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Sacred Poetry from Around the World

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Buddhist : Zen / Chan

Taoist

6th Century

China
(East Asia)

Seng-Ts'an

Timeline (520? - 606?)

Poems by Seng-Ts'an
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Seng-ts'an lived in the late sixth century. He was the third patriarch of the early Chan (Zen) lineage in China.

Several legendary teaching stories about the life of Seng-ts'an have come down to us.

One traditional tale says that Seng-ts'an had leprosy when he met his teacher, Hui-k'o. Hui-k'o dismissed Seng-ts'an with the words, "You're suffering from leprosy. What could you want from me?" Seng-ts'an is supposed to have replied, "Even if my body is sick, the heart-mind of a sick person is no different from you heart-mind." Impressed by this response, Hui-k'o accepted Seng-ts'an as his disciple, and later named him his spiritual successor.

Another story relates how Seng-ts'an asked Hui-k'o to purify him of his sins. Hui-k'o told Seng-ts'an, "Bring me your sins, and I will purify you." Seng-ts'an studied himself for a while before answering, "I have searched for my sins, but I can't find them anywhere," to which Hui-k'o replied, "Then I have purified you." Hearing this, Seng-ts'an's awareness opened in enlightenment.

Seng-ts'an's great poem (translated here as "The Mind of Absolute Trust," more commonly called "Verses on the Faith-Mind" or "Hsin-Hsin Ming") is an early example of the cross-inspiration of Chan Buddhism and Taoism.

Poems by Seng-Ts'an

The Mind of Absolute Trust

Recommended Books

	The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell Amazon.com
	Hsin-Hsin Ming: Verses on the Faith-Mind, by Richard B. Clark Amazon.com
	Teachings of the Buddha, by Jack Kornfield Amazon.com
	The Way: According to Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, and Seng Tsan, by Gerald Schoenewolf Amazon.com

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Seng-Ts'an

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Support
the Poetry Chaikhana