Make a Friend of Fear
It was only a bare foot, but I was unable to keep it from landing someplace on my body. My breath was labored and my arms and legs felt like…
Zen Breathing
It was bone-chilling cold. Breath turned to mist in front of my eyes, and my thin gi was clammy to the touch. Outside it was still dark, the sun would…
The Stone Cutter
Once upon a time there was a stone cutter. The stone cutter lived in a land where a life of privilege meant being powerful. Looking at his life he decided…
Know your Limits
Bruce Lee and I were having dim sum, a traditional Chinese breakfast of meat-filled pastries, in a downtown Los Angeles restaurant after a lesson. I seized on this opportunity to…
A Wizard’s Advice
"The best thing for being sad," replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and…
The War Prayer
It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism;
The Teacup Lesson
A learned man once went to a Zen teacher to inquire about Zen. As the Zen teacher explained, the learned man would frequently interrupt him with remarks like, "Oh, yes,…
Walking Zen
They started their journey early the next morning and in the true spirit of Zen each walked along engrossed in his own thoughts, and so they journeyed for many hours…
Shake it off and Step Up
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. For hours, the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the…