Water

 "We should realize that, although they are liberated, without any bonds, all things are abiding in their own state. However, when humans look at water, they have the one way that sees it only as flowing without rest. This "flow" takes many forms, of which the human view is but one. Water flows over the earth; it flows across the sky; it flows up; it flows down. Water flows around bends and into deep abysses. It mounts up to form clouds; it descends to form pools.

The Wen Tzu says, 'The tao of water, ascending to heaven, becomes rain and dew, descending to earth, becomes rivers and streams.'

This passage says that, although the way of water is unknown to water, water actually functions as water; although the way of water is not unknown to water, water actually functions as water.

'Ascending to heaven, it becomes rain and dew.'

We should realize that water climbs to the very highest heavens in the highest quarters and becomes rain and dew. Rain and dew is of various kinds, in accordance with the various worlds. Water extends into flames; it extends into thought, reasoning and discrimination; it extends into awareness and the buddha nature.

It is not the case simply that there is water in the world; within the world of water there is a world. And this is true not only within water: within clouds as well there is world of sentient beings; within wind there is world of sentient beings; within fire there is world of sentient beings; within earth there is world of sentient beings. Within the dharma realm there is a world of sentient beings; within a single blade of grass there is world of sentient beings; within a single staff there is a world of sentient beings. And wherever there is a world of sentient beings, there, inevitably, is the world of buddhas and ancestors.

The reason this so, we should study very carefully."

- Dogen Kigen, excerpt from The Mountains and Waters Sutra, 1240 AD.