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Sunday, January 7, 2018

In the Chan Temple (by Jiao Ran)

Here's a poem I translated recently by Jiao Ran, an 8th century Chan monk which provides a lovely albeit brief account of monastic practice and life during the Tang Dynasty.  I'll be publishing a new issue of the Tang Spirit newsletter this coming week with more translations of Jiao Ran's poems along with a short essay more generally discussing the tradition of spiritual poetry.  Please click here if you would like to sign up for a free subscription.


In the Chan Temple

Of the ten thousand Dharmas
Found out beyond the gates
So profuse and confused
Making knowledge seem muddled

Believers look for balance
From one lineage or another
Or else alone pursue truth
Under Heaven and Earth

But in everyday practice
What you possess is prior
To all such things and
In peace abides

True wisdom is found
In the study of stillness and
The light that shines forth
From the origin of
All ten thousand things

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*  *  *  *  * 


皎然

万法出无
纷纷使智昏

徒称氏子
独立天地元

实际且何有
物先安可存

知不
照出万重源


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