No Water, No Moon
October 24, 2009No Water, No Moon
The nun Chiyono studied Zen under Bukko of Engaku, but she was unable to attain the fruits of meditation for a very long time.
Finally, one moonlit night, as she was carrying water in an old pail bound with bamboo, the bamboo broke and the bottom fell out of the pail. At that moment, Chiyono was set free.
As was customary, she wrote a poem in commemoration:
In this way and that I tried to save the old pail
Since the bamboo was weakening and about to break
Until at last the bottom fell out.
No water in the pail.
No moon in the water.
Emptiness in my hand!
From Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, a collection of Zen koans and commentaries.
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