Final Moment "Dream" | A Short Zen Story

Before Japanese Rinzai Zen Master Takuan Soho died, this great scholar-artist-teacher instructed: 

“Bury my body on the mountain behind the temple; throw earth on it and go away. 
No scripture reading, no offerings—go on with your meals. Afterwards, no pagoda, no monument, no posthumous name or title, and certainly no biography full of dates!” 
At his final moment, he wrote the Chinese character for yume ("dream"), put down the brush, and died.

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Tasui's Little Room | A Short Zen Story

Tosui was a Zen master who left the formalism of temples to live under a bridge with beggars. When he was getting very old, a friend helped him to earn his living without begging. He showed Tosui how to collect rice and manufacture vinegar from it and Tosui did this until he passed away.

While Tosui was making vinegar, one of the beggars gave him a picture of the Buddha. Tosui hung it on the wall of his hut and put a sign beside it. The sign read:

‘Mr. Amida Buddha: This little room is quite narrow. I can let you remain as a transient. But don't think I am asking you to help me to be reborn in your paradise.'

Haha...Love this! How kind of him.

Now You Can Say Farewell | A Short Zen Story

Old Japanese master Hoshin told his disciples: “It is not necessary for a Zen master to predict his passing, but if he really wishes to do so, he can.” “Can you?” asked a student. “Yes. I will show you what I can do seven days from now.” 

None of the disciples believed him, and most had forgotten his words when he called them together again. 
“Seven days ago, I said I was going to leave you. It is customary to write a farewell poem, but I am neither a poet nor calligrapher. One of you please inscribe my last words.” 

His disciples thought he was joking, but one started to write. Hoshin dictated: 
“I came from brilliancy / and return to brilliancy. / What is this?” 

The poem was one line short of the customary four, so the disciple said, 
“Master, we are short by one line.” Hoshin, with the roar of a conquering lion, shouted “Kaa!” and was gone.

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