David Hinton > Quotes

“to be complete without understanding how—that is called Way.”
― David Hinton, The Way of Ch'an: Essential Texts of the Original Tradition

“self gone, free of danger….”
― David Hinton, The Way of Ch'an: Essential Texts of the Original Tradition

“In stillness, it’s through movement that things come to life. This is the occurrence-appearing-of-itself Way.”
― David Hinton, The Way of Ch'an: Essential Texts of the Original Tradition

“Rats so fat, rats so grand
feasting on our millet–
three years your slaves
And we’re nothing to you.
We’re dying to leave you,
leave for that joyous land,
that joyous joyous land,
and live out our dreams.

Rats so fat, rats so grand
feasting on our wheat–
three years your slaves
and to us you’re heartless.
We’re dying to leave you,
leave for that joyous nation,
that joyous joyous nation,
and live out our true way.

Rats so fat, rats so grand
feasting on our sprouts–
three years your slaves
and you give nothing back.
We’re dying to leave you,
leave for those joyous fields,
those joyous joyous fields,
and end all this mourning.”
― David Hinton, Classical Chinese Poetry: An Anthology