if you don’t go into the tiger’s lair

zar yar lin

 

The Tao is as deep as can be.


Who is willing to pursue it closely?


If you don’t go into the tiger’s lair,
 how can you

catch its cub? 
If you don’t wash out the stone and sand,


how can you pick out the gold? 
Carefully seek the heart

of heaven and earth
 with firm determination.


Suddenly you will see the original thing;


everywhere you meet the source,

all is a forest of jewels.

 

Liu I-Ming