Zen Koans-III

A professor, used to emitting more and absorbing less,
Got keener on learning Zen,
Sensing his tendency, the Zen Master invited him for a cup of tea,
And started over pouring the cup,
"What's this?" enquired the professor,
"The cup is full, can't hold it anymore,Just stop! It !"
The master answered, "This is your mind,
You are right; I have to stop, till you empty it"

The Temple

Hofuku asked his disciples,
"When a man passes behind this temple,
He meets Chang and Li"
But when he is at the front,
He doesn't see anyone
Why is it so and which way is better for him"
"Something wrong with his sight," reacted dim witted one,
And got a scold, "Stupid the temple is like this for eternity"
The disciple bounced back," But for the temple, he could have seen something"
The dull disciple eventually proved his masters observation right

Lotus Blossoms and Leaves

A monk asked Chimon, "How to define a Lotus Blossom,
Still to emerge from the water",
"A lotus blossom", reacted Chimon,
"And after it is out of water?" followed the monk,
"Lotus leave"s, countered Chinmon,
Lotus blossom and lotus leaves,
Ah! What an intelligently manipulated answer.

The Turtle in the Garden

Looking at a turtle,a monk asked Daizui,
"Why does a turtle cover its skin with bones,
When it is vice versa with all other beings?"
Master Daizui covered the turtle with his sandal.
Ah! Why cant men live in peace with unknown?