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Ryōkan
17 quotes
“In the scenery of spring, nothing is better, nothing worse; The flowering branches are of themselves, some short, some long.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As translated in Haiku : Spring (1950) by Reginald Horace Blyth
“In this dream world We doze And talk of dreams — Dream, dream on, As much as you wish”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As translated in Lust for Enlightenment : Buddhism and Sex (1990) by John Stevens, p. 28
“You must rise above The gloomy clouds Covering the mountaintop Otherwise, how will you Ever see the brightness?”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As translated in Lust for Enlightenment : Buddhism and Sex (1990) by John Stevens, p. 117
“The thief left it behind: the moon at my window.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Written after a thief robbed his hut, as translated in The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry (1993) by Stephen Mitchell, p. 162
“Late at night, listening to the winter rain Recalling my youth — Was it only a dream? Was I really young once?”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in One Robe, One Bowl : The Zen Poetry of Ryōkan (2006) edited by John Stevens, p. 71
“Cling to truth and it turns into falsehood. Understand falsehood and it turns into truth. Truth and falsehood are two sides of the same coin. Neither accept one nor reject the other.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As translated in 1,001 Pearls of Wisdom (2006) by David Ross, p. 36
“Easily moved by beauty—such is my nature. I take a few phrases and they just turn into poems”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As translated in Great Fool: Zen Master Ryōkan; Poems, Letters, and Other Writings (1996) by Ryūichi Abé and Peter Haskel, p. 117
“Who says my poems are poems? My poems are not poems. When you know that my poems are not poems, Then we can speak of poetry.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Zen Poetics of Ryokan" in Simply Haiku: A Quarterly Journal of Japanese Short Form Poetry (Summer 2006)
“It's a pity, a gentleman in refined retirement composing poetry: He models his work on the classic verse of China. And his poems are elegant, full of fine phrases. But if you don't write of things deep in your own heart, What's the use of churning out so many words?”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Zen Poetics of Ryokan" in Simply Haiku: A Quarterly Journal of Japanese Short Form Poetry (Summer 2006)
“The winds gives me Enough fallen leaves To make a fire”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This world A fading Mountain echo Void and Unreal”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you encounter those who are wicked, unrighteous, foolish, dim-witted, deformed, vicious, chronically ill, lonely, unfortunate, or disabled, you should think: “How can I save them?” And even if there is nothing you can do, at least you must not indulge in feelings of arrogance, superiority, derision, scorn, or abhorrence, but should immediately manifest sympathy and compassion. If you fail to do so, you should feel ashamed and deeply reproach yourself: “How far I have strayed from the Way! How can I betray the old sages? I take these words as an admonition to myself.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The water of the valley stream Never shouts at the tainted world: “Purify yourself!” But naturally, as it is, Shows how it is done.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have nothing to report, my friends. If you want to find the meaning, Stop chasing after so many things.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Why do you so earnestly seek the truth in distant places? Look for delusion and truth in the bottom of your own hearts.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The village has disappeared in the evening mist And the path is hard to follow. Walking through the pines, I return to my lonely hut.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The rain has stopped, the clouds have drifted away, and the weather is clear again. If your heart is pure, then all things in your world are pure. Abandon this fleeting world, abandon yourself, Then the moon and flowers will guide you along the Way.”
Ryōkan (1758–1831) said by 1831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source