The poem "My eyes following until bird was lost at sea found a small island" expresses several Zen principles.
Impermanence: The poem captures a fleeting moment in time, the flight of a bird and its disappearance into the vastness of the sea. It reminds us of the transient nature of life and its phenomena.
Simplicity: The poem uses simple and direct language, free from any unnecessary embellishments. This simplicity reflects the Zen emphasis on stripping away the unnecessary to reveal the essence of things.
Non-dualism: The poem blurs the distinction between the self and the external world. The poet's eyes follow the bird until it merges with the sea, suggesting a sense of unity and interconnectedness between the observer and the observed.
Letting go: The poem's final line, "found a small island," can be interpreted as a moment of realization, a discovery that arises from letting go of the bird's flight. This act of letting go echoes the Zen concept of non-attachment, which encourages freedom from desires and執著.
In essence, the poem embodies Zen principles by presenting a moment of pure observation, free from expectations and attachments, revealing the interdependence of all things and the interconnectedness of the self with the environment.