<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">The <i class="">han<o:p class=""></o:p></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class=""><i class=""><br class=""></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">Just at the entrance to the Zendo<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">the prayer of ancient wisdom<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">has seen its ink form beaten<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">into the wooden block<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">by countless strikes of the mallet<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">calling again and again to meditation.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">By now, the woodpiece has become a living prayer<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">The ancient wisdom words no longer readable<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">But still bearers of silent reminders.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">We are like hans too, you see.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">The mallet of time<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">has beaten unnameable truths into our hearts.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">They are no longer readable either<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">but still bear silent witnessing<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">to sleepless nights<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">to tears of lonely rage<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">to endless despair<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">to bouts of joy.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">The faded teachings on the wood<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">still cling fiercely on to the hall walls,<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">echoing back to us:<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">Don´t wait! Don´t wait!<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">Birth and death are important things.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">Make use of every moment.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">Everything changes quickly.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">Wake up! Wake up!<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">Time does not wait for humans.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class="">Don´t waste your life.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class=""><br class=""></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Virginia Francisco</span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;" class=""><span lang="EN-US" class=""> </span></div></div></body></html>