In this poem, Liu talks about an experience studying Buddhism with the Masters at an academy. He’s coming from a Confucian background and contrasting this background with Buddhist teachings. In verses 4-8 in particular, he sarcastically contrasts people blindly following Buddhist rituals and pursuing meaningless things without understanding the true essence, the wisdom of the sages. In this, he’s implicitly supporting Confucian philosophy. Despite this criticism of the way the masses practice Buddhism, he seems to genuinely appreciate the essence of Buddhism and feels enlightenment in the end.
My Translation
By Liu Zongyuan (773-819) | 柳宗元 |
Morning Visit to Master Chao: Reading Buddhist Classics at the Academy | 晨詣超師 院讀禪經 |
Drawing from the well, I rinse and gargle while my teeth feel cold | 汲井 漱 寒齒 |
Thus clearing the heart, I brush the dust from off my clothes. | 清心 拂塵服 |
Leisurely holding a Buddhist scripture | 