To Young Monks and Laymen 古仙 庵庵庵

Close your eyes. 

Now open them.

Do you see something?

Close your eyes.

Do you see something?

Now open them.

Do you see something different?

You are free. Look with your heart, 

sun of suns within everything, 

shining free. Blink if you understand.

Now your eyes are open.

Your eyes are not your eyes.

You understand: the universe blinks.

The universe is breathing through you.

When you sleep, you breathe.

Now you are awake.

Now your eyes are open.

The universe is breathing through you.

Breath you can hear.

Heart you can feel.

Now you know you are awake.

Breath, heart, existence.

Now you know you are free.

Free from anger. Life is a gift,

sun of suns within everything.

What is there to be angry about?

You are free. Live your life.

Remember all life is a gift. 

Be kind and loving.

Free from greed. Life is a gift,

sun of suns within everything.

What is there to be greedy about?

You are free. You have your life.

Remember all life is precious.

Share your light, warm and generous.

Breath, heart, existence—

kind and warm,

loving and generous.

Life is a gift,

sun of suns within everything.

Universe of unbounded blessings.

Share your light.

Light opens the eyes of others.

Star upon star upon star shining

universe of unbounded blessings.

Do you see something different?

In stargazers

In bulbs of amaryllis

In beautiful day—hope 

Hope

A little prayer

Clear the way

Field of blessings

White lotus comes up from mud

kuan-kuan

Beginnings 

Everywhere

This morning

Birdseed

Nourishes many

Thriving where it falls

Between the words

Between these farthest mountains

I step among pines

Birds fly, fish swim,

Bind grasses to build a hut

By green mountain stream

Hermit of the hills

Pinecone fire hissing kettle

So very dear

Noonday sun

In pooling stream trout

Leave no trace

Under a tall pine

Solitary peaceful one

Knobby legs crossed

Patch of shade

Patch of sun

Joy of living

The frog splashes into the pond.

The fish splashes in the pond.

The frog is not a fish.

The fish is not a frog.

The splash is not a splash.

The splash is the pond.

The frog is the pond.

The fish is the pond.

You are the pond.

You are the splash.

There is no splash.

Only leap.

There is no pond.

Only leap.

There is no inside.

There is no outside.

Only leap…leaping time,

leaping birth, leaping death,

leaping clear. 

Thusness,

penetrating body and mind,

things as they are.

Body and mind

nonthinking,

leaving the way to the way.

This very moment.

Live joyously

with kindness and gratitude.

How truly rare this gift of life.

Treasure.

Love does not exclude loving,

its greatness is what colors the seasons—

green youth to white hair.

Joy of living. Active and serene.

Sleeves tied back, strain the rice.

Working means giving, giving is receiving.

Cultivate virtue where you are.

Cook warmheartedly

Bowing nine times to guests

Resonant treasure

Love

Loving

Plainly

Over a good meal
The flowers you planted
Come up

How truly rare this gift of life.

Limitless. This very moment.

Bite of rice on a spoon.

Bite of rice eaten.

Rainwater

Rice bowl pond

Full moon

Such nourishment.

What is the price of rice?

Share your gift.

Bees
In the air
Flowers in the heart

So very dear

All things, far and near, all things

So very dear

Loving

Differences

Without difference

Letting go

Without indifference

Body

Already a corpse

What good is it?

Weightless 

A single apple blossom

Touches the earth

Keyhole

In the clouds

Shape of the moon

Take this body

This bundle of burdens

Down to the river

Giving all to the current

Returning fresh, clean, and strong

You in

The river

In you

Float 

Flow

Without a bundle

Go

Help out, help in

Gain

Loss

Mountain and river

Gold

Dust

Happy and alive

What a miracle

Now, the third thing

Looking in

Looking out

One face

Peace 

Heard around the world

quiet as rice

Ordinary mind

Everyday reverence

Missing something?

Silent sky

Calm brow

Deep Valley

Morning

Breath

Beautiful gift

Intentions

Make these marks

Meaningful

Excuses

Answer

May you have long days

Witness
Plum
Purple on the tree


Turtle pond
Mosquitoes
Slow morning

Mating birds
Tender
Throat

Cicadas
Drifting
Hush

Old cricket
New moon
Gentle sleep

Midnight special
Spanish moss
Sound of the sea

Coolness
After rain
Toadstools