One day there passed by a company of cats a wise dog. And as he came near and saw that they were very intent and heeded him not, h...

In the town where I was born lived a woman and her daughter, who walked in their sleep. One night, while silence enfolded the worl...

Once I said to a scarecrow, “You must be tired of standing in this lonely field.” And he said, “The joy of scaring is a deep and l...

My friend, I am not what I seem.  Seeming is but a garment I wear—a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee...

In the ancient days, when the first quiver of speech came to my lips, I ascended the holy mountain and spoke unto God, saying, “Master...

My soul and I went to the great sea to bathe.  And when we reached the shore, we went about looking for a hidden and lonely place. ...

Three men met at a tavern table.  One was a weaver, another a carpenter and the third a ploughman.   Said the weaver, “I sold a fi...

AND now it was evening.  And Almitra the seeress said, "Blessed be this day and this place and your spirit that has spoken.&quo...

THEN Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."  And he said:   You would know the secret of death.   But how...

AND an old priest said, "Speak to us of Religion."  And he said:   Have I spoken this day of aught else?   Is not reli...

AND a poet said, Speak to us of Beauty.  And he answered:   Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she her...

THEN a hermit, who visited the city once a year, came forth and said, Speak to us of Pleasure.  And he answered, saying:   Pleasur...

THEN a priestess said, "Speak to us of Prayer."  And he answered, saying:   You pray in your distress and in your need; ...

AND one of the elders of the city said, Speak to us of Good and Evil.  And he answered:   Of the good in you I can speak, but not ...

AND an astronomer said, "Master, what of Time?"  And he answered:   You would measure time the measureless and the immea...

AND then a scholar said, Speak of Talking.  And he answered, saying:   You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts; ...

AND a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship.  And he answered, saying:   Your friend is your needs answered.   He is your field ...

Then Said a Teacher, Speak To Us Of Teaching.  And He Said:  No Man Can Reveal To You Aught But That Which Already Lies Half Asleep ...

AND a man said, Speak to us of Self-Knowledge.  And he answered, saying:   Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and...

AND a woman spoke, saying, Tell us of Pain.  And he said:   Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding....