Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought. Matsuo Basho More Quotes by Matsuo Basho More Quotes From Matsuo Basho Real poetry, is to lead a beautiful life. To live poetry is better than to write it. Matsuo Basho realwritingbeautiful Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. Matsuo Basho enlightenmentwoodswater Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home. Matsuo Basho naturehealinginspirational Make the universe your companion, always bearing in mind the true nature of things-mountains and rivers, trees and grasses, and humanity-and enjoy the falling blossoms and the scattering leaves. Matsuo Basho riverstreefall No matter where your interest lies, you will not be able to accomplish anything unless you bring your deepest devotion to it. Matsuo Basho passionmatterlying A flute with no holes is not a flute. Matsuo Basho flutesholes There is nothing you can see that is not a flower; there is nothing you can think that is not the moon. Matsuo Basho flowermoonthinking Learn how to listen as things speak for themselves. Matsuo Basho speak Go to the pine if you want to learn about the pine, or to the bamboo if you want to learn about the bamboo. And in doing so, you must leave your subjective preoccupation with yourself. Otherwise you impose yourself on the object and you do not learn. Matsuo Basho bamboopreoccupationwant In this poor body, composed of one hundred bones and nine openings, is something called spirit, a flimsy curtain swept this way and that by the slightest breeze. It is spirit, such as it is, which led me to poetry, at first little more than a pastime, then the full business of my life. There have been times when my spirit, so dejected, almost gave up the quest, other times when it was proud, triumphant. So it has been from the very start, never finding peace with itself, always doubting the worth of what it makes. Matsuo Basho poetrydoubtwriting Operating superficially, the mind is random in its activity and stale in its insights and images. However, with practice and experience the mind is freed from the skull, and the fresh and new can appear as though for the first time. It Matsuo Basho skullspracticetime The moon and sun are travelers through eternity. Even the years wander on. Whether drifting through life on a boat or climbing toward old age leading a horse, each day is a journey, and the journey itself is home. Matsuo Basho horsemoonhome Without bitterest cold that penetrates to the very bone, how can plum blossoms send forth their fragrance all over the world? Matsuo Basho plumslifeworld Come, butterfly It's late- We've miles to go together. Matsuo Basho milesbutterflytogether The desire to break the silence with constant human noise is, I believe, precisely an avoidance of the sacred terror of that divine encounter. Matsuo Basho silencedesirebelieve An autumn night - don’t think your life didn’t matter. Matsuo Basho autumnnightthinking From the pine tree, learn of the pine tree; And from the bamboo, of the bamboo Matsuo Basho bambooinspirational-lifetree The oak tree: Matsuo Basho cherry-blossomspringtree How much I desire! Inside my little satchel, the moon, and flowers Matsuo Basho flowermoondesire The moon is brighter since the barn burned. Matsuo Basho burnedbarnsmoon
