Though the rare sunshine of early spring now gentled the sea air, of the island's 50,500 civilian residents, few were to be seen walking the streets, even in Kincheng (City of Gold) and Shanwai (Beyond the Mountain), Kinmen's two largest towns.[…] According to Father Ferreira, an Argentine priest whose pastoral flock is centered in Kincheng, Kinmen is so close and friendly a community, that people recognize each other's cars, motorcycles, and even dogs.[…] In Kincheng, a Ching Dynasty (1644-1911) stone arch grandiosely honors the virtuous wife of General Chiu Chih-jen.[…] Visitors to Kincheng note an old lane shaded by the widespread branches of a row of stout, gnarled banyan trees, bearded denizens that are the oldest living things on the island.

Shunryu Suzuki, the first Zen master to establish a Zen training monastery outside of Asia, describes the importance of meditation practice in order to live in the moment and achieve boundless compassion and shoshin, or beginner's mind.

Today in Peking we repeat a phrase to our allies from the Sung dynasty, seven hundred years old. 'We are as close to you as the lips to the teeth. If the lips are gone, our teeth must chatter with cold.'

The ship hulls as the billows flow; / And all aboard at ev'ry seel, / Like drunkards, on the hatches reel.