what has been, is no(thing

 

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The path to heaven lies through heaven,

and all the way to heaven is heaven.

—Catherine of Siena

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The bird has no path; 
where the bird flies is the path.

The fish has no path in water;
wherever it swims is the path.


—The Upanishads 

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Rather the flying bird, leaving no trace
Than the going beast
Marking the earth with his track.

The bird flies by and forgets
(As is only right). The beast
Where he no longer is
(And is therefore no use)
Marks that he was there before
(Which is also no use).

For to remember is to betray
Nature, since the nature of yesterday
Is not nature.
What has been, is nothing.
Remembering
Is failure to see.

Move on, bird, move on, teach me
To move on.


—Fernando Pessoa
Thomas Merton version

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