Valuable indeed is this natural thing-in-itself

Which stands all alone—it needs no support.

If you look for it purposely, it cannot be seen;

It freely comes in and goes out thru no gates.

Once you contract it, it becomes fit within

A square inch—the size of the crystal—

Your pure mind; extend it, and it fills in

The space in all ten cardinal directions.

All living beings depend and rely on it, but

Once you ignore it, it ignores you, as well;

If you don’t repel it, it doesn’t refuse you.

But how much can you get in your lifetime

Is your own matter, as it doesn’t lift a finger

To help you for any good reason whatever.

Yes, any attempt to call its name or define

Its operation will bring you to no purpose

Because its mechanism works on its own.

But if it is what you neither trust nor cherish,

You might run across it and yet never realize.