夜深人靜獨坐觀心 In the deep of the night

夜深人靜獨坐觀心，
使覺妄窮而真獨露，
每於此中得大機趣；
既覺真現而妄難逃，
又於此中得大慚忸。

In the deep of the night, stilling your self, sitting alone, to reflect upon and perceive your heart/being,
You may feel all passions and thoughts hushed, and the true self revealed in sharp relief,
Only at this moment may you grasp the encompassing real joy of life;
Yet the realization dawns that the true self is fleeting, and alas, wordly passions and thoughts are impossible to flee from,
And at this same moment the deepest of shame engulfs.

–菜根譚 Vegetable Roots Discourse