Daniel has been reading from the book Zen Sourcebook, on previous wednesdays and during the Memorial Weekend Sesshin, focusing on Chapter 9 with poems from Chinese nuns. 

These poems can be found here: https://www.hackettpublishing.com/zen-sourcebook

Here is one that stood out:

Don’t you know that afflictions are nothing more than wisdom,But to cling to afflictions is nothing more than foolishness?As they rise and then melt away again, you must remember this:The sparrow hawk flies through Silla without anyone noticing!

Don’t you know that afflictions are nothing more than wisdom.And that the purest of blossoms emerges from the mire?If someone were to come and ask me what I do:After eating my gruel and rice, I wash my bowl.Don’t worry about a thing!

Don’t worry about a thing!You may play all day like a silly child in the sand by the sea,But you must always realize the truth of your original face!When you suffer the blows delivered by the patriarchs’ staff,If you can’t say anything, you will perish by the staff,
If you can say something, you will perish by the staff.In the end, what will you do If you are forbidden to travel by night but must arrive by dawn?

~Pen-Ming (early 12th century