Here is a poem by Bai JuYi that I translated today. This will likely be one of the poems that will be included in The Poetry of Awakening, an anthology of Chinese poems about the search for enlightenment that I am preparing for publication later this year.
Full of paradox and word play, this poem is something of a departure from Bai JuYi's usual plainspoken style. It was written late in life, as Bai JuYi immersed himself more deeply in the study of Chan Buddhism. When it comes to enlightenment, being plainspoken will only get you so far.
Speaking About Meditation
What you must know is
Nothing is as it seems
What appears lacking
Overflows in abundance
Words soon forgotten
Words clearly understood
In a dream to speak of dreaming
Is profound and void of meaning
How does emptiness blossom
To provide a double blessing
How does a searing flame
Transform into a fish
Disturbance comes amidst
Meditation’s stillness
Meditation is movement
Not meditating
Not moving
Such as it is
谈禅境
须知诸相皆非相 若住无余却有余
言下忘言一时了 梦中说梦两重虚
空花岂得兼求果 阳焰如何更觅鱼
摄动是禅禅是动 不禅不动即如如
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