Zen Poetry's Fascinating Aspects

Author: Liang Shenwei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The translation of Zen into "Samatha" refers to settling oneself, calming the mind, and achieving stillness. Although Zen schools are diverse, with five houses and seven sects, transcending ordinary beings and sages, and although Zen styles are ever-changing, carrying forward the tradition while embracing new developments, they all follow a single lineage. Amidst the rising tide of Zen culture, we have compiled this "Threefold Delight in Zen Series," namely "The True Charm of Zen Verses," "The Wondrous Charm of Zen Poetry," and "The Exquisite Charm of Zen Lyrics," to share the wisdom of Zen with readers and explore the world, delve into Zen's insights, and savor life. Verses, poems, and lyrics resonate with Zen, embodying richness and clarity, passion and tranquility, transcendence and emptiness, depth of thought and truth of reason. They possess highly penetrating life content and a vast cultural foundation. Reading them is like sweet dew nourishing the heart, and appreciating them is akin to nectar enlightening the mind. They will guide readers to wholeheartedly engage with life, fulfilling the legacy of human nature's brilliance, forgetting the troubles of fame and fortune, avoiding the disputes of ignorance and delusion, breaking free from the bonds of favor and disgrace, and not sinking passively in the whirlpool of material desires. Instead, they will advance with the journey of releasing conceptual attachments. The verses, poems, and lyrics selected in this series are not for interpreting Buddhist principles or doctrines, but for cultivating oneself and nurturing one's character. We hope these works can bring readers spiritual insights, the purity of Bodhi, the perspective of Prajna, and spiritual elevation. If one can understand the heart through Zen, preserve truth through verses, see one's nature through poetry, and infuse spirit through lyrics, it would be as if "sitting in meditation amidst heaven and earth" or "gazing upon this to open the Zen gate." The compilers' wishes would be fulfilled, just as "the autumn moon is both void and bright," and even more so, "the Zen heart is also pure and clear."