The Empty Boat
A story from the Zhuangzi, two thousand years old, about a boat, a river, and a moment of unexpected kindness.
CATEGORY
Stories
Buddhist parables, Stoic vignettes, Sufi tales — retold.
Marcus Aurelius at 3 a.m.
A short story about an emperor, a difficult dawn, and the journal entry that has carried me through several of mine.
The Archer and the Master
A short story about effort, expectation, and the difference between trying hard and trying well.
The Innkeeper Who Made Room
An old story, retold without the religious ending, about a small choice in a small night.
The Mustard Seed — Kisa Gotami's Story
One of the oldest stories about grief in any tradition. A young mother, her dead son, and an unexpected lesson.
The Hermit Who Came Back
A short story about a man who left, lived in silence, and returned to the world he had renounced.
The Two Monks and the River
An old story about two monks, a young woman, and a man who carried something too far.
The Woodcutter Who Stopped to Sharpen the Axe
An old story for a person who has been working hard and getting less done.
The Second Arrow
A teaching from the Buddha about the suffering we add to the suffering we cannot avoid.
The Monk Who Forgot to Hurry
A short story about a young monk, an old monk, and a long path.
The Stoic at the Bus Stop
A small story about Epictetus, a missed bus, and a man on his phone.
The Cup Is Already Broken
A story from Ajahn Chah, the Thai forest monk, about the cup on his table.