Bamboo and Plum Blossom

Bamboo and Plum Blossom

Bamboo and Plum Blossom

Bamboo and Plum Blossom
Bamboo and Plum Blossom

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Ikkyu Sojun (1394-1481)



A REST ON THE WAY BACK
FROM THE LEAKY ROAD
TO THE NEVER-LEAKING ROAD;
IF IT RAINS, LET IT RAIN;
IF IT BLOWS, LET IT BLOW.

MY SELF OF LONG AGO,
IN NATURE NON-EXISTENT;
NOWHERE TO GO WHEN DEAD,
NOTHING AT ALL.

WHEN ASKED, HE ANSWERED;
NO QUESTION, NO ANSWER;
THEN MASTER DARUMA
MUST HAVE HAD
NOTHING IN HIS MIND.

OUR MIND --
WITHOUT END,
WITHOUT BEGINNING,
THOUGH IT IS BORN, THOUGH IT DIES --
THE ESSENCE OF EMPTINESS!

ALL THE SINS COMMITTED
IN THE THREE WORLDS
WILL FADE AND DISAPPEAR
TOGETHER WITH MYSELF.

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