Quotes from Ryokan

Someday I'll be a weather-beaten skull resting on a grass pillow, Serenaded by a stray bird or two. Kings and commoners end up the same, No more enduring than last night's dream.

Keep your heart clear And transparent, And you will Never be bound. A single disturbed thought Creates ten thousand distractions.

Too lazy to be ambitious, I let the world take care of itself. Ten days' worth of rice in my bag; a bundle of twigs by the fireplace. Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment? Listening to the night rain on my roof, I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out.

Why do you so earnestly seek the truth in distant places? Look for delusion and truth in the bottom of your own heart.

Someday I'll be a weather-beaten skull resting on a grass pillow, Serenaded by a stray bird or two. Kings and commoners end up the same, No more enduring than last night's dream.

The plants and flowers I raised about my hut I now surrender To the will Of the wind

The rain has stopped, the clouds have drifted away,and the weather is clear again. If your heart is pure, then all things in your world are pure... Then the moon and flowers will guide you along the Way

In all ten directions of the universe, there is only one truth. When we see clearly, the great teachings are the same. What can ever be lost? What can be attained? If we attain something, it was there from the beginning of time. If we lose something, it is hiding somewhere near us.

The thief left it behind: the moon at my window.

Good friends and excellent teachers - Stick close to them! Wealth and power are fleeting dreams but wise words perfume the world for ages.

In this world of dreams, drifting off still more; and once again speaking and dreaming of dreams. Just let it be.

See and realize that this world is not permanent. Neither late nor early flowers will remain.

When all thoughts Are exhausted I slip into the woods And gather A pile of shepherd's purse. Like the little stream Making its way Through the mossy crevices I, too, quietly Turn clear and transparent.

If there is beauty, there must be ugliness; If there is right, there must be wrong. Wisdom and ignorance are complementary, And illusion and enlightenment cannot be separated. This is an old truth, don't think it was discovered recently. "I want this, I want that" Is nothing but foolishness. I'll tell you a secret - "All things are impermanent!

How can we ever lose interest in life? Spring has come again And cherry trees bloom in the mountains.

The flower invites the butterfly with no-mind; The butterfly visits the flower with no-mind. The flower opens, the butterfly comes; The butterfly comes, the flower opens. I don't know others, Others don't know me. By not-knowing we follow nature's course

How could we discuss this and that without knowing the whole world is reflected in a single pearl?

In this dream world we doze and talk of dreams— dream, dream on, as much as you wish