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What does it really mean to gain something? True gain doesn’t come from holding on, but from letting go. This reflection begins with stillness—the kind that calms the heart and clears the mind—and leads to a deeper truth: when we no longer chase or cling, our true nature can shine through. In the end, the highest gain is having nothing left to gain. This chapter is from Collection of Rain Blossoms (雨華集/雨花集) written by JiGong Living Buddha 濟公活佛.

This page was created so you can easily find all the Zen stories I’ve shared—along with the ones still to come—in one place. The stories themselves come from an online magazine called 慈聖雜誌.

Can a game about donkeys and dung reveal true wisdom? In this lighthearted Zen story from the Tang Dynasty, Master Zhaozhou challenges his student to a contest—not of pride, but of humility. What begins as playful banter becomes a lesson on ego, emptiness, and the heart of Zen. Even in the lowest places, truth can shine through.