Thursday, October 12, 2017

A Poem from Layman Pang

In the annals of Chan Buddhism there is a notable figure named Layman Pang, who is often compared to Vimalakirti, as an exemplar for how to pursue a dharma path outside of the monastic orders.  Among other things Layman Pang wrote a few very fine poems, one of which I translated this morning.






Every day the same routine
Only with myself in harmony
Not right or wrong but abiding
Nothing revealed or misplaced
Paying no heed to purple or vermillion
Or the distant mountains beyond the dust
Just the miracle and wonder here and now
Of hauling water and firewood


日日事無別
惟吾自偶諧
頭頭非取捨
處處沒張乖
朱紫誰爲號
邱山絶塵埃
神通並妙用
運水及搬柴






   

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