Hsu Yun - Searching for the Dharma

Ivan M. Granger March 23rd, 2009

Searching for the Dharma
by Hsu Yun

You’ve traveled up ten thousand steps in search of the Dharma.
So many long days in the archives, copying, copying.
The gravity of the Tang and the profundity of the Sung
make heavy baggage.
Here! I’ve picked you a bunch of wildflowers.
Their meaning is the same
but they’re much easier to carry.


/ Photo by teddy llovet /

Walking yesterday, the trees are shyly showing their green buds, returning color to the world. I turned a corner and was bathed in the honey scent of new plum blossoms. These are the true books of the Dharma.

The great masters don’t wear an academic scowl; a silly grin sits easy on their face. Must be from so much study on such a Spring day…

Hsu Yun, Hsu Yun poetry, Buddhist poetry Hsu Yun

China (1839 - 1959) Timeline
Buddhist : Zen / Chan

The Venerable Master Hsu Yun was born in 1839 or 1840 in the Guanzhou region of China.

When he was 13, Hsu Yun declared that he wanted to join a Buddhist monastery, but his father refused to allow it. He eventually went against his father’s wishes and became an ordained monk at age 20, in 1859.

He had a naturally ascetic temperament and often refused even the minimal food of a monk. He later went on a three year solitary retreat into the forest where he sustained himself primarily on wild greens and pure stream water.

Hsu Yun traveled quite a bit in his life, teaching in many parts of China and Southeast Asia. He is credited by many with revitalizing Buddhist practice throughout much of the region, which was showing signs of degeneration and decline in the period leading up to and following the communist revolution.

Although he attained immense respect, Hsu Yun remained supremely humble and simple in his lifestyle. He chose to live the final years of his long life quietly in his monastery’s cow shed.

More poetry by Hsu Yun

7 Responses to “Hsu Yun - Searching for the Dharma”

  1. # cinzaon 23 Mar 2009 at 10:06 am

    its a very sweet and perfect poem.

    It has the ring of Hafiz of Shiraz. who would often tell us we work so hard and offer us a place to rest.

  2. # Jim Atwellon 23 Mar 2009 at 10:15 am

    A gentle breeze blows across the field of my soul
    Calling, calling, Good Morning I Love You.
    I answer, Where, Where and still the wind blows.
    Much Love
    Jim Atwell

  3. # Beulah Brownon 23 Mar 2009 at 12:29 pm

    Thank you for today’s poem

    The ‘gravity’ and the ‘profundity’ make me smile as I recall my own days in the archives…the same smile that comes to me with the scent of pink floribunda roses, the first in my garden this Spring.

  4. # Amiya Chatterjeeon 23 Mar 2009 at 7:32 pm

    In the city of concrete jungle oh who would smile at me with a bunch of flower SILENTLY.

    Wonderful ,soothing quote Ivan!
    A big warm Bengali hug for you to pick the bunch
    of wild flowers for me.

  5. # AALIon 24 Mar 2009 at 3:27 am

    YA ITS TRUE TO LET YOUR LONGINING LEAD YOU SO SEEK FORWAR AND LUKING ON THROUGH GREAT DESASTERS ONE MIGHT LEAVE FOR LONGINGS TO LEAD HIM

  6. # Isabel Tippleon 25 Mar 2009 at 8:47 am

    Can we bring awareness and appreciation to all steps on the journey? God created nothing useless. Sometimes the joy of resting can only be appreciated after the long ’slog’ of effort. May love arise and be constantly present in the heart no matter what we do or where we are. May all those to contribute and read the poetry chaikana be bathed in rest and beauty - indeed, this is what the poetry chaikhana leads us too every day - thanks again Ivan.

    Love
    Isabel

  7. # leslieon 27 Mar 2009 at 8:17 pm

    Even when we take refuge in the dharma, where is the cow-shed in which to rest our weary head?

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