Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Haiku of the Month

Basho wrote:

THERE IS NOTHING YOU SEE THAT IS NOT A FLOWER;
THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN THINK OF WHICH IS NOT THE MOON.

Great statements, so condensed...
THERE IS NOTHING YOU SEE THAT IS NOT A FLOWER -- it may be in the seed, it may be not yet manifest, but there is nothing that has not the potential to blossom.
THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN THINK OF WHICH IS NOT THE MOON.The moon has become symbolic in Zen because of Gautam Buddha. Gautam Buddha was born on a full-moon night, he became enlightened on a full-moon night, and he died on a full-moon night. Because of this coincidence the moon has become a symbol of Buddha.Wherever you are, whoever you are, you are the moon, the buddha.

- Turning In, Chapter #2