The wealthy man
has an ornate cup,
the working man
a very simple one.
The poor farmer,
nurturing the tea plants,
has no cup and all,
but for each of them
the tea is the same.
What is it
that you taste?
For Something Different, a new bird photo each day, visit my other blog:
If you ask your question
you will find an answer
but ask another and the stick
will respond each time.
If you seek another teacher
will you change the question
or the answer, and does it matter.
Take up the stick, who
will you strike, your teacher
or yourself, and is there
any real difference?
For Something Different, a new bird photo each day, visit my other blog:
Sit in utter stillness,
turn away from words,
let non-words wash over you,
and give them no hold.
The shadow of the whip
will dance toward you
like a cloudless sky
blue and not blue –
take to hoof and gallop.
For Something Different, a new bird photo each day, visit my other blog:
Osho holds up a staff
and cradles a small
long haired dog. What
do you call these, he asks
the gathered assembly
in both fact and reality?
A chattering din brings
the hall to silence,
until the ghost of Joshu
unfolds himself, strides
to the zendo door, and
while bowing, shouts
MU!
Approach the master
sitting on his seat.
The fool will seek answers
having slept through the lesson
but the wise student will bow
silently and retreat
having learned all there is
and knowing absolutely nothing.
In searching for the path
to the holy mountain
you may ask directions
of the old tea lady
sitting still at its base
and she may point
but placing one foot
ahead of the other
stare closely at the tea leaves
for they, too, know the Way.
You ask me how
I know when to begin my sitting
so it will be the right time.
It is easy to watch the sun and stars
for they clearly know.
You ask what I do
when the sky is black
with impenetrable clouds,
it is easy to watch the clouds.
Water from the stream
or water from the sky
both slake my thirst.
