Quote by Han Shan: “People these days don't know the truth, they merely follow the world's dusty tracks.”

This critical observation laments humanity's tendency to conform to superficial trends rather than seeking deeper understanding. It implies that many are lost in worldly distractions, neglecting genuine wisdom and pursuing paths without true meaning.

Han Shan critiqued societal conventions and the pursuit of material wealth from his isolated mountain retreat. His poems often contrasted the superficiality of worldly life with the profound truths found in nature and spiritual practice.

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.