It can seem like our lives are filled with busyness, noise, distractions and often meaningless activities. What if we could filter out all that noise, and focus on the meaningful? What if we could find stillness instead of constant distraction?

For centuries, Zen masters have used stories and koans, or paradoxical riddles, to help students realise their true nature. These stories are often puzzling and may seem nonsensical, but ponder them yourself and you might emerge wiser and more self-aware. Here are seven of our favourite Zen stories.