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Friday, 18 December 2020

Chiyono [Mugai Nyodai]

One evening, the nun Chiyono was fetching water in an old pail. The bucket, held together with bamboo which had weakened over time, split as she was carrying it, and the water spilled out. At that moment, she came to awakening. She commemorated the event with these lines:

In this way and that I tried to save the old pail

Since the bamboo strip was weakening and about to break

Until at last the bottom fell out.

No more water in the pail!

No more moon in the water!

Zen Masters of Japan: 77-79

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