吾心似秋月
わがこころしゅうげつににたり / Waga Kokoro Shūgetsu ni Nitari
Waga Kokoro Shūgetsu ni Nitari (吾心似秋月) Meaning
Meaning
"My mind is like the autumn moon." The image is of a bright moon in a clear autumn sky, reflected perfectly in a still, deep pool. It points to the idea in Zen that the mind, at its core, is clear and luminous, untouched by whatever passes over it.
Origin
This is the opening line of a poem attributed to Hanshan ("Cold Mountain"), a hermit-poet of Tang dynasty China whose poems were gathered in a collection known as the Hanshan Poems. The poem continues: "...shining clean and bright in a jade-green pool. Nothing can compare with it. Tell me, how could I explain?" Hanshan is a semi-legendary figure, and his exact dates and life are uncertain. In Japan, the line is often written on hanging scrolls displayed at tea gatherings.
How it helps with everyday worries
After a hard day at work, or when someone's words keep replaying in your head, your mind can feel like water churned by wind. This line offers a gentle reminder: the moon itself isn't shaking, only the surface reflecting it. Beneath the worry, the anger, or the sadness, there may be a quiet brightness that was never damaged. You don't have to force yourself to calm down. Ripples settle on their own, and when the water stills, the moon appears again just as it was. Simply noticing "the surface is rough right now" can soften the urge to blame yourself for feeling unsettled.
A small practice for today
Tonight, if you can see the moon, look at it for one minute. If you can't, close your eyes, picture a moon reflected on calm water, and take three slow breaths.