Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Buddhist : Zen / Chan Taoist 8th Century	About Han-shan (Cold Mountain) Timeline (730? - 850?)
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English version by Red Pine (Bill Porter) Original Language Chinese	[71] Someone lives in a mountain gorge
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Honey   Mountain         Recommended Books The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain, Translated by Red Pine A Drifting Boat: Chinese Zen Poetry, Edited by J. P. Seaton / Edited by Dennis Maloney The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell The Poetry of Zen: (Shambhalla Library), Edited by Sam Hamill / Edited by J. P. Seaton Riprap and Cold Mountain Poems, by Gary Snyder More >>	Someone lives in a mountain gorge cloud robe and sunset tassels holding sweet plants he would share but the road is long and hard burdened by regrets and doubts old and unaccomplished called by others crippled he stands alone steadfast     -- from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain, Translated by Red Pine Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

The "someone" is, of course, Han Shan himself, the hermit and sage. The sweet plants he would share are the quiet wisdom he has gathered which offer the sweetness of meditative ecstasy.

But few come to him to receive what he has to offer. The road to reach him is "long and hard." You can only make the journey by facing "regrets and doubts," carrying them courageously rather than endlessly evading them.

Daunted by such impediments, most seekers then tell themselves that the sage is no sage at all, just an old man, who has wasted his life in inactivity rather than gaining socially approved accomplishments. He is crippled.

Who then comes. The sage "stands alone steadfast" appreciating his treasures in solitude.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
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