no water, no moon
© 2017 nistal prem de boer
It happened to Chiyono. Carrying water in her bucket she
admired the the silent splendor of the reflecting full moon.
And then, the bottom fell out, the water was gone, the
moon disappeared.
Chiyono, it is said, became enlightened:
She realized herself to be a hollow bamboo,
A flute on the lips of the infinite:
An empty bucket.
Finding God, enlightment, had been Chiyono's life
ambition. She wanted to become a monk, a meditator,
devoting herself to the search. Because of her physical
beauty she was rejected by many monasteries. She
burned and scarred her beautiful face.
With her head shaved, disguised as a man she entered the
monastery. Only at night, alone, washing herself, her secret
was revealed. For years she lived a simple life of meditation.
One night it happened to Chiyono.
60” (72” including stand) x 44” x 20
2003, series of 8
"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.”
Chiyono