Zen Story: The ever-smiling Zen Master

Thank you. I am glad that you liked my story.

@ivanituut Yes, most people respond to stories about love, truth, and being happy. Maybe because we all aspire to being like that ourselves, if it's at all possible too.

@innertalks of course, who else that will not inspired to that?

Yes, I believe that all of the great spiritual masters had a great sense of humor. I also have a dry wit. The picture of the "Zen" master I added to this photo, is actually of a street tramp. Sometimes, their eyes are clear, because of the pain they have gone through, and their smile is often compelling.

Thanks for reading it too!

Thank you. Yes, if we can love fully, we should always have love's smile on our face, beaming through from our hearts then too.

Zen is a very interesting "religion" if we could call it that, but it is more a way to a way, to help you get past being stuck in your mind, and to help you become your real self, that has often been hidden under all of the mind stuff, we often carry around with us. And yet, we all need to become "heart" people, warmly loving, rather than coldly thoughtful, in our living of our lives.

@aureliah It's actually a branch of Buddhism, Zen Buddhism. I am sure you have heard of Buddhism.

@innertalks I had no idea there is the Zen religion but like you said, it sounds like an interesting one

Yes, I like Zen stories too. Sometimes I make up my own though, like this one, because not many Zen stories mention love directly. Actually, I was inspired to write this one from my reading of another Zen story, where the master never smiled, until on his deathbed. I wondered to myself about that. How could a Zen master be a real Zen master, without ever smiling?? Here is the one that I read this morning: A Smile in His Lifetime Mokugen was never known to smile until his last day on earth. When his time came to pass away he said to his faithful ones: "You have studied under me for more than ten years. Show me your real interpretation of Zen. Whoever expresses this most clearly shall be my successor and receive my robe and bowl." Everyone watched Mokugen's severe face, but no one answered. Encho, a disciple who had been with his teacher for a long time, moved near the bedside. He pushed forward the medicine cup a few inches. That was his answer to the command. The teacher's face became even more severe. "Is that all you understand?" he asked. Encho reached out and moved the cup back again. A beautiful smile broke over the features of Mokugen. "You rascal," he told Encho. "You worked with me ten years and have not yet seen my whole body. Take the robe and bowl. They belong to you."

@Shiva49 Yes, I was only joking about that. Some people, like myself, though, are not even ticklish when someone else tickles them. I have never been ticklish.

@innertalks As a child I was, but have lost all sensations over time! siva

@innertalks I have heard of funny bones but when it gets knocked it causes the opposite effect of being tickled; numbness and pain - siva