The moon on the pine

A haiku by Zen master Hokushi runs:

The moon on the pine;
I keep hanging it -- taking it off
and gazing each time

I have told you the moon is one of the great symbols in the mystery school of Zen ... you will come across the moon many times from different aspects.

The moon on the pine;
I keep hanging it ...
Just try to understand the poetry.

I keep hanging it -- taking it off
and gazing each time
Certainly you cannot hang the moon and take it off; but what you can do, you can open your eyes and you can close your eyes. When you close your eyes, you have taken the moon away. When you open your eyes, you bring the moon again. And gazing at it every time -- it never fulfills the desire, the longing for beautitude.