Don't lock the door.
Go slightly like the leaf in the breeze
along the dawn's valley.
If you are too fair
cover yourself with ash.
If too clever , go half asleep.
That which is fast
will tire fast :
be slow , slow as stillness.
Be formless like water.
Lie low, don't even try to go up.
Don't go round the deity :
Nothingness has no directions,
no front , nor back
Don't call it by name,
Its name has no name.
No offerings : empty pots
are easier to carry than full ones.
No prayers too : desires
have no place here.

Speak silently, if speak you must :
like the rock speaking to trees
and leaves to flowers.
Silence is the sweetest of voices
and Nothingness has
the fairest of colours.
Let none see you coming
and none, going.

Cross the threshold shrunken
like one crossing a river in winter.
You have only a second here
like melting snow.
No pride : you are not even formed.