Ryokan's Kaz translation

[Heisoku]

Ryokan's poetry was like finding a key to a lock I was fumbling with. It is precisely the fact that he expresses loneliness, melancholy, tears, yearning that allows Zen to show its human face. Without this human face we can not feel/express empathy - we can not be Kannon - IMHO.

Thank you for this Willow, so true.
Thank you Taigu for sharing this gem.

Gassho.

[Amelia]

Rags upon rags,
tatter is my life.
I pluck my food on a country path.
My hut is buried in a tangle of weeds.
Looking at the moon, I hum all night;
deluded by blossoms, I forget to return.
Since leaving the monastery
what a fool I have become!

Hmm... effective.

Gassho

[Risho]

I can't believe they had this book at my local Barnes & Noble.. picked it up today! The introduction is much larger than the other book (the only other one I have on Ryokan): One Robe, One Bowl by John Stevens. I can't wait to get started on this.