47. A list of opposites: short/tall, high/low, hot/cold, wet/dry, deep/shallow, pleasure/pain, joy/sorrow. Basho's staff is intimate with each and everyone of these. Master Mumon, in one of his verses, puts it like this:
The depths and shallows of the world
Are all in its grasp.
Indeed, nothing escapes it. But what is 'it'? What is this 'it' that embraces all things, comprehends all things? What is this 'it' that gives to those who have and takes from those who have not? There is a documentary film that takes the viewer deep into this question. It is called 'Into Great Silence'.
A verbal comment....a silent comment. Same same? or different?
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