When I first heard this song I loved the imagery. On the surface, it seems like one of those romantic stories of an ancient Zen master heading to the mountains.
The master builds a grass hut to live in and the hut is instantly covered by weeds. Mindless of the appearance of the hut, the master lives their peacefully. Eating, sitting, practicing.
He is alone, which helps him practice, and he is not alone because the hut includes the entire world.
The romantic in me has visions of going off and building a hut, communing with nature and with enlightenment...which I believe is the purpose of this imagery. But of course, it is not the real meaning of the song nor the path to enlightenment... This fantasy version and vision gets an abrupt awakening.
The last verse, "If you want to know the undying person in the hut, do not separate from this skin bag here and now." is like being smacked between the eyes with a 2x4.
The imagery is the encouragement; the meaning is much deeper.
