Yuan Mei (1716–1797 CE) was a Chinese painter and poet from a cultured family. He served in various official posts, but eventually returned to his village to devote himself to his literary career. He was deeply interested in Chan Buddhism, and was also an advocate for women’s literacy, which was not then common.

To learn to be without desire
          you must desire that.
Better to do as you please:
          sing idleness.
Floating clouds, and water idly running —
          Where’s their source?
In all the vastness of the sea and sky,
you’ll never find it.

Translation J. P. Seaton