Chiyono's No Water, No Moon

This is another of my favorites. There is so much to learn from this poem.

Chiyono worked in a Zen convent. Desperately wanting to practice and attain enlightenment, she was coached to practice zazen. She poured herself into her practice and her daily work. One night, Chiyono took a bucket to the well. She drew the water. After a short while, the bottom fell out of her bucket. At this, she attained kensho.

To mark this occasion, Chiyono wrote this poem:

With this and that
I tried to keep the bucket together,
and then the bottom fell out.
Where water does not collect,
the moon does not dwell.