Master Tells Stories
A Treasure Hunt by a Young Master
Once upon a time, there were two landlords who lived in a hill town. One of the landlords married a very young wife, and they were blessed with a son.
Gaining Little and Losing Big due to Greed
There was a village at the seaside. The villagers were farmers who sometimes fish from the sea. One day...
The Story of a Golden Goose and a Greedy Widow
There was a poor family which the master of the household had passed away, leaving behind his wife and three daughters...
The Person in White who Cared for the Bird
There is a very old folklore in India about a man in white who rescued a little bird. Somewhere in a countryside, a group of workmen were resting under the shade after work, suddenly...
Wild Chestnut Tree
There is a fairy-tale in Japan about harmony in the animal kingdom. Somewhere in a forest high up in the mountain, there is a wild chestnut tree. One day, there was a sudden strong wind that blew the ripened chestnuts all over the ground...
The Poor Labourer’s Offering
The practice of giving is not only a privilege of the rich. As long as one has set one’s heart on doing so, one can similarly engage in the practice. The Buddha said that the most meritorious act of giving is one that stems from a sincere and joyful..
A Thousand Pounds of Salt
A seed may appear insignificant, but once planted in soil, it has the potential to sprout and grow, and eventually become an adult plant that bears fruits. A tiny thought that arises in our mind is just like a seed ─ (it will bring about consequences...
The Most Auspicious Treasure
There was once a Brahmin who was very learned in many subjects and well-versed in the art of foretelling the future from the stars. One day, his 500 disciples gathered to have a discussion...
Seeking the Answers to Ignorance
In learning Buddhism, we must clearly understand how we came to this world and where we will go after death. The Buddha highlighted that we must first learn to calm and settle our minds. If we can do this, we will be able to clearly perceive everything...
The Story of Two Tigers and a Yakan
There is a story from the Buddhist sutras about two ferocious tigers, who were very close to each other and would hunt together every day. They were always followed by a treacherous yakan (a legendary wild fox), which fed on the remains of their prey.
Kisa Gotami’s Search for a Mustard Seed
Most people tend to love only the ones who are related to them in some way; this is the type of mundane love that the common man knows. The Buddha taught us to open our hearts wide and love all living beings.
The Beggar Made Wealthy by a Dead Rat
If one is willing to live by the Dharma, one will reap great benefits. And if we harbour a pure and simple mind in whatever we do, we will be able to carry out the task easily. Yet the minds of people are often stubborn and unyielding, and are thus...
Sunita, the Night Soil Man
When the Buddha was in Sravasti one day, he perceived that karmic conditions were ripe for Sunita, a member of the untouchable caste who worked as a night soil collector, to receive the Dharma. So he made his way to the city with a group of his disciples…
The Sweetness of a Simple Life
In a small Japanese village of poor farmers some two hundred years ago, there lived a family made up of an old granny and a young couple. The couple were extremely filial to the granny and worked hard from dawn to dusk. Though they were poor, they...
The Monk and the Beautiful Girl
When a young monk was on his alms round, he caught sight of a beautiful girl from a household. Though the monk had already been ordained as a monastic, he could not help falling in love with her. But as he could not express his feelings to the girl, he...
The Weaver and the Talented Man
During the Buddha’s time, there was a monk in the monastic community who often bragged about his former wealth and noble status. He would say, “No one was of nobler birth than I. My family is the richest in the world; no one can surpass us in wealth…”
The Blind Beggar Boy
We must always remember that whatever we sow, we shall reap. Hence, we must stop all our wrongful thoughts and actions, and prevent them from arising again. If we have erred, we should repent in a timely manner or it will be too late for regrets when...
The Greedy Deer
A passage from the Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (“Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom”) says, "The minds of the people in the world are wavering. They crave for blessings, yet they are not fond of cultivating the field of blessings. They seek to...
