So now that we're all in a Zen frame of mind, how about a few zen stories to get the juices going.

Zen stories are a great catalysts for conversation or meditation. They're also just neat tools to give yourself something to think about. A story won't always mean the same thing to everyone, nor should they.

Today's story is about fear:

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived - everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn't treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger.

"You fool," he shouted as he reached for his sword, "don't you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!"

But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved. "And do you realize," the master replied calmly, "that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?"