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.

Reviews

Deeply stirring. Like mud settling and the water clearing, these lessons offer much, deeper the longer you let them sit.
Thank you Charles for such an interesting course. 🙏

It was just right. He told stories, his voice presented them in a non-invasive way - leaving the words to permeate into my mind and my mind to discover what there was to discover - he said the words but did not influence how I received them. Very pleasant, reassuring, clear and left me thinking about the story for the day, not wanting to leave it yet wanting more.
Very special time taken listening.

Beautiful balm for my overthinking mind. Thank you! I will return to this and gladly welcome more.

Wonderful course! I enjoy the video option. Feels like we are truly meditating together. Thank you. 😌

That was extra special Charles. Wonderful to be with you.

This is the first video course I have experienced. Excellent.

Beautiful little stories with simple but profound lessons. Thank you Charles 🙏

Beautiful interludes. Thankyou Charles

I am breathing in texting a Thank You message to you. I am breathing out and smiling.

Love it

So beautiful! I looked forward to each morning session.
A longer course would be wonderful!
Now off to wash my bowl🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽♥️♥️♥️

I ate my rice and washed my bowl.

Great, simple course—yet slightly challenging in the best way. The concepts feel easy to understand, but actually living these Zen stories in everyday life can be much harder than it seems.
The final session summed it up perfectly: just one action at a time. It reminded me of one of my favourite sayings, “One step at a time.” It’s so easy to run ahead of yourself: simplicity is key.
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to have a little more presence :)

Thank you, Charles! I really enjoyed seeing you in the video format. You brought a very calming presence and the added rituals of lighting the incense and the singing bowl also added calm. I find all these little things help keep me present. Have the most wonderful day!

You are doing such a wonderful job Charles on the importance of being present here now, the only time that really exists.
You are responding and communicating with the participants in your course, with a genuine heartfelt warmth and creating an interesting exchange of emotions, ideas and experiences among some amazing people. Bravo!
Thank you once more!

I love starting my day with this young man’s soothing voice and calm demeanor.

Thank you for sharing these zen stories.

The tenth Zen story was exactly what I needed. The teacher’s simple instruction — “Wash your bowl” — reminded me that practice is found in the next safe step, not in complexity.
It resonates beautifully with my sankalpa: I only need to take the next step safe.
These stories continue to bring clarity and calm into my mornings.

These stories continue to bring clarity and calm into my mornings, and I will happily follow the 111‑day course.

Loved every one. If I wasn’t already in the 111 Day (just this one) Zen Course with Charles, I would be after this 10 day video series of Zen stories. The course really gets into Zen Koans and has truly assisted by journey from the head to the heart, or the hara. I’ve taken it 3 times and restarting feels organic and wonderful each time. Thank you Charles for this video series! Your authenticity, vulnerability ( the “show, don’t tell” reminders to yourself were so relarable and real), and pure eargerness to share without an instrumental or secondary motive eclipsing your intention all truly shine through. Can’t recommend this or the Zen Course (or the Tao Course) enough! Truly life alterning/ life remembering. Just coming home, again and again. Thank you Charles!

I really enjoyed these stories, Charles, thank you!

Absolutely thought provoking