In the Hands of Destiny

A great Japanese warrior named Nobunaga decided to attack the enemy although he had only one-tenth the number of men the opposition commanded. He knew that he would win, but his soldiers were in doubt.

On the way he stopped at a Shinto shrine and told his men: "After I visit the shrine I will toss a coin. If heads comes, we will win; if tails, we will lose. Destiny holds us in her hand."

Nobunaga entered the shrine and offered a silent prayer. He came forth and tossed a coin. Heads appeared. His soldiers were so eager to fight that they won their battle easily.

"No one can change the hand of destiny," his attendant told him after the battle.

"Indeed not," said Nobunaga, showing a coin which had been doubled, with heads facing either way.

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Zen koans such as that above encourage readers to learn not only to "read between the lines," but also "within the words." There is always more to such value tales than meets the eye.

A koan is a story that presents a paradox, a situation that baffles or makes no sense.  Yet, as a readers evolves, he realizes it is how he thinks that is unfounded.

Koans prompt you to alter perception of reality.
Once the mind is able to simplify, the paradox dissolves.

Additional Zen koans can be found at www.ashidaKim.com/zenkoans