Guest guest Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 Sent by Ivan- his notes are always great. Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana -- When all thoughts By Ryokan(1758 - 1831) English version by John Stevens When all thoughtsAre exhaustedI slip into the woodsAnd gatherA pile of shepherd's purse.Like the little streamMaking its wayThrough the mossy crevicesI, too, quietlyTurn clear and transparent. -- from Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan, Translated by John Stevens Amazon.com / Photo by digicla / ============ Thought for the Day: Don't rush through the journey, impatient only for its end. The adventure is your soul's story. ============ Here's your Daily Music selection -- Elizabeth Reian Bennett Song of the True Hand Listen - Purchase More Music Selections Hi Alan -First, let me apologize for missing Monday's poem. A mild virus decided to set up temporary residence in my body. A few days of conversation, and then I sent him on his way...(Interesting side note: I often dream of ants a few days before an illness. In my personal dream vocabulary, ants have come to embody mild viruses.)==Now, to Ryokan... Like Han-shan in China, Ryokan is loved in Japan as much for his antics as for his profound poetry.Ryokan became a priest at age 18 and took to a life of wandering. He eventually met his teacher, Kokusen Roshi, and settled down to study Zen practice, ultimately becoming his most esteemed student. When Kokusen Roshi died, Ryokan inherited his temple. But the duties and regularity of being temple master didn't suit Ryokan, and he resumed his itinerant life.He next settled in a small hut he called Gogo-an on Mt. Kugami, where he lived by begging.Ryokan's love of children and animals are legendary. He often played games with the local children, attested to in his own poetry. His reputation for gentleness was sometimes carried to comical extremes. One tale is told that, one day when Ryokan returned to his hut he discovered a robber who had broken in and was in the process of stealing the impoverished monk's few possessions. In the thief's haste to leave, he left behind a cushion. Ryokan grabbed the cushion and ran after the thief to give it to him. This event prompted Ryokan to compose one of his best known poems:The thief left it behind:the moonat my window.==I really like the way this poem opens...When all thoughtsAre exhaustedI slip into the woodsAnd gatherA pile of shepherd's purse.Ryokan gives us a sense of thoughts finally tiring of themselves and falling silent. And only then does it occur to him to enter the woods -- a monk, in his quiet, moving slowly among the trees in search of his simple meal of shepherd's purse (an edible wild herb).But it's that second verse that really awakens:Like the little streamMaking its wayThrough the mossy crevicesI, too, quietlyTurn clear and transparent.He has movement, yes, but it is effortless flow. His entire life at that moment is transparent, completely clear, free from self and the silting of mind. The question lingers: Shall we too slip into the woods?Have a beautiful day!Ivan Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my commentary... Support the Poetry Chaikhana Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are always welcome. Thank you! Click here You can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you! Click here A small amount each month makes a big difference. Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. Click here Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a Supporter for just $10/mo. Poetry Chaikhana HomeNew | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | ContactPoets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | CommentaryBlog | Forum | Facebook | Twitter www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com Poetry ChaikhanaP.O. Box 2320Boulder, CO 80306 Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers. ============ Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading this HTML formatted email, please let me know and I can send you plain text emails instead. Friday Only: If you want to receive only one poem email each week, reply to this email and change the Subject to "Friday Only". Canceling: If you wish to stop receiving this Daily Poem email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to this email and change the Subject to "Cancel". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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