Zen Story: Focus

After winning several archery contests, the young, boastful champion challenged a Zen master. 

 "When you fully focus your mind,
you make others attracted to you."
Toba Beta, Betelgeuse Incident

The youth demonstrated technical skill by hitting a distant bull's eye on his first try. Then he split that arrow with his second shot. "There," he said to the old man, "see if you can match that!"

Undisturbed, he motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain. Curious, the champion followed him until they reached a deep chasm.  A flimsy and shaky log spanned it. 

Stepping out onto the middle of the wobbly bridge, the old master picked out a faraway tree. He drew his bow and fired a clean, direct hit. "Now it is your turn," he said as he stepped back onto the safe ground. 

Staring with terror into the bottomless abyss, the young man could not step out onto the log. 

"You have much skill with your bow," the master said, "but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot."  

Zen Stories to Tell your Neighbors