everything that his teacher did, then he would also acquire his teachers wisdom. The teacher always wore white, and so his disciple did the same. The teacher was a vegetarian, and so his disciple stopped eating meat and replaced it with a diet of vegetables and herbs. The teacher was an austere man, and so the disciple decided to devote himself to self-sacrifice and started sleeping on a straw mattress.After some time, the teacher noticed these changes in his disciples behavior and asked him why.

I am climbing the steps of initiation, came the reply.

The white of my clothes shows the simplicity of my search, the vegetarian food purifies my body, and the lack of comfort makes me think only of spiritual things.

Smiling, the teacher took him to a field where a horse was grazing.

You have spent all this time looking outside yourself, which is what matters least, he said. Do you see that creature there? He has white skin, eats only grass and sleeps in a stable on a straw bed. Do you think he has the face of a saint or will one day become a real teacher?.

Story #11A famous Zen spiritual teacher came to the front door of the Kings palace. None of the guards tried to stop him as he entered and made his way to where the King himself was sitting on his throne.

What do you want? asked the King, immediately recognizing the visitor.

I would like a place to sleep in this inn, replied the teacher.

But this is not an inn, said the King, It is my palace.

May I ask who owned this palace before you?

My father. He is dead.

And who owned it before him?

My grandfather. He too is dead.

And this place where people live for a short time and then move on did I hear you say that it is NOT an inn?

Story #12There once lived a great warrior well versed in Zen. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him. One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move. Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warriors challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling shamed.

Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him.

How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?

If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it, the master replied, to whom does the gift belong?

Story #13Two people are lost in the desert. They are dying from hunger and thirst. Finally, they come to a high wall. On the other side they can hear the sound of a waterfall and birds singing. Above, they can see the branches of a lush tree extending over the top of the wall. Its fruit look delicious. One of them manages to climb over the wall and disappears down the other side. The other, instead, returns to the desert to help other lost travelers find their way to the oasis.

Story #14Once there was a well known philosopher and scholar who devoted himself to the study of Zen for many years. On the day that he finally attained enlightenment, he took all of his books out into the yard, and burned them all.Story #15One disciple is bragging about his master to the disciple of another master. He claims that his teacher is capable of all sorts of magical acts, like writing in the air with a brush, and having the characters appear on a piece of paper hundreds of feet away.

And what can YOUR master do? he asks the other disciple.

My master can also perform amazing feats, the other student replies. When hes tired, he sleeps. When hungry, he eats.

Story #16A novice once went to Abbot Macario to ask his advice on how best to please the Lord. Go to the cemetery and insult the dead, said Macario.

The brother did as he was told. The following day, he went back to Macario. Did they respond? asked the Abbot.

No, said the novice.

Then go and praise them instead.

The novice obeyed. That same afternoon, he went back to the Abbot, who again asked if the dead had responded.

No, they didnt, said the novice.

In order to please the Lord, do exactly as they did, Macario told him.

Take no notice of mens scorn or of their praise; in that way, you will be able to build your own path.

Story #17A rabbi spent his whole life teaching that all the answers to our questions are in ourselves, but his congregation insisted on consulting him about everything they did.

One day, the rabbi had an idea. He placed a notice on the door of his house, saying: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 100 MOEDAS PER ANSWER.

A shopkeeper decided to pay the one hundred moedas. He gave the rabbi the money and said: Dont you think thats rather a lot to charge for a question?

Yes, I do, said the rabbi. And I have just answered your question. If you want to know anything else, youll have to pay another one hundred moedas, or else look for the answer inside yourself, which is far cheaper and much more efficient.

From then on, no one bothered him.

Story #18A young man said to the abbot of a monastery: I would really like to become a monk, but I have learned nothing of importance in my life. My father only taught me how to play chess, and that does not lead to enlightenment. And besides, I was told that all games are sinful.

They can be sinful, but they can also be a diversion, and perhaps this monastery needs a little of both, came the reply.

The abbot called for a chessboard and summoned a monk to play with the young man. However, before the game began, he added:We may need diversion, but we cannot have everyone playing chess all the time. We will have only the best players here. If our monk loses, he will leave the monastery, thus creating an opening for you.

