The unwanting soul
sees what’s hidden
and there finds peace.
While the ever-wanting soul
sees only what it desires.

The river reaches the sea
by yielding to rock and mountain,
and yet carves mighty canyons.
Inner peace is like water,
like day, like night.
Effortless being.

The thousand hidden things
speak in silence
The true nature of things
offers itself in quiet.
On the other side of desire
Treasures are revealed
That striving cannot dream.

Not forcing, not resisting, not refusing -—
the gentle rain that nourishes
roots of mighty trees
asks for nothing back.
There is no winning, no losing,
when action springs from the quiet within.