Searching for a True Master

It's a Sufi story….
A man went in search of truth.The first spiritual person he met was sitting under a tree, just outside his own village. He asked, “I am searching for a true Murshid( It's an Arabic word for "guide" or "teacher" Particularly in Sufism it refers to a spiritual guide). Please tell me the characteristics of a true master.” 
The fakir(a Muslim religious ascetic who lives solely on alms) told him the characteristics. His description was very simple. He said, “You’ll find him sitting
under such and such a tree, sitting in such and
such posture, his hands making such and such
gestures – that is enough to know he is the true
master.”
The seeker started searching. It is said that 10
years passed while he wandered the whole earth.
He visited many places but never met the
master. He met many masters, but none were
true masters. He returned to his own village
completely exhausted. As he was returning he
was surprised, he couldn’t believe it: that old
man was seated under the same tree, and now
he could see that this was the very tree that the
old man had spoken of and his posture
was exactly as he had described. ”It was the
same posture he was sitting in 10 years ago –
was I blind? The exact expression on his face,
the exact gestures….!”
He fell at his feet saying, “Why didn’t you tell me
in the first place? Why did you misdirect me for
these 10 years? Why didn’t you tell me that
you are true Murshid?”
The old man said, “I told you, but you were not
ready to listen. You were not able to come home
without wandering away. You had to knock on
the doors of a thousand houses to come to your
own home, only then could you return. I said it, I
said everything – beneath such and such a tree.
I was describing this very tree, the posture I was
sitting in, but you were too fast, you couldn’t
hear correctly, you were in a hurry. You were
going somewhere to search. Searching was very
important for you, the truth was not so
important.
“But you have come! I was feeling tired, sitting
continuously in this posture for you. You were
wandering for 10 years, but think of me sitting
under this tree! I knew some day you would
come.
The Murshid(Master) was always here.”

It happens many times in our life that we cannot
see what is near, and what is far attracts us. The
distant drum sounds sweeter, we are pulled by
distant dreams.

Teaching Through Stories

Zen Master always found out to be strange to the western mind in the way they teach their disciples.
Some may think that Zen is a kind of cult. Mystics and all the eastern master have the same way to teach their disciples.
They usually don't say directly about the truth. It always depends on disciple's  understanding level and wisdom to get it.

Here I am sharing some stories that will help to understand this....

One day one disciple came to a zen master and asked him "I came all the way from far country to learn Zen"
Master asked him "why do you want to learn"?
Disciple said that's because "I want to gain Nirvana(Enlightenment)"
Then master replied "Until there is ‘I’ you cannot gain any enlightenment. Go back".

here is another one, one day one student came to a monastery and asking the master "I want to learn swordsmanship and kung-fu so I can save our village from thieves.
Then Master replied I don’t know but you can stay here.
(Student after staying in that monastery for few years one day he told his master)
"I have realized there is no greater enemy than the one resides within"
After hearing this the Master replied, "I will teach you swordsmanship and kungfu so you can save your village".

Few disciples went to their master and told him we heard from other schools that their master can walk on the river. We want to know what superpower you have.
Listening to this the master replied, "I eat when I feel hungry and sleep when I feel sleepy that's the only wisdom I have".

Here is the last one..

one day a disciple was learning meditation under a very wise master suddenly he asked his master "If someone asked me what is the ultimate truth what I will reply"
Listening to this the master went into deep silence...

It's not a good idea to explain these short stories or Koan because that would be missing the point.
The stories themselves are the experience. Only someone can meditate upon them to realize the insights within them. For years different masters are using these stories to teach their disciples. 

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