Quote by Han Shan: “My heart is like the autumn moon, a clear pool, no dust.”

This metaphor describes a state of profound inner peace and clarity, free from worldly defilements. It suggests that through introspection and detachment, one can achieve a mind as pure and reflective as the moon's light on undisturbed water.

Han Shan's poems often reflect Zen Buddhist and Taoist ideals of enlightenment and purity. Living in remote mountains, he sought to transcend worldly concerns, cultivating a mind unburdened by attachments and desires.

Tang dynasty Chinese hermit poet of the eighth or ninth century, known by the name of the cold mountain in Zhejiang province where he reportedly lived in a cave. His poems, written on rocks and trees according to legend, were collected by a government official and have been enormously influential in Chan Buddhism and Zen art. Gary Snyder's translations made Han Shan's work widely known in twentieth-century America.