reaching for the moon

Mikô suigetsu o saguri,
Shi ni itaru made kyûketsu sezu.
Hôshu shinsen ni mossureba,
Jippô hikari kôketsu.


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



drawing by Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768), hanging scroll, ink on paper.

If you would like to see more of Hakuin's drawings please refer to:
www.terebess.hu/zen/hakuin/hakuin9.html

If you would like to read Hakuin's writings please refer to this selection:
http://www.terebess.hu/zen/hakuin1.html

be with us this day

Lord, be with us this day.
Within us to purify us;
Above us to draw us up;
Beneath us to sustain us;
Before us to lead us;
Behind us to restrain us;
Around us to protect us.
Lord, be with us this day.


Saint Patrick (387- 461)




from the book by Alan Walker, Prayer for everyday living, Godsfield Press, 2003


image: Albrecht Dürer, Study of an Apostle's Hands (Praying Hands), c. 1508, Brush drawing on blue primed paper, 290 x 197 mm, Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

To see more drawings from the same period by Albrecht Dürer, please refer to:
http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/d/durer/2/11/3/index.html