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What is the meaning of life?


I know this is in jest, but I'll just take the opportunity to respond by posting my favorite poem. The relationship between it and your question -- well, that's for you to decide.

    The birds have vanished down the sky.
    Now the last cloud drains away.
    We sit together, the mountain and me,
    until only the mountain remains.
-- Zazen on Ching-t’ing Mountain


Beautiful. I wasn't aware of Li Bai (李白). Took a bit of searching, but the original looks to be called 独坐敬亭山:

    獨坐敬亭山
    衆鳥高飛盡
    孤雲獨去閒
    相看兩不厭
    只有敬亭山
This is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing!


The question was sincere yet playful. I appreciate your answer. Here's a poem I like.

  O'er all the hilltops
  Is quiet now,
  In all the treetops
  Hearest thou
  Hardly a breath;
  The birds are asleep in the trees:
  Wait, soon like these
  Thou too shalt rest.
-- Wanderer's Nightsong II, Goethe




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