Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Buddhist : Zen / Chan 18th Century	About Ryokan Timeline (1758 - 1831)
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English version by Stephen Mitchell Original Language Japanese	The thief left it behind:
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Moon           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 >>	The thief left it behind: the moon at my window.     -- from The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

Ryokan had a reputation for gentleness that was sometimes carried to comical extremes. A famous story about him relates that one day when Ryokan returned to his hut he discovered a robber who had broken in and was in the process of stealing the impoverished monk's few possessions. In the thief's haste to leave, he left behind a cushion. Ryokan grabbed the cushion and ran after the thief to give it to him.

This event prompted Ryokan to compose this haiku, one of his best known poems.

The moon is a common metaphor, especially among the Zen poets, to represent enlightened awareness. In this haiku Ryokan is laughing at the absurdity of the theft. "The thief left it behind," he foolishly couldn't recognize the one great treasure the poor monk possessed -- "the moon," enlightenment -- and, instead, took an armload of worthless junk. (To point out what a petty haul it was, Ryokan even ran after the thief with the missed cushion.) Any sort of theft of Ryokan's possessions was a pointless act because, of course, who can take the moon from his window? Ryokan is amused and invites us to join in his laughter.

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.