tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211204714033903886.post4683160273937540404..comments2023-10-01T05:20:27.108-07:00Comments on Lampoetry: Seeking Self Knowledge (by Jiao Ran)JoeLampoethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02286183648922698919noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211204714033903886.post-44905655780019304242018-01-01T11:49:25.050-08:002018-01-01T11:49:25.050-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04409615847930910341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211204714033903886.post-21702236817531855722017-12-31T14:05:49.121-08:002017-12-31T14:05:49.121-08:00Yes Peter, I agree about money as metaphor but non...Yes Peter, I agree about money as metaphor but nonetheless think it's quite striking for someone who chose to take up the begging bowl as a way of life. <br /><br />But as to how far along the path Jiao Ran may have been, I think you and I may be reading the poem differently. After all, the three pillars of Chan/Zen are great persistence, great faith and great doubt. The fact that Jiao Ran emphasized his doubt in this and some of his other poems in no way detracts (as I see it) from his spiritual attainments.<br /><br />I should also add, for Jiao Ran and several other Chan poet-monks of the Tang period, there was a fourth pillar of their practice - great eloquence. If that has failed to come through in the translation the fault is all mine and you must take my word that it is very much present in the original. JoeLampoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02286183648922698919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211204714033903886.post-42405551494662260842017-12-31T10:00:53.284-08:002017-12-31T10:00:53.284-08:00These fellows you have been translating, seem not ...These fellows you have been translating, seem not to have entered the path very far. As to the price, well that's understandable as a metaphor for effort and commitment. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04409615847930910341noreply@blogger.com