Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Buddhist : Zen / Chan Taoist 9th Century	About Shih-te (Pickup) Timeline (780? - 850?)
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English version by Red Pine (Bill Porter) Original Language Chinese	[4] Behold the glow of the moon
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Light   Moon   Night       Recommended Books The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain, Translated by Red Pine The Poetry of Zen: (Shambhalla Library), Edited by Sam Hamill / Edited by J. P. Seaton	Behold the glow of the moon illumine the world's four quarters perfect light in perfect space a radiance that purifies people say it waxes and wanes but I don't see it fade just like a magic pearl it shines both night and day     -- from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain, Translated by Red Pine Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

In Shih-te's poem, the "glow of the moon" is the awareness of the all pervasive light that occurs in deep spiritual ecstasy.

It is "a radiance that purifies," not in the sense that it somehow corrects reality; rather, it purifies our perception of reality. Through the recognition of this light's radiance, we recognize the essential purity already present everywhere.

The light of the moon may wax and wane, but the true light of enlightenment is steady and eternal. Some may see enlightenment itself as unstable, but that is the perspective of the witness. When the mind is stable and utterly still, you can see that the light itself does not fade, "it shines both night and day."

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.