Mumon Gensen

“Hökö-ji was founded in 1383, the first year of Genchū era under the reign of Gokameyama Tennö, by Mumon Gensen (1323–1390). Mumon Gensen was a prince and became a monk at the age of eighteen. He served under Ka'o Sonen (d. 1345) and Sesson Yubai (1290–1346) at Kennin-ji. He went to China and received the Inka from Kobai Shöyü (1285–1352).”

“Mumon Gensen (1323 - 1390) [was] a Japanese Rinzai monk of the Ashikaga period, Mumon Gensen was born in Kyoto, the son of Emperor Go-daigo. He entered Buddhist orders at age seven, and at eighteen entered the Zen monastery Kennin-ji. In 1384, Gensen founded a Rinzai Zen monastery in Totomi.”

“Life is like a cloud of mistEmerging from a mountain cave,And deathA floating moonIn its celestial course.If you think too muchAbout the meaning they may have,You'll be bound foreverLike an ass to a stake.”

“Life is an ever-rolling wheelAnd every day is the right one.He who recites poems at his deathAdds frost to snow.”