Learn more about entertainment with this collection
Cultivating a growth mindset and embracing challenges
Developing adaptive thinking and problem-solving skills
Effective learning frameworks and approaches
Working Very Hard
A martial arts student went to his teacher and asked how long it would take to master his system. The teacher answered 10 years. The student got impatient and said he would work hard and practice many hours everyday. The teacher pondered and said: “20 years.”
136
517 reads
MORE IDEAS ON THIS
Religions and storytelling
Religions from all over the world have used storytelling as a medium to convey their messages of wisdom.
One such religion is Buddhism, which for centuries has used parables, anecdotes, fables and tales to help people develop awareness by offering them enlightening insights and mora...
113
430 reads
A Useless Life
An old farmer that couldn’t work anymore spent days sitting on the porch. His son, still working the farm, got so aggravated that his father was useless, that he built a wood coffin and told his father to get in. The son closed and dragged the coffin to a high cliff , where he heard a tapping ...
118
428 reads
Cliffhanger
One day a man stumbled upon a tiger. He ran but soon came to the edge of a high cliff. Desperate to save himself, he climbed down a vine and dangled over the fatal precipice.
As he hung there, 2 mice appeared from a hole in the cliff and began gnawing on the vine.
Sud...
118
689 reads
The Moon Cannot Be Stolen
Ryokan, a Zen master, lived a simple life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal. Ryokan returned and caught him. “You may have come a long way to visit me and you shoud not return emptyhande...
126
400 reads
The Gates of Paradise
A soldier named Nobushige asked Hakuin if heaven and hell were real. Hakuin answered with provocations until the soldier drew his sword.
As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: “Here open the gates of hell!” At these words the samurai, perceiving the master’s discipl...
106
456 reads
It Will Pass
A student went to his meditation teacher and said, “My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I’m constantly falling asleep. It’s just horrible!”
“It will pass,” the teacher said matter-of-factly.
A week later, the student came back t...
166
626 reads
The Other Side
A young Buddhist on a journey pondered for hours on how to cross a wide river he came upon. As he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river and yelled asking how he could get to the other side.
The teacher ponde...
126
460 reads
A Cup of Tea
Nan-in, a Japanese master, received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor said. “It is overfull. No more will go in!” “Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full...
138
427 reads
Time to Die
Ikkyu, the Zen master, was very clever even as a boy.
Once, he broke his teacher's teacup. Hearing the footsteps of his teacher, he held the pieces of the cup behind him and asked the teacher why did people have to die. The teacher answered that everything has to die and has just ...
127
523 reads
Moving Mind
2 men were arguing about a flag flapping in the wind. One thought the flag was moving the other thought the wind was moving.
A Zen master, who was walking by, overheard the debate and said: “Neither the flag nor the wind is moving,” he said, “It is MIND that moves.”
134
614 reads
CURATED FROM
CURATED BY
Related Collection
MORE LIKE THIS
Short Zen Stories: Working Harder
A martial arts master was approached by a student, who asked him how long it would take him to master the martial arts system.
The master casually said “Ten years” to which the impatient student replied that he wants to master is faster and would work extremely hard for ten hours or more i...
My Dharma is too expensive
A student asked master Huang Bong to teach him Dharma but the master said it is too expensive.
The student offered him all the money he had only to get the same answer. After intense study he offered his life, then his mind but got the same answer.
Finally he said that the sky is b...
Everything Changes
During a Q&A session a student said to master Roshi he’d been listening to his lectures for years but couldn't understand. So he asked Roshi to reduce Buddhism to one phrase. "Everything changes," Roshi said. Then Roshi asked for another question.
Being aware of the ever-changing ...
Ready for the next level?
Read Like a Pro
Explore the World’s
Best Ideas
200,000+ ideas on pretty much any topic. Created by the smartest people around & well-organized so you can explore at will.
An Idea for Everything
Explore the biggest library of insights. And we've infused it with powerful filtering tools so you can easily find what you need.
Knowledge Library
Powerful Saving & Organizational Tools
Save ideas for later reading, for personalized stashes, or for remembering it later.
Start
31 IDEAS
Start
44 IDEAS
# Personal Growth
Take Your Ideas
Anywhere
Organize your ideas & listen on the go. And with Pro, there are no limits.
Listen on the go
Just press play and we take care of the words.
Never worry about spotty connections
No Internet access? No problem. Within the mobile app, all your ideas are available, even when offline.
Get Organized with Stashes
Ideas for your next work project? Quotes that inspire you? Put them in the right place so you never lose them.
Start
47 IDEAS
Start
75 IDEAS
My Stashes
Join
2 Million Stashers
4.8
5,740 Reviews
App Store
4.7
72,690 Reviews
Google Play
Shankul Varada
Best app ever! You heard it right. This app has helped me get back on my quest to get things done while equipping myself with knowledge everyday.
“
Sean Green
Great interesting short snippets of informative articles. Highly recommended to anyone who loves information and lacks patience.
“
samz905
Don’t look further if you love learning new things. A refreshing concept that provides quick ideas for busy thought leaders.
“
Ashley Anthony
This app is LOADED with RELEVANT, HELPFUL, AND EDUCATIONAL material. It is creatively intellectual, yet minimal enough to not overstimulate and create a learning block. I am exceptionally impressed with this app!
“
Laetitia Berton
I have only been using it for a few days now, but I have found answers to questions I had never consciously formulated, or to problems I face everyday at work or at home. I wish I had found this earlier, highly recommended!
“
Giovanna Scalzone
Brilliant. It feels fresh and encouraging. So many interesting pieces of information that are just enough to absorb and apply. So happy I found this.
“
Ghazala Begum
Even five minutes a day will improve your thinking. I've come across new ideas and learnt to improve existing ways to become more motivated, confident and happier.
“
Jamyson Haug
Great for quick bits of information and interesting ideas around whatever topics you are interested in. Visually, it looks great as well.
“
Read & Learn
20x Faster
without
deepstash
with
deepstash
with
deepstash
Access to 200,000+ ideas
—
Access to the mobile app
—
Unlimited idea saving & library
—
—
Unlimited history
—
—
Unlimited listening to ideas
—
—
Downloading & offline access
—
—
Personalized recommendations
—
—
FAQ
Claim Your Limited Offer
Get Deepstash Pro
Supercharge your mind with one idea per day
Enter your email and spend 1 minute every day to learn something new.
I agree to receive email updates