COURSE

Zen Stories: 10 Gates Of Awakening

Zen is something that is not a thing, so it’s hard to talk about. Rather, it is a certain feeling. Stories have been used for thousands of years to help provide the feeling. They’re like the experience of a joke, and here the punchline is the feeling of enlightenment. In this course, I present a collection of 10 Zen stories, each just a few minutes long, some ancient and some from my own experience at a Zen monastery. Time to wake up.

Awakening Presence Wisdominsight Contemporarybuddhism Spirituality Zenkoan Spiritual Groundedhappy Parentspirituality Selfobservation

Meet your Teacher

Charles Freligh, PhD

Northfield, MN 55057, USA

Charles has a PhD in clinical psychology, is a published author, and leads several spiritual retreats each year in addition to his individual therapeutic work. He has spent significant time at Zen monasteries and deeply enjoys sharing ancient Zen wisdom in a simple and easy to understand manner.

10 Days

2.5k students

5.0 stars

4 min / day

Awakening

English

Lesson 1

The Empty Cup

Here is a famous story related to what you might call Beginner’s Mind. In order to grasp the meaning of Zen, which cannot be grasped, you must be willing to empty your mind of what it’s already full of.

Lesson 2

Moon Water

This story presents a classic visual metaphor for the enlightened mind. This is the first example of a mōndo in this course, which is a dialogue between a teacher and a student. You are both the teacher and the student.

Lesson 3

Mind Moves

Here’s my son’s favorite of the classic Zen stories (he’s 4, and he’ll request “the one about the flag” sometimes). This one touches on relativity and the implicit distinctions made by the thinking mind. What is behind all these distinctions?

Lesson 4

Kimpu's Lesson

Here’s a story from my own experience at a Zen monastery, Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-Ji in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. In the story, I have a brief and seemingly simple interaction with a resident monk, Kimpu, that changed my mind forever.

Lesson 5

Show Me Your Mind

This story references a classic Zen figure, Bodhidharma, the originator of Zen Buddhism, which was created when this figure moved from India to China. In this way, Zen Buddhism is at least as much Chinese as it is Indian.

Lesson 6

Why?

We experience another story in reference to old Bodhidharma, that trickster. This one articulates a question used in Zen throughout the ages: “Why did Bodhidharma move from India to China?” The teacher always responds to the student’s question unexpectedly. And that’s the answer.

Lesson 7

The Mind Thief

Here’s another one of my son’s favorites. It’s full of symbolism, playfulness, weirdness, and beauty. In this one, we encounter Ryokan, an old Zen master living in a small hut at the foot of a mountain. And he meets a thief. Let’s see what happens.

Lesson 8

A True Word

Here’s another story from my own experience at a Zen monastery. In this one, the main teacher (the roshi) asked us a question out of nowhere following a meal. These unexpected questions are great opportunities for awakening.

Lesson 9

The Background

In this one, we have an old mōndo between a teacher and student looking out at the ocean. A snapshot of nature witnessed directly always offers the whole truth encapsulated in all of Zen Buddhism. What is behind what’s looking?

Lesson 10

The Final Answer

Here we come to the deepest answer provided by the school of Zen as it relates to how to live a Zen life. It is deep but not complicated. In fact, it might just be too simple for the thinking mind to grasp. And so we return to the empty cup.

Ask your teacher

This course includes 140 community questions and 135 audio replies from Charles Freligh, PhD. The community classroom and teacher audio replies are only available via the app.

140

5.0 (291)

Recent Reviews

Cheryl

August 22, 2026

Great to once again have the opportunity to listen to the short stories of Zen moments… Calming and opening my day to these thoughts , brings me peace. Thank you✨

Molly

August 21, 2026

Very much enjoyed this. I am very new to this app and having much difficulty with traditional meditation. I have looked forward to listening to these on the daily and it’s something I can process and enjoy without distraction. Thank you so much!

Kerrie

August 21, 2026

Peaceful ☺️ Calming. Reminder to feel rather than think. 🙏

Renee

August 20, 2026

Your authentic kindness and compassion, combined with your knowledge and willingness to share, make you a treasured teacher here in Insight Timer. Thank you!!

Lynn

August 17, 2026

I found this very informative and I loved the rituals with the stories. Wanting more❤️

Cindy

August 16, 2026

Appreciate Charles approach and teachings. Thank you. !

Lisa

August 15, 2026

Love this introduction. It has made me think differently about many things whi h comforted me

David

August 13, 2026

Very much enjoyed this course as an entry point into deeper reflection. Thank you.

Lisa

August 13, 2026

Thank you, Charles. I did feel the stories and enjoyed this course. Your emery is so warm and beautiful 🙏

Talli

August 12, 2026

Lovely practice to sit in this moment.

Barb

August 12, 2026

Thank you Charles- I absolutely loved each of the Zen stories and the video format. I plan to listen again and will definitely do your 111 day Zen course. Kimpu’s story has especially resonated with me- and I feel a tug to keep listening. Thank you again 💛

Ruud

August 12, 2026

Still confused but in a good way. Great short stories to experience, not to explain. Very fine and relaxed atmosphere during the sessions

Bren

August 12, 2026

The calming presence of Charles and his shared stories, though brief, really resonated with me. This was an impactful course for me. I look forward to hearing more from Charles.

Donna

August 11, 2026

Thank you! I will look forward to continuing this practice in your 111 day course.

Nina

August 10, 2026

Each lesson made me think and not think. And each lesson has stayed with me. Just what I appreciate in every teaching and the best teachers.

lin

August 10, 2026

I really enjoyed this course. I can't really put it in words. I learned alot but mostly gained a deeper way to access meditation and glimpses of zenith.

Deanne

August 8, 2026

Intriguing way to approach the world.

May

August 5, 2026

These 10 days of stories were a wonderful start to my morning. I so appreciated the video format! I felt as if I were meditating in the room with you. Yes, please do more — perhaps a 15-20 minute format.

Kerri

August 5, 2026

I thoroughly enjoyed this, thank you! I'm going to explore further

Bridget

August 4, 2026

You are a fantastic orator and light bearing being. Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories. Namaste 🙏🧘🏻‍♀️☀️🦋

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