Basel – Zen Meditation – Graveyard – When I stand on the highest rock, descend into the deep valley and sing!

Prayer

When I stand on the highest rock, descend into the deep valley and sing, far away from the deep, dark valley the echo of the chasms rises. The further my voice penetrates, the brighter it echoes to me from below. My darling lives so far from me, that's why I long for her so ardently! Many steep mountains stand before me, the foaming rivers flow in the valley. The eagle swings into the clouds, the chamois leaps through the chasms!

Clouds rest on the heights, and the snow on the peaks shines through the fog. The prouder my girl makes me, the higher my courage rises in love. A little bell is ringing in the quiet valley, food is smoking everywhere in the village. Oh, girl, girl, take me soon! It's so dull, it's so cold up here.

Zen Meditation - Basel

He wants to break all rocks, and he breaks and foams only himself. From cliff to cliff he leaps with showers, spouting and bubbling as if he had seas to waste. And down in the valley, where has he gone? In the sand he creeps weary and languishing, and the mountains stand and look down on him proudly and mockingly. Or do they mean you, son of the earth, who storms and rushes through life like the Giessbach?

You green mountain that resembles Parnasso with two peaks, you high rock, with you I wish to remain in peace for ever and to have your joy all alone, because you can also be of use to me for all the world; Then when I'm here on your cliffs, I always see that place for me, which alone can protect me from death, my highest joy and the life of my life. So I also know that nowhere else is there a single place surrounded by such adornment; Nature has set the desire everywhere, so that those who have struggled to climb up to you would also be delighted in turn.