Bankei

Alone in mountain fastness,
Dozing by the window.
No mere talk uncovers Truth:
The fragrance of those garden plums!

Is Ghat Antra Bagh Bageche…

Stonehouse

I entered the mountains
And learned to be dumb.
Usually, I can’t even open my mouth.
I don’t point out the mistakes of others;
My own faults are what I’m after
The tea is done; the stove is red.
The moon is up; the windows are white.
Who’s learned to see through this perishable world?
Fishing from a rock,
Yen-ling sat alone

Basho

Flowers from an unknown tree
Filled me with their fragrance

Manzan

One minute of sitting, one inch of Buddha.
Like lightning all thoughts come and pass.
Just once look into your mind-depths:
Nothing else has ever been.

Roykan

Light rain –the mountain
forest is wrapped in mist,
slowly the fog changes
to clouds and haze.
Along the boundless
river bank, many crows.
I walk to a hill overlooking
the valley to sit in zazen.

Daito Kokushi

If your ears see,
And eyes hear,
Not a doubt you’ll cherish
How naturally the rain drips
From the leaves!

Ikkyu

Under the trees,
among the rocks,
a thatched hut:
verses and commentaries
live there together.
I’ll burn the books
I carry in my bag,
but how can I forget
the verses written in my gut?

Dongshan Liangjie

Just don’t seek from others,
Or you’ll be far estranged from Self.
I now go on alone;
Everywhere I meet It:
It now is me; I now am It.
One must understand in this way
To merge with thusness.

Dogen

Whenever a thought occurs,
Be aware of it,
As soon as you are aware of it,
It will vanish.
If you remain for a long period
Forgetful of objects,
You will naturally become unified.
This is the essential art of zazen.