Thursday, 21 July 2022

Basho’s Staff

Case 44 Basho's Staff

Basho said to his disciple: "When you have a staff, I will give it to you. If you have no staff, I will take it away from you."

Mumon's comment: When there is no bridge over the creek the staff will help me. When I return home on a moonless night the staff will accompany me. But if you call this a staff, you will enter hell like an arrow.

With this staff in my hand

I can measure the depths and shallows of the world.

The staff supports the heavens and makes firm the earth.

Everywhere it goes the true teaching will be spread.

—-

Basho’s verse:

was it a warbler

poop on the rice cake

near the veranda’s edge



Submitted July 22, 2022 at 10:50AM by aggrolite https://ift.tt/478bh91

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