Zen Monkey Lotus Flower: 52 Stories

Practical wisdom

I would recommend this book to anyone really. If you want to be happier, more content and life a better live, this book is for you. The stories are well-written and let you reflect. After each story there is a section that tells you how the story applies to todays day and age and what we can learn from it. I also love the pictures before the stories.

Buy it. Worth it

Not a good book. Seems to be generated by AI. I have attached a picture of some of the text. I have also generated a story use AI

Here is the story I generated:

Once upon a time, in a distant land, there stood a mighty Mountain, tall and immovable. Its snow-covered peaks touched the sky, and its foundation burrowed deep into the earth. For centuries, the Mountain watched over the valley below, its eternal gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The Mountain believed that true strength came from being unshakable, from standing firm against all forces of change.

Below, winding through the valley, flowed the River, ever-moving and fluid. It danced through forests, meadows, and towns, winding its way toward the distant sea. Unlike the Mountain, the River embraced change. It flowed over stones, twisted around bends, and sometimes even overflowed its banks. The River believed that true wisdom came from flexibility and adaptability, from flowing with life rather than resisting it.

One day, the Mountain, in its great age, noticed the River glistening below. The Mountain spoke in its deep, echoing voice, “River, you are weak. You allow yourself to be shaped by the land, by the wind, and by time. You are restless, always in motion. You should learn from me—stand tall, be still, and resist change. That is how you endure.”

The River, bubbling softly, replied, “Oh Mountain, I respect your strength, but I do not envy it. You may stand tall and proud, but you cannot move. You remain the same while I explore every corner of the earth. You cling to your form, while I adapt and grow. Is it not wiser to embrace change than to resist it?”

The Mountain pondered the River’s words but remained firm. “Change brings erosion and decay. If I moved as you do, I would crumble into dust.”

The River laughed softly, its waters rippling with amusement. “And yet, dear Mountain, over time, you do crumble. My waters carve valleys into your sides, the wind and rain chip away at your stones, and one day, you too will be part of the earth. Change is inevitable, even for you.”

For many years, the Mountain and the River continued their dialogue. The Mountain remained stubborn, confident in its strength, while the River flowed freely, embracing every twist and turn. But over the centuries, the Mountain began to see how, slowly, its mighty form was being shaped by the very force it had dismissed.

The River, in its gentle persistence, carved deep canyons into the Mountain’s sides. Where once the Mountain had been rigid, now valleys and streams flowed, bringing life to the land. The Mountain, though still tall and proud, now had pathways of water etched into its surface. And as the Mountain observed these changes, it began to realize a profound truth.

One day, the Mountain spoke once more, its voice softened by time. “River, I see now that you are not weak. Though you yield and flow, you have shaped me more than I have shaped you. Your strength lies in your ability to adapt, to persist without force. I have been foolish to dismiss you.”

The River’s waters shimmered in the sunlight as it replied, “And I too have learned from you, Mountain. Your stillness, your patience—there is wisdom in that as well. While I may flow endlessly, it is your steady presence that gives me direction. Together, we create harmony.”

The Mountain and the River, once opposites, had come to understand each other. The Mountain saw that strength without flexibility could lead to isolation and wear. The River recognized that without a steady anchor, direction and purpose could be lost. Each found balance in the other.

In the end, the Mountain and the River became symbols of wisdom for the people of the valley. The Mountain taught them the power of patience and stillness, while the River reminded them to flow with life’s changes. Together, they showed that true harmony comes not from opposing forces conquering one another, but from understanding, accepting, and learning from each other.

And so, the Mountain and the River flowed through the ages, a meeting of opposites, united in their wisdom.

Great book, I recommend to get it.

Got this as a bedtime book for my boy (and for me). The Stories are a couple of pages each with a drawing and another page of explanation.

My sons 4/5 year old mind is still has the plasticity to take the abstract stories as they are read, I was worried that they were a bit complicated but with a word change here and there they work perfectly.

I really like oriental wisdom and contemplation so found this book to be a pleasure and a great 5 minute distraction when needed in this busy world.