Practice Makes Perfect

A dramatic ballad singer studied under a strict teacher who insisted

that he rehearse day after day, month after month the same passage
from the same song, without being permitted to go any further.
Finally, overwhelmed by frustration and despair, the young man
ran off to find another profession. One night, stopping at an inn, he
stumbled upon a recitation contest. Having nothing to lose, he
entered the competition and, of course, sang the one passage that
he knew so well. When he had finished, the sponsor of the contest
highly praised his performance. Despite the student's embarrassed
objections, the sponsor refused to believe that he had just heard a
beginner perform. "Tell me," the sponsor said, "who is your
instructor? He must be a great master." The student later became
known as the great performer Koshiji.

Empty Your Cup

A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While
the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The
master poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring.
The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no
longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the
professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master replied, "How
can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."

True Self
A distraught man approached the Zen master. "Please, Master, I
feel lost, desperate. I don't know who I am. Please, show me my
true self!" But the teacher just looked away without responding.
The man began to plead and beg, but still the master gave no reply.
Finally giving up in frustration, the man turned to leave. At that
moment the master called out to him by name. "Yes!" the man said
as he spun back around. "There it is!" exclaimed the master.

Destiny
During a momentous battle, a Japanese general decided to attack
even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident
they would win, but his men were filled with doubt. On the way to
the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the
men, the general took out a coin and said, "I shall now toss this
coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If tails, we shall lose. Destiny will
now reveal itself."
He threw the coin into the air and all watched intently as it landed.
It was heads. The soldiers were so overjoyed and filled with
confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy and were
victorious. After the battle, a lieutenant remarked to the general,
"No one can change destiny."
"Quite right," the general replied as he showed the lieutenant the
coin, which had heads on both sides.

Surprising the Master

The students in the monastery were in total awe
of the elder monk, not because he was strict,
but because nothing ever seemed to upset or
ruffle him. So they found him a bit unearthly
and even frightening. One day they decided to
put him to a test. A bunch of them very quietly
hid in a dark corner of one of the hallways, and
waited for the monk to walk by. Within
moments, the old man appeared, carrying a cup
of hot tea. Just as he passed by, the students all
rushed out at him screaming as loud as they
could. But the monk showed no reaction
whatsoever. He peacefully made his way to a
small table at the end of the hall, gently placed
the cup down, and then, leaning against the
wall, cried out with shock, "Ohhhhh!"