A zen story about miserliness, and generosity
By emptychair
@innertalks (23673)
Australia
March 22, 2026 7:01pm CST
The old Zen master was always generous in spirit, but not only that, he was generous in all other manor of life too.
If a beggar came to his monastery, he was given a meal, clean clothes, and a stipend, to purchase something for himself, when he had left, to go somewhere else.
One such beggar, coming calling to the monastery one day, told the Zen master that even so, despite what he gave out, he was actually mean in heart, as he should allow even these beggars to join his monastery, if they wished, instead of packing them with stuff for the body, but nothing for their minds.
The Zen master thought about this, and he allowed the beggar to stay as a student, as long as he pulled his weight, and helped out around the monastery, as other students did.
The beggar was really just after free board, and lodging, at the monastery's expense, and whenever he could, he avoided helping out in the monastery.
The Zen master got hold of him one day, and told him,
"Free loaders are welcome in one respect, but not in another."
"A freeloader who does not just freeload, but contributes something to the monastery, adds to all, but the other kind of freeloader, who takes all, and gives nothing, just burdens all, which one are you?"
The beggar knew he had been caught out, and from then on in, he worked hard, as he had at last realised, that nobody should be a burden on anyone else.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
"Know the difference, between those who stay to feed the soil, and those who come out to grab the fruit."
This quote is from an unknown source.
Do not always just grab the fruit of other's work.
3 people like this
3 responses
@innertalks (23673)
• Australia
23 Mar
Yes, whenever something is given out, something should really be given back for that, to balance out life, so that we do not just have givers, and takers, when takers should be givers sometimes, and givers should also be not so proud as to not take sometimes too.
A balanced position in life is usually the best approach to take to life.
@Jehanne (1559)
•
26 Mar
This happened to some household. Relatives is okay to stay over the night but when it becomes long term. We often talk to them about house rules and chores that each should do especially when there's no maid who will look after anyone's mess. Being responsible, helpful in return for the free stay at home.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23673)
• Australia
26 Mar
Yes, especially when relatives, or friends of relatives, come from overseas, they often expect a lot, without giving much back.
Whenever, we are getting something from someone else, we should not just take, but think about what we can give back, in response to what we have been given.
@Shiva49 (28269)
• Singapore
23 Mar
Even within a family there are more freeloaders than those who contribute to its well being.
People's tendency is to take advantage when the opportunity presents itself.
It is said as a joke marriage is "give and take", but some mistake it as one gives and the other just takes!
It is grating when people migrate to other countries and try to live off the welfare system in place without any contribution. They even self-isolate from the larger society.
It is good that the beggar turned the corner at the gentle prodding of the Zen master.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23673)
• Australia
23 Mar
A teacher once told me that school work is mostly mind over matter, "I don't mind, and you don't matter," he told me.
That is one reason a lot of people here are against immigration, as a lot of immigrants come out, get into a house somehow, then fill the house with more other relatives coming out, all on welfare, and living all together like that, they make a lot, and soon can even afford a second house, and so it goes on.
Some people only need a light nudge to turn their life around, from the right person, at the right time, whereas as others are more stonewalled in themselves, and nothing much can change them. The Zen master saw that this beggar was ripe for change, and so helped him to do so.
@innertalks (23673)
• Australia
24 Mar
@Shiva49 l remember my karate teacher said something disparaging to me too.
He said to me,
'You were an uncordinated idiot when you first started training with me. Now, you are just an idiot.'
He had at least trained me to not be so uncordinated, he implied, but l remained as thick as a brick, he went on.
I would have let a fast ball go too. No point breaking a finger.
@Shiva49 (28269)
• Singapore
25 Mar
@innertalks When I speak to someone, I like to make them feel comfortable to elicit a proper and productive response. It turned out my CEO was not buying that approach and as the final straw that broke the camel's back, he blurted out "you pretend to be a genteman."
I decided then and there to leave that employer without having anything in hand. He tried to show concern by asking me whether I had any future plans. I said I wanted out first and then think about it.
I feel proud whenever I recall that decision that reflected my inner mettle that I was not even aware of.
At another place, I was involved in turning around the company and wanted 500 employees to feel comfortable and made sure that I had their interests in my heart. Later, I saw a review by my then CEO - Totally committed and dedicated, but a little timid in approach with labor.
It was my character that stood the test of time and what others thought would never have worked out with employer and employee at loggerheads. I was happy that those establishments were in much better shape when I left them than when I started.
Regarding that ball, the ground was uneven and had it not bounced that high, I would have been hit in the face!
1 person likes this
