THE FOUR MONKS

Four monks decided to do two weeks of silent meditation. On the first night the candles flickered and went out. The first monk said: “No! The candles went out.” The second monk said: “We’re not supposed to talk.” The third said: “Why are you talking?” The fourth laughed and said: “Ha! I’m the only one who didn’t talk.”

Each monk broke the silence for a different reason and each one is also a common obstacle we encounter in zazen practice. The first one became distracted from what was going on around him (the candles) and lost focus. The second was more concerned about the rules than the zazen itself. The third allowed his anger to carry him away. Finally, the fourth got lost in his ego.