Zen Master Ryokan lived in a poor little hut on a mountainside. One moonlight night he came home and found a burglar looking for something to steal. But Ryokan was a hermit who owned nothing.



“Poor fellow,” he said to the robber. “You have come a long way and have found nothing. But I don’t want you to leave me empty-handed. Please take my clothes.” And Ryokan stripped, and handed the clothes to the robber.



“Poor fellow,” said naked Ryokan, going outdoors again when the inconsiderate robber had left, “How I wish I could have given him this wonderful moon.”







Zen Shorts is a tremendous children’s book, featuring the enigmatic Panda Stillwater and the stories he tells to help children understand their lives. It contains three of my favourites including The Robe and The Moon and The Monks and The Lady.

