A Zen master once told a story: A horse refused to share a donkey’s load. When the donkey collapsed and died, the horse had to carry everything—plus the donkey’s hide. By refusing to share, it ended up bearing far more.
A monk moved a beautiful flower from the garden into a pot in his room. A few days later, it withered. The master said: Some things are lost precisely because we try to possess them.
Master Nisshin said: Life has only three days—yesterday’s confusion, tomorrow’s waiting, and today. Only today is solid. Live each minute well, and life becomes beautiful.
A white pine boasted: “I am strong enough for roofs and ships.” A thornbush replied: “But when you think of the axe, you might prefer to be me.” The master commented: An ordinary life knows no pain.
A philosopher asked: “Can you show me truth without words?” The Buddha remained silent. The man understood: “Your compassion has led me to the truth.” The Buddha said: “A good horse runs even at the shadow of a whip.”