Finding Zen

There is a story of a young, but earnest Zen disciple who approached his Teacher, and asked the Master, "How long will it take for me to find Zen?

The Master replied immediately, “Ten years...”

The disciple then said, “But if I work hard and really apply myself to learn fast — how long then?”

Replied the Master, “Twenty years.”

“What if I really, really work at it, how long then?” asked the disciple.

“Thirty years,” goes the Master.

“I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “Each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?”

The Master said, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the Path.”


Not many people realize what actually Zen is. It is the Truth. It is really everywhere. It is where you are right now.

Many of us are so goal oriented that we forget that the joy is in the journey itself, not the destination.

Wherever you are, if you are present and mindful, you have found Zen.

There is no need to go up to the mountain top to meditate. There is no need to go to church and subscribe to all the rituals to find God.

It is within you... it is there, now.

It is in every moment. It is in the silence, in the stirring of the breeze, in the singing of the birds.

The Zen is already there... you only need to awaken to it.