Way To Happiness Poem by Jürgen Wagner

Once seekers were invited to a Zen master's tea
'Dear Master, how do you find happiness, we plea?
We long to be as content as you are
So tell us, what is your personal secret so far? '

The master smiled and raised his cup
'When I drink, I drink, when I get up, I get up
'When I lie down, I lie down, when I walk, I walk
When I eat, I eat and when I talk, I talk'

The seekers looked puzzled, one blurted out:
'Oh please, don't mock us, what's it about?
We too, we sleep and walk and drink
But happiness eludes - what do you think?

The master, he answered as before:
'When I perceive, I perceive, when I ignore, I ignore
When I stand, I stand, when I walk, I walk
When I'm silent, I'm silent, when I talk, I talk'

Feeling their unrest, the master took his cup:
'While you are lying, you are thinking of getting up
While you rise, you think of what to do
While you are busy, your thoughts are running too

Your mind is rushing, is never in Now
Between past and future, you are scattered anyhow
Life's true essence lies therein between
So live this one moment devoted and keen! '