Monkey Business: The Shortcut That Isn’t

Several years ago, a young woman—daughter of a close family friend—tragically lost her life in a car accident. It was yet another heartbreaking story of drunk driving. She was a passenger in a car driven by a friend under the influence. During the crash, she was thrown from the vehicle and spent months in a…

A young archer traveled a long distance to train under a master. “I want to become perfect,” he said. “I want to hit the target every time.”The master studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Very well,” he said. “Stand there.”He pointed to a narrow wooden beam that stretched across a deep ravine. The wind…

One autumn evening, a traveler was making his way through the mountains when he came upon an old Zen monk sitting beside a perfectly still lake. The moon hung low in the sky, its reflection floating upon the water as though the heavens had descended to earth. The traveler bowed. “Master, I have journeyed for…

A Buddhist man had just moved into a new home and wanted to start things off on the right foot. So he picked up the phone and called the nearby monastery. “Hello,” he said. “Would it be possible for a monk to come and bless my house?” On the other end, the monk replied gently,…

After winning numerous archery contests and being hailed as the greatest archer of all time, a young man’s ego swelled with pride. Riding high on his reputation and accomplishments, the champion decided to challenge a Zen master—also known for his archery skill but who had never competed. Without waiting for a response, the young man…