It was said that long ago, in a kingdom far away, there lived an ascetic, wise monk whose name had been forgotten by time. He was renowned for his wisdom and kindness, and many people sought his advice for matters that troubled them.
One day, a young man went to the monk seeking guidance. The young man was curious to know what the secret to achieving true happiness was, and he asked the monk to teach him.
The monk, however, refused to answer him directly. Instead he told the man a story of three laughing monks.
The story went as follows: There were once three monks who lived in a small village. They were wise, learned men, each studying and interpreting the sacred teachings of Zen.
One day, one of the monks suddenly began to laugh uncontrollably. The other two, perplexed by his behavior, asked him why he was laughing so much. “Do you not see?” he responded. “We are all trapped in our heads, constantly spinning our wheels and going nowhere. All of our efforts attempting to understand life and comprehend its meaning are useless. We are never going to find the answers within our own minds; we simply must step outside of ourselves and open our hearts to life’s mysteries. That is the only way to joy and fulfillment. When we do this, everything becomes clear, and we can move on.”
The other two monks listened to his words, understood their truth, and began to laugh too. And from then on, whenever the two were together, they were known as the “three laughing monks.”
When the young man heard the monk’s story, he understood its meaning. He thanked the monk for his advice and set off down his path towards a greater understanding of life and happiness.
The three laughing monks story has been told many times throughout the years, and it is still used today as a testament to the power of Zen wisdom and understanding. The story reminds us to step outside of our comfort zone, to seek out new experiences and knowledge, and to open our hearts to life’s surprises. It also encourages us to accept our situation without judgment or fear, and to keep on looking for the answers even when they seem impossible to find.
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