If the mind is clear

"If the mind is clear,

A dark room has its blue sky

If the mind is somber,

Broad daylight gives birth to demons and evil spirits

The just man has no mind to seek happiness,

Heaven therefore because of this mindlessness,

Opens its utmost heart

The bad man busies himself with avoiding misfortunes,

Heaven therefore confounds him for this desire

How unsearchable, are the ways of heaven

How useless, is the wisdom of man

The Tao is common property

It should be pointed out to all we meet

Learning is as ordinary as eating rice at home

According to the circumstances

It should be pointed out circumspectly

The ancients left rice for mice

And did not light lamps out of pity for moths

These thoughts of theirs are the operating point for humanity in life

Lacking this, a man is a mear earthman, a wooden body

The Zen sect says, when you are hungry eat

When you are weary sleep

Poetry aims at the description in common language in beautiful scenery

The sublime is contained in the ordinary,

The hardest

In the easiest

What is self concious and alterior

Is far from the Truth

What is mindless

Is Near" ~ Kojisai (1624)