Get the Substance

Alan Watts

Before I had studied Zen for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, 

     and waters as waters. 

When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, 

I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, 

     and waters are not waters.

But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest. 

For it's just that I see mountains once again as mountains, 

     and waters once again as waters. 

Commentary on the famous saying of Seigen Ishin

[Do not stop mid-way and become attached and identified with your 'realization'. In Zen they say, anywhere you stop and sit down becomes a sickness.]