Friday Night Poetry Slam

THEME: selected verses of Layman Pang, verse 3

I have been appreciating the verses of Layman Pang that are translated by Ruth Fuller Sasaki, Yoshita Iriya, and Dana Fraser in "A Man of Zen: The Recorded Sayings of Layman Pang", so for the next several weeks, I intend to share a verse from the Layman and respond with a verse of my own.

Share your zen poetry below. The theme is merely a suggestion.

Layman P'ang's Verse

White-robed, I don't adhere to appearances

The true principle arises from Emptiness.

Because my mind's without obstruction

Wisdom goes forth to all directions.

I only consider the lion's roar--

I don't let wild jackals yap!

Bodhi is said to be most marvelous,

But I scold it for being a false name.

...

Jungle_Toad's verse

Deep within and all around

Everywhere is just as such

There's not a form, there's not a sound

Not a flavor, nor a textured touch

Inhaling: not abiding within,

Exhaling: not getting involved without,

Shakya's Lion roars through time again

The reverberation heard in another's shout.

Moving forward in reverse;

Stillness held in motion

Waves fold in and then disperse,

The rivers return to the ocean

Submitted June 25, 2022 at 12:30AM by jungle_toad https://ift.tt/gSLpsYP