The Monkey Is Reaching: Zen Master Hakuin Gives Us a Pointer

The Monkey Is Reaching: Zen Master Hakuin Gives Us a Pointer November 21, 2017

Monkey Reaching for The Moon - Ohara Koson

 

 

The monkey is reaching
for the moon in the water.
Until death overtakes him
he’ll never give up.
If he’d let go of the branch and
disappear in the deep pool,
the whole world would shine
with dazzling pureness.

Hakuin Ekaku

And it this isn’t startlingly clear, here’s a brief comment by Zen teacher Henry Shukman


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