Zen Stories: What is Zen?

2020.10.23

A baby fish once asked an elder fish:"I keep hearing people talk about this thing called the sea. Just what is the sea?"
The elder fish answered:"The sea is what surrounds you."
"But why can't I see it?" asked the baby fish.

"The sea is within you and all around you. You were born in the sea and will die in the sea. The sea envelopes you, just like your own skin does."
Confucius said, "Fish forget that they live in lakes and rivers; people forget that they live in the magic of the Dao(Tao)." People live in a sea of Zen (Chan/Ch'an), yet they don't know what it is. Would you like to know what Zen Is? Please read on...(From Zen Stories: The Staff and Shout of the Venerable Ones)