Ryōkan Taigu was a quiet and eccentric Sōtō Zen Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit. Ryōkan is remembered for his poetry and calligraphy, which present the essence of Zen life. He is also known by the name Ryokwan in English. Wikipedia
“In this dream world
We doze
And talk of dreams —
Dream, dream on,
As much as you wish”
As translated in Lust for Enlightenment : Buddhism and Sex (1990) by John Stevens, p. 28
“The rain has stopped, the clouds have drifted away, and the weather is clear again.”
Zen Poetics of Ryokan (2006)
Context: The rain has stopped, the clouds have drifted away, and the weather is clear again.
If your heart is pure, then all things in your world are pure.
Abandon this fleeting world, abandon yourself,
Then the moon and flowers will guide you along the Way.
Variant translation:
Who says my poems are poems?
My poems are not poems.
After you know my poems are not poems,
Then we can begin to discuss poetry!
"Zen Poetics of Ryokan" in Simply Haiku: A Quarterly Journal of Japanese Short Form Poetry (Summer 2006) http://www.hermitary.com/articles/ryokan_poetics.html
Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf : Zen Poems of Ryokan (1993)
“Cling to truth and it turns into falsehood. Understand falsehood and it turns into truth.”
As translated in 1,001 Pearls of Wisdom (2006) by David Ross, p. 36
Context: Cling to truth and it turns into falsehood. Understand falsehood and it turns into truth. Truth and falsehood are two sides of the same coin. Neither accept one nor reject the other.
“This world
A fading
Mountain echo
Void and
Unreal”
Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf : Zen Poems of Ryokan (1993)
“Easily moved by beauty—such is my nature.
I take a few phrases
and they just turn into poems”
As translated in Great Fool: Zen Master Ryōkan; Poems, Letters, and Other Writings (1996) by Ryūichi Abé and Peter Haskel, p. 117
As translated in Lust for Enlightenment : Buddhism and Sex (1990) by John Stevens, p. 117
“I take these words as an admonition to myself.”
Zen Poetics of Ryokan (2006)
Context: When you encounter those who are wicked, unrighteous, foolish, dim-witted, deformed, vicious, chronically ill, lonely, unfortunate, or disabled, you should think: “How can I save them?” And even if there is nothing you can do, at least you must not indulge in feelings of arrogance, superiority, derision, scorn, or abhorrence, but should immediately manifest sympathy and compassion. If you fail to do so, you should feel ashamed and deeply reproach yourself: “How far I have strayed from the Way! How can I betray the old sages? I take these words as an admonition to myself.”
“In the scenery of spring,
nothing is better, nothing worse”
As translated in Haiku : Spring (1950) by Reginald Horace Blyth
Context: In the scenery of spring,
nothing is better, nothing worse;
The flowering branches are
of themselves, some short, some long.
Zen Poetics of Ryokan (2006)
Context: When you encounter those who are wicked, unrighteous, foolish, dim-witted, deformed, vicious, chronically ill, lonely, unfortunate, or disabled, you should think: “How can I save them?” And even if there is nothing you can do, at least you must not indulge in feelings of arrogance, superiority, derision, scorn, or abhorrence, but should immediately manifest sympathy and compassion. If you fail to do so, you should feel ashamed and deeply reproach yourself: “How far I have strayed from the Way! How can I betray the old sages? I take these words as an admonition to myself.”
Zen Poetics of Ryokan (2006)
“The thief left it behind:
the moon
at my window.”
Written after a thief robbed his hut, as translated in The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry (1993) by Stephen Mitchell, p. 162
Variant translation:
With gaudy words their lines are formed
And further adorned by novel and curious phrases.
Yet if they fail to express what is in their own minds
What is the use, no matter
How many poems they compose!
"Zen Poetics of Ryokan" in Simply Haiku: A Quarterly Journal of Japanese Short Form Poetry (Summer 2006)
Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf : Zen Poems of Ryokan (1993)
“The winds gives me
Enough fallen leaves
To make a fire”
Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf : Zen Poems of Ryokan (1993)
