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P'u-t'o Temple by Yuan Mei (1716 - 1798) Timeline English version by J. P. Seaton Original Language Chinese Buddhist : Zen / Chan Taoist 18th Century A temple, hidden, treasured                     in the mountain's cleft Pines, bamboo                such a subtle flavor: The ancient Buddha sits there, wordless The welling source speaks for him.     -- from A Drifting Boat: Chinese Zen Poetry, Edited by J. P. Seaton / Edited by Dennis Maloney Amazon.com   / Photo by nurpax /	Recommended Books Censored by Confucius: Ghost Stories of Yuan Mei, Edited by Kam Louie A Drifting Boat: Chinese Zen Poetry, Edited by J. P. Seaton / Edited by Dennis Maloney I Don't Bow to Buddhas: Selected Poems of Yuan Mei, Translated by J. P. Seaton The Poetry of Zen: (Shambhala Library), Edited by Sam Hamill / Edited by J. P. Seaton Yuan Mei: Eighteenth Century Chinese Poet, by Arthur Waley
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

This poem feels like a brush painting. A few simple strokes suggest the scene: A temple. A mountain's cleft. Pines, bamboo. A Buddha.

That's all we need to be brought, with the Buddha, to wordlessness and the "welling source." Mm.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2010 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.