With one who does not
Speak his every thought
I spend a pleasant evening.

– Hyakuchi (1748-1836)

Oh leaves,
Ask the wind which of you
Will be the first to fall.

– Soseki (1867-1916)

Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still 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 Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Ekido 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 told Tanzan, “especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”

“I left the girl there,” said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”

No one passes by
The only ones who visit
Are the drifting clouds.

– Han-shan Te-ch’ing (1546-1623)

If you cling to emptiness and linger
In quiescence, you will bob and sink

Therefore the wise release the mind
To be independent and free.

– Fu Shan-hui (487-659)

Death is light as a feather
Duty as heavy as a mountain
– Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time)

When you look for it,
You become further from it;
When you seek it
You turn away from it all the more.

– Linji (d. 867)

Many paths lead from
The foot of the mountain,
But at the peak
We all gaze at the
Single bright moon.

– Ikkyu (1394-1481)

Producing without possessing,
Doing without presuming,
Growing without domineering:
This is called mysterious power.

– Tao-te Ching

People will learn of this spot;
We’ll see you moving
Higher on the mountain.

– Chia Tao (779-843)