And being envious of others in their supreme achievements,
Wastes the mind night and day in efforts to exceed,
From Songs of Ryokan, Chinese Poems #103
Contemplation – Five
Contemplation – Four
Whereas a foolish person holds willfully to facts and details,
To drown in subtle differences of words and lines,
From Songs of Ryokan, Chinese Poems #103
Contemplation – Three
A wise person learns the mystery of existence in a flash
And climbs in a leap beyond the world of hollow phenomena,
From Songs of Ryokan, Chinese Poems #103
Contemplation – Two
Had we wisdom deep enough to know ourselves, single-handed,
No benefits would result from the works of ancient saints.
From Songs of Ryokan, Chinese Poems #103
Contemplations – One
Ancient sages left their works behind, not to let us know
About themselves, but to help us understand our own stamp.
From Songs of Ryokan, Chinese Poems #103