The most ethereal Zen poem in history: a buddhist retreat behind broken-mountain temple.
Chang Jian's a buddhist retreat behind broken-mountain temple is regarded as a very ethereal Zen poem.
in the pure morning, near the old temple, where early sunlight points the tree-tops.
The bamboo trail leads to seclusion, of boughs and flowers, to a Buddhist retreat.
here birds are alive with mountain-light, and the mind of man touches peace in a pool.
and a thousand sounds are quieted, but the bell is ringing.
This poem depicts a temple in the early morning. The sun shines on the tall Woods, the bamboo path leads to a quiet place, and the flowers and trees are flourishing around the meditation room. Mountain light makes birds happy, and pool shadows make people feel empty.
all the sounds disappeared, only the sound of Zhong Qing echoed in the air. This poem expresses the emptiness and inner peace of Zen by depicting the peace of nature and mind.
Classification of Zen Poems
Part of them are Zen Poems, which contain general Buddhist poems, as well as China's unique Buddhist poems, enlightenment poems and ancient poems. The characteristics of this part of Zen poetry are rich in philosophy and wisdom and profound dialectical thinking.
The other part is poems that reflect the life of monks and literati in practicing Taoism, such as poems about living in the mountains, poems about Buddhist temples and poems about traveling in places. It is the main feature of this part of Zen poetry to express the empty, quiet and holy Zen realm and mood.
most of these poems are about Buddhist temples and mountain dwellings, and they describe the deep, winding, clean and dust-free, and extraordinary mountain scenery, and they show the monks or literati's empty mind, all worries are gone, and they are indifferent to peace.