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Buddhist : Zen / Chan
18th Century

About Ryokan

Timeline (1758 - 1831)

 Ryokan, Ryokan poetry, Buddhist, Buddhist poetry, Zen / Chan poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry, poetry

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English version by
John Stevens

Original Language
Japanese
When all thoughts

Themes
  Water
 
 
 
 

 

Recommended Books

Between the Floating Mist: Poems of Ryokan, Translated by Hide Oshiro / Translated by Dennis Maloney
Between Two Souls: Conversations with Ryokan, by Mary Lou Kownacki
Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan, Translated by John Stevens
The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell
Great Fool: Zen Master Ryokan: Poems, Letters, and Other Writings, Translated by Ryuichi Abe

More >>

When all thoughts
Are exhausted
I slip into the woods
And gather
A pile of shepherd's purse.

Like the little stream
Making its way
Through the mossy crevices
I, too, quietly
Turn clear and transparent.

 

 

-- from Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan, Translated by John Stevens

Amazon.com

 

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Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.