Sutra (Mountains and Waters)

Awakened, Buddha calmly observed:
Mountains and waters are not
mountains and waters.

Mountain men wealthy with trees of shimmering silver...
fishermen elegant in straw raincoats covered with pearls—
this is the study of mountains and waters.

Mountains and waters are hidden in mountains and waters.
Mountains and waters are hidden in hiddenness.
Mountains and waters are hidden in Buddhas.

(Freely adapted from Do-gen and other Zen sources.)

3/26/00

Copyright 2000 by Andrew MacArthur