This page of this web site has a good collection of Zen Tales.

Why are we suggesting that you tell

these stories to your neighbors? Is it because these are among the oldest stories in human history
and have withstood the test of time? Is it because these Tales are ancient religions offering profound
insights into human nature, the cosmos, and spirituality? Maybe.

Or maybe it's just because they are fun to tell. Without a doubt, these stories capture all sorts of
truths about life and death. But they are also witty, entertaining, humorous, and at times puzzling,
even mind-bending. And they are not just the secret lessons of monks sequestered away in mountain
monasteries. The ancient teachers intended these stories to be used by everyone, everywhere. On
the train to work, during dinner at a restaurant, leaning over the backyard fence as you talk to your
neighbor - all of these situations and more lend themselves to these stories.

Once you read and learn a few of them, you will see opportunities to tell them popping up
everywhere with your family, friends, and coworkers. Think of these tales as conversation pieces, as
handy tools that you can lift out of your pocket to help you and others talk, think and laugh about the
wondrous and mysterious details of this thing we call Life.

Let us enjoy reading this Zen Tale of Making a Difference .

Ryokan was a Zen teacher of repute.

One day a fisherman saw him walking on the beach soon after a storm. The storm had washed up
thousands of starfish on the shore, and they were beginning to dry up. Soon all of them would be
dead. Ryokan was picking up starfish and throwing them into the sea.

The fisherman caught up with the teacher and said, “Surely, you cannot hope to throw all these
starfish back into the sea? They will die in their thousands here. I’ve seen it happen before. Your
effort will make no difference."

“It will to this one," said Ryokan, throwing back another starfish into the sea.