The Most Valuable Thing in the World

Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was asked by a student: "What is the most valuable thing in the world?"

The master replied: "The head of a dead cat."

"Why is the head of a dead cat the most valuable thing in the world?" inquired the student.

Sozan replied: "Because no one can name its price."

A Buddha A Cup of Tea A Drop of Water A Letter to a Dying Man A Mother's Advice A Parable A Smile in His Lifetime Accurate Proportion Announcement Arresting the Stone Buddha Black-Nosed Buddha Buddha's Zen Calling Card Children of His Majesty Eating the Blame Eshun's Departure Every-Minute Zen Everything Is Best Finding a Diamond on a Muddy Road Fire-Poker Zen Flower Shower Gisho's Work Great Waves Gudo and the Emperor Happy Chinaman How Grass & Trees Become Enlightened How To Write a Chinese Poem If You Love, Love Openly In Dreamland In the Hands of Destiny Incense Burner Inch Time Foot Gem Is That So? Joshu's Zen

Just Go To Sleep Kasan Sweat Killing Learning To Be Silent Midnight Excursion Mokusen's Hand Muddy Road My Heart Burns Like Fire No Attachment to Dust No Loving-Kindness No Water, No Moon No Work, No Food Non-Attachment Not Far from Buddhahood Nothing Exists Obedience One Note of Zen Open Your Own Treasure House Publishing the Sutras Real Prosperity Reciting Sutras Right & Wrong Ryonen's Clear Realization Shoun & His Mother Sleeping in the Daytime Soldiers of Humanity Sour Miso Stingy in Teaching Storyteller's Zen Teaching the Ultimate Temper Ten Successors The Blockhead Lord The Dead Man's Answer

The First Principle The Gates of Paradise The Giver Should Be Thankful The Last Poem of Hoshin The Last Rap The Last Will & Testament The Living Buddha & the Tubmaker The Moon Cannot Be Stolen The Most Valuable Thing in the World The Real Miracle The Silent Temple The Sound of One Hand The Stingy Artist The Stone Mind The Story of Shunkai The Subjugation of a Ghost The Taste of Banzo's Sword The Tea-Master & the Assassin The Thief Who Became a Disciple The True Path The Tunnel The Voice of Happiness Three Days More Three Kinds of Disciples Time to Die Tosui's Vinegar Trading Dialogue for Lodging True Friends True Reformation What Are You Doing! What Are You Saying! Your Light May Go Out Zen Dialogue Zen in a Beggar's Life