Autumn clouds, vague and obscure; The evening, lonely and chill. I felt the dampness on my garments, But saw no spot, and heard no sound of rain.
Bai JuyiRead
Two monks sit facing, playing chess on the mountain, The bamboo shadow on the board is dark and clear. Not a person sees the bamboo's shadow, One sometimes hears the pieces being moved.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the idea of mindfulness and the unnoticed subtleties of existence.
In this quote, the act of two monks playing chess on a mountain symbolizes the focus and presence required in life. The bamboo's shadow represents the often-overlooked aspects of existence, suggesting that while we may be engaged in activities, many subtleties of life happen unnoticed. The tranquility of the scene highlights the importance of being present in our actions and the wisdom that comes from contemplation.
Themes
MindfulnessPresenceContemplationWisdomLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a meditation retreat, this quote can be shared to encourage participants to observe their thoughts.
More from Bai Juyi
All quotes →A little child paddles a little boat, Drifting about, and picking white lotuses. He does not know how to hide his tracks, And duckweed's opened up along his path.
Bai JuyiRead
A strip of water's spread in the setting sun, Half the river's emerald, half is red. I love the third night of the ninth month, The dew is like a pearl; the moon like a bow.
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