"Nature has a cosmic breath. We call it wind.
At times it is silent. But when it speaks,
it creates angry howls from ten thousand openings.
Have you never heard the roar of a gale?
Think of a mighty forest on a slope.
Its huge trees have holes and cracks
like a myriad snouts, mouths and ears,
like gouges, goblets and mortars,
some holding puddles in their grooves.
The sound of wind rushes through like a torrent,
whistling, mooing,
sucking,
howling and moaning.
Hissing notes, then a roaring chorus.
Deep rumbling, then the wail of a flute . . .
The music of earth sings through a thousand holes.
Human music is played on instruments.
What makes the music of heaven?"
CHUANG TZU. Read "The way of Chuang Tzu" by Thomas Merton, pp. 38-39.
