Before his failing health forced my Zen master to move to warmer climate, he used to offer a Zen lecture followed by a period of zazen every Tuesday night in his temple.
No matter what the topic of his lecture, he would always end it by reciting the same words, with us repeating each verse after him. He felt these words summarized all of the wisdom he wanted to pass on to us.
I believe these indeed are words of wisdom, so I decided to share them with you:
The highest motive is to be like water.
Water is necessary to all living beings,
yet asks nothing in return.
Rather it flows humbly to the lowest level.
Nothing is weaker than water.
Yet against those things which are strong and hard
nothing can surpass it,
nor stand in its way.
May we all learn the way of water.
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