A Collection of Zen Stories 禪意故事

A Collection of Zen Stories. Image: Shutterstock.

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. But before I say more, I want to give credit where it’s due. The idea to turn these stories into videos didn’t come from me. It came from a thoughtful viewer who used the accessibility form just to offer kind words and encouragement.

Since then, I’ve been lucky to receive ongoing feedback from this person. They’ve chosen to remain unnamed, but if they’re reading this, I hope they know how truly grateful I am for their support and guidance.

The stories themselves come from an online magazine called 慈聖雜誌. I’m not an artist, and I don’t have the time or skill to use complex animation tools, so the visuals are kept very simple. Because of that, I choose stories that can be told through modest images and basic motion.

Even so, I hope these stories help you pause, reflect, and return to your practice—just as they continue to do for me.

Title	Synopsis
The Root of Suffering 苦的根本	What is the greatest suffering in the world? In a deep forest, a monk named Persistent Strength meditates in stillness—surrounded by four unusual companions: a dove, a crow, a snake, and a deer. One day, they begin to speak and share their thoughts on the deepest kinds of pain—hunger, desire, anger, and fear. But when the monk opens his eyes, he offers a truth far deeper than they expected. This is a story of wisdom, reflection, and the path to true freedom.
One Mind Alone with the World 孤獨者的沉思 襌意故事	Can you become a Buddha just by sitting still? In the misty mountains of ancient China, a young monk named Daoyi sat in silent meditation from dawn to dusk, hoping to awaken through stillness alone. But when the wise abbot picked up a brick and began to grind it like a mirror, everything changed. What followed wasn’t just a strange encounter—it was a powerful teaching that shattered illusion and sparked true awakening. This is the story of how one question—and one brick—opened the path to real Zen.
A Game That Sets the Mind Spinning 奇賭的聯想 禪意故事	Can a dung beetle teach us about enlightenment? At eighty years old, the great Zen master Zhaozhou was still walking from place to place, full of life and wisdom. But he wasn’t just known for deep teachings—he also had a playful heart. One day, he challenged his student to a game of humility: who could compare themselves to the lowest, most useless thing? What followed was a hilarious and surprising exchange that, beneath the surface, revealed the heart of Zen. In a world where people cling to pride and appearances, this story shows how true wisdom can bloom even in a pile of dung.