The White Cloud and the Blue Mountain
July 31, 2012 § 13 Comments
A wise and lyrical passage.
Tozan, a famous Zen master, said: “The blue mountain is the father of the white cloud. The white cloud is the son of the blue mountain. All day long they depend on each other, without being dependent on each other. The white cloud is always the white cloud. The blue mountain is always the blue mountain.”
This is a pure, clear interpretation of life. There may be many things like the white cloud and the blue mountain: man and woman, teacher and disciple. …They are quite independent, but yet dependent. This is how we live, and how we practice zazen.
Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
only here only now 
Wow, this piece of writing is good, my younger sister is analyzing these kinds of things, therefore I am going to inform her.
Reminds me of the William Carlos Williams poem. “So much depends upon the Red Wheelbarrow”
I was not familiar with the poem until your reply. It’s a fascinating work- reminds me of haiku- few words, many possibilities. Thanks for the reference.
I’m still enjoying reading tales of your runs. I’ve returned to running in a more serious way after several years of doing mostly biking. I like it- so simple, elemental.
Thanks.
Tom
Yes, two simple elemental things… I’m not much for poetry, but have always liked The Red Wheelbarrow.
Also, the running. I stick to the trails so my legs have a chance of continuing for some years… I’d like to do more biking, as it’s a perfect stand-in during time of stress or injury or what have you.
You know, this has got me curious about your running. I hope, perhaps in that forum, you’ll let me know more about what you’re up to on that front.
Anecdotally, I hear of runners turning to cycling, often related to when the knees (or something else) gives out. I have a bike, but don’t get out much. I find the elemental allure of running really keeps me coming back — a small miracle for someone who was entirely sedentary for years.
Ah, what a paradox. I love paradoxes like this. Now, I need to think of what relationships I have that are like this. And be glad for them.
BTW, what is zazen?
I’m off to buy that book now. You told me about it before, and now with this excerpt, I’m thinking its time.
Bethany,
I hope the book speaks to you. I also recommend the Tao te Ching (Stephen Mitchell translation). My copy of that book is nearly worn out from reading and rereading.
“Zazen” is just the name for the Zen Buddhist meditation practice.
Stay strong.
Tom
Thanks Tom.
I found this very helpful. It helps give me a way to express relationships that are strong but not totally depend on each other but are still a great part of our lives. Thank you Tom.
Susan, that was really my focus. Because my connections with others seem so indispensable to my existence, I needed a way to think about how non-attachment could also be embraced. I found Suzuki’s passage helpful.
Glad it resonated with your experience as well.
Thanks.
Tom
Anne, for me this passage evokes what I used to see as the paradox of dependence and independence. How can the relationship of teacher/student, lover/lover exist when we are called to non-attachment?
So for me, like the cloud and the mountain, I believe that we exist independently and yet not alone. Connections exist, and perhaps there’s a better word than “connections” here, between and among beings, each existing as and for herself.
I love that you share your uncertainty about the passage. It’s honest- and you make me pause and ponder. A good thing.
Thanks.
Tom
Thanks Tom, I just had an ‘aha’ moment. Thank you for sharing this post, so many things to learn, so many things to unlearn!
Thanks
Anne
Hi Tom. When we learn detachment from attachment and learn to live independently from source in all that is, and then surely we will be at one with one another and ourselves! Not sure that I have an understanding of this post!
Namaste
Anne