When nun Tenno studied Zen with Bukko of Engaku, she was unable to taste the fruits of meditation for a long time.
Finally, one moonlit night she carried water in an old bucket tied with bamboo. The bamboo tore and the bottom of the bucket fell off - and at that moment Tenno became free!
In memory of this she wrote a poem:
This way and that, I tried to save the old bucket, Until the bamboo rope weakened and broke, Until, finally, the bottom flew out. No more water in the bucket! No more moon in the water!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru