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)

For the Way of the sword is
folded two;
Like the rose we have thorns,
and like the rose, we unfold.

– Ji Aoi Isshi

The sun rises; the sun sets.
Watch it and see.
River and moon
Pine trees and wind,
All old poems to me.
Who needs words for the New Year!

– Tao Kai