To be free from the noise,
I built a little thatched cottage
Far away in the depth of the mountains.
Wandering here and there I carry no thought.
When spring comes I watch the birds;
In summer I bathe in the running stream;
In autumn I climb the highest peaks;
During the winter I am warming up in the sun.
Thus I enjoy the real flavor of the seasons.
Let the sun and the moon revolve by themselves!
When I have time I read the sutras,
When I am tired I sleep on my straw bed.
The meaning of the teaching is
Profound and vast like the ocean.
When I reveal it in my brush-work,
Its merits are limitless.
Should I explain this secret teaching to you
The solid mountain, I am afraid, would blow away.
Shih t'ao (1641-1717) - From DailyZen.com