Thoughts I've thunk while sippin' at a cup of tea and reading something provoking, often get dropped here for the benefit of humanity and my own hubris.
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I need some help interpreting the following two poems. Both of them are from Stonehouse, that Chinese Zen monk that I've been mentioning. You know, the one that lived as a recluse in a hut in the mountains during his "retirement" years.
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Dense fog and clouds you can't push apart
suddenly appear and suddenly depart
clever people can wear themselves out
sun lights the rocks the same as
before.
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Let me tell you what I do know about this poem. First, "pushing the clouds away to let the sun shine through" is an old Chinese metaphor for accomplishing an impossible feat. Since the sun and sunlight is often used as a symbol for "illumination," I'm assuming that the impossible feat is that of enlightenment.
But am I wrong in thinking that this poem says that enlightenment is capricious and happens to people almost by random … or, at least, through means outside of their control. I thought one of the tenants of Zen was that through your strength of will, you can attain satori.
Another idea I've had is that is seems to parallel Jesus' famous proverb: "The sun shines on the just and the unjust" … so maybe that is what it means: Enlightenment can happen to anyone. I don't know. Do you have any ideas?
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Late autumn rain is a rain of mist
tiger tracks appear in the moss
the west wind doesn't stop all night
by dawn yellow leaves are up to the
steps
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This second poem, while it seems like one of those typical Zen nature poems, seems either deeper than it seems, or just deep enough that I should be able to understand the meaning. Once again, what I do know about the poem is this.
Autumn is often used as a symbol for old age and that phase of life used for reflection, prior to the winter of death. This is a pretty typical symbol used throughout the world. Rain, while I'm not sure, is often used as a symbol for the "boon of life" or "blessings of God." However, I do know that mist and clouds are a symbol for thoughts... especially "cloudy thoughts."
The small tigers found in China at that time were seen as symbols for the wind (don't ask me why... probably because of their roar). So, the parallel between tiger and wind, and the effects of these being the "tracks in moss" and the "displacement of leaves". Obviously the key symbol here is the meaning of "wind." And I'm not sure what the original Chinese meaning of the word that Red Pine translated as "wind" … could it be a "refreshing breeze" or a "terrible hurricane?" Probably the latter since Buddhist literature is often concerned with suffering and therefore, could symbolize the trials of life. Ok, so maybe you have some thoughts on this one.
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I would very much to have the name of the Chinese version of the book - the book from which the poem was translated - in which this poem can be found. I live in Beijing and would like to buy same.
Once I have had a chance to study the Chinese version, I will email my thoughts on what I think is happening - Zen and otherwise - in the poem.
Comment posted on Wednesday, 7 August 2002The book is The Zen Works of Stonehouse, translated into English by Bill Porter (pen name of Red Pine. Publisher: Mercury House; ISBN: 156279101X; (April 1999). Amazon has it here.
Comment posted on Wednesday, 7 August 2002These comments are based on the poem as it appears in “Shi Wu Chan Master Mountain Home” (literal translation) which is in the Chinese National Library in Beijing. Shi Wu’s real name is not Ch’ing Hung – must be one of the other systems of romanization - but in pinyin either Qing Gong or Qing Tian. The following is a word for word translation of the original which like most classical Chinese has no punctuation and is not phrased.
late fall time rain falling thick and fast moss leaves layer upon layer marked tiger foot one night west wind blow not stop dawn comes yellow leaves assisted steps to reach
I then added punctuation and phrasing leaving it as close as possible to that above.
Late fall, rain falls thick and fast; moss, leaves layer upon layer imprinted by tiger paw.
One whole night the west wind blows without stop; by dawn yellow leaves carried to the step.
As literature, the poem in this cast is a powerful evocation of the power of nature in all its aspects – plant, animal, the elements and man the observer – raised to a tremendous pitch, interacting and then in the very last phrase beautifully relaxing and reposing.
Comment posted on Wednesday, 21 August 2002Thanks for your comments. My romanization came from Amazon’s web site (as I didn’t have the book in front of me when I wrote it).
Comment posted on Wednesday, 21 August 2002Dense fog and clouds you can’t push apart suddenly appear and suddenly depart clever people can wear themselves out sun lights the rocks the same as before
Dense fog and clouds appear, clever people wear themselves out trying to pust them apart. But after they naturally go away and the sun shines again, the sun lights the rocks the same as before. But those clever people are still worn out.
I think by “clever people”, the writer means scholars and other “smart” people that try to go change things that can’t be changed.
This is just my humble opinion thought.
Comment posted on Thursday, 29 April 2004I agree with Dimi about the poem. I also believe the zen writings were made for you to reflect on, and not analyze. I like to just let the poem or writing seep in and settle there, and whatever happens, happens. Whatever I get from it, I get from it.
Comment posted on Wednesday, 28 July 2004im 17 and i have only been practicing for less then a year,,aboutt this first poem,,i think that when ur enlightend there is no enlightenment and nothing special,,and that this is enlightenment,,that understanding is realizing there is nothing to understand or realize,, i dont no tho,,but i dont think these poems are ment to be analized with small mind,,just red
Comment posted on Monday, 24 January 2005
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