The abbot was deadly serious. The young man played an aggressive game, but then he noticed the saintly look in the monks eyes, and from then on, he began to play deliberately badly. He decided that he would rather lose because he felt that the monk could prove far more useful to the world than him.

Suddenly, the abbot overturned the chessboard onto the floor. You learned far more than you were taught, he said.You have the powers of concentration necessary to win and you are capable of fighting for what you want, but you also have compassion and the ability to sacrifice yourself for a noble cause. You have shown yourself capable of balancing discipline and mercy; welcome to our monastery!

Story #19A certain rabbi was adored by everyone in his community, who were all enchanted with everything he said. Apart from Isaac, that is, who never missed an opportunity to contradict the rabbis interpretations and point out errors in his teaching. The others were disgusted by Isaacs behaviour, but could do nothing about it.

One day, Isaac died. During the funeral, the community noticed that the rabbi was looking very sad. Why so sad? asked someone. He found fault with everything you did!

Im not sad for my friend, who is now in heaven, replied the rabbi. I am sad for myself. While you all revered me, he challenged me, and so I was forced to improve. Now that hes gone, Im afraid I might stop growing.Story #20An emperor said to the Rabbi Yeoschoua ben Hanania: I would very much like to see your God.

That is impossible said the Rabbi.

Impossible? Then how can I entrust my life to someone whom I cannot see?

Show me the pocket in which you have placed the love of your wife, and let me weigh it in order to see how large her love is.Dont be silly; no one can keep someones love in their pocket.

The sun is only one of the works which the Lord placed in the universe and yet you cannot look at it directly. You cannot see love either, but you know you are capable of falling in love with a woman and entrusting your life to her. Is it not clear then that there are certain things in which we trust even though we cannot see them?;

Story #21When the great Rabbi Yitzhak Meir was studying the traditions of his people, one of his friends said to him jokingly: Ill give you a florin if you can tell me where God lives.

Ill give you two florins if you can tell me where he doesnt live, replied Meir.

Story #22One of the monks of Sceta said to Abbot Mateus: My tongue is always causing me problems. When I am amongst the faithful, I just cant control myself and I end up condemning their wrong actions.

The old abbot said to the distraught monk: If you really dont think you are capable of controlling yourself, then leave teaching and go back to the desert. But dont delude yourself: choosing solitude as an escape from a problem is always a proof of weakness.

What should I do then?Admit that you have some faults in order to avoid any pernicious feelings of superiority. And do your best to get things right when you can.

Story #23An orthodox Jew approached Rabbi Wolf and said: The bars are full to bursting and the people sit there into the small hours enjoying themselves!

The Rabbi said nothing.

The bars are full to bursting, people spend all night playing cards, and you say nothing?

Its a good thing that the bars are full, said Wolf. Everyone, since the beginning of Creation, has always wanted to serve God. The problem is that not everyone knows the best way to do so. Try to think of what you judge to be a sin as a virtue. These people who spend the night awake are learning alertness and persistence. When they have perfected these qualities, then all they will have to do is turn their eyes to God. And what excellent servants they will make!

Youre obviously an optimist, said the man.

It has nothing to do with optimism, replied Wolf. It is merely a matter of understanding that whatever we do, however absurd it might seem, can lead us to the Path. Its all just a question of time.Story #24An American tourist went to Cairo to visit the famous Polish rabbi Hafez Ayim. The tourist was surprised to see that the rabbi lived in a simple, book-lined room, in which the only pieces of furniture were a table and a bench.

Rabbi, wheres all your furniture? asked the tourist.

Why, wheres yours? retorted Hafez.

Mine? But Im just passing through.

So am I, said the rabbi.Story #25A believer approached Rabbi Moche of Kobryn and asked: How should I best use my days so that God will be contented with my actions?

There is only one possible option: to live with love, replied the Rabbi.

Minutes later, another follower approached him and asked the same question.

There is only one possible option: try to live with joy.

The first follower was taken aback. But the advice you gave me was different!

Not at all, said the rabbi. It was exactly the same.

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97 Spiritual Enlightenment Stories - In5D Esoteric ...