Panel

 

 

 

The path of water is such

that when it rises to the sky,

it becomes raindrops;

when it falls to the ground,

it becomes rivers.




Taped

 

For the time being stand on top of the highest peak.

For the time being proceed along the bottom of the deepest ocean.

For the time being a pillar or lantern.

For the time being the earth and the sky.



Navis

 

 

 

If you want to climb a mountain, begin at the top.

 

Sleep

If the water is still, you can see the moon reflected.

If the water is agitated, the moon is fragmented and scattered.

Cook

Like the empty sky it has no boundaries,

Yet it is right in this place, ever profound and clear.

When you seek to know it, you cannot see it.

You cannot take hold of it, but you cannot lose it.

In not being able to get it, you get it.

When you are silent, it speaks;

When you speak, it is silent.

The great gate is wide open to bestow alms,

And no crowd is blocking the way.

Catenary

A Zen Master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain.
One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned and found him.
"You have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler,
"and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as a gift."
The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away.
The Master sat naked, watching the moon.
"Poor fellow," he mused,
" I wish I could give him this beautiful moon."

Window

In dwelling, live close to the ground.

In thinking, keep to the simple.

In conflict, be fair and generous.

In governing, don't try to control.

In work, do what you enjoy.

In family life, be completely present.

Understand

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

Hubba

Out of clutter, find simplicity.
From discord, find harmony.
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

Hubba Hubba

 Two monks were once travelling together down a muddy road.

A heavy rain was falling.
Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash,
unable to cross the intersection.

"Come on, girl," said the first monk.

Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

The second monk did not speak again
until that night when they reached a lodging temple.
Then he no longer could restrain himself.

"We monks don't go near females," he said.
"It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"

"I left the girl there", the first monk said.
"Are you still carrying her?"

One

One moon shows in every pool, in every pool the one moon.

5 days

The “lightest” piece of gear is the one I can leave at home.

The “heaviest” piece of gear is the one I carry, but never use.

Lift

The blue mountains are of themselves blue mountains;

The white clouds are of themselves white clouds.

Umbrella

Entering the forest he moves not the grass;

Entering the water he makes not a ripple.

Ground

 Only when you can be extremely pliable and soft can you be extremely hard and strong.

Seams

After a heavy snowfall the more rigid branches of the pine break under the weight of the snow, but the more supple willow branches bend, thus allowing the snow to fall to the ground.

Encapsulated

Before the rain stops we can hear a bird.
Even under the heavy snow we can see snowdrops and some new growth.

Haven

Thirty spokes meet at a nave;

Because of the hole we may use the wheel.

Clay is molded into a vessel;

Because of the hollow we may use the cup.

Walls are built around a hearth;

Because of the doors we may use the house.

Thus tools come from what exists,

But use from what does not.

Origin

Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water.
After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water.

Wing

 The purpose of a fishtrap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.
The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.
The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.
Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to.

Condensation

 In a mind clear as still water, even the waves, breaking, are reflecting its light.

Wind

What is the color of wind?

Together

The art of teaching is clarity and the art of learning is to listen.

Night

When the task is done beforehand, then it is easy.

Trekking

To give your sheep or cow a large spacious meadow is the way to control him.