Over twenty Buddhist teaching stories are included, with commentaries by the Venerable Myokyo-ni. The stories are collected from various Buddhist sources, but have in common the Buddhist way of facing the trials of life. Stories from the Southern schools, such as ‘The Parable of the Poisoned Arrow’ are included alongside Northern training stories like ‘The Taming of the Harp’ and ‘The Great Wave.’ Each story is followed by the thoughts and observations of the Venerable Myokyo-ni. ‘Stories and parables are an integral part of traditional teaching texts. They are of such simplicity that one is inclined to smile at them as rather childish and as of no relevance to our lives today. Yet on closer acquaintance they reveal a profound insight into human nature, expound perennial verities and serve as pointers or guides. They console, succour, direct towards a more conducive attitude and a fuller, more meaningful partaking in life.’
–The Venerable Myokyo-ni, from the Introduction to the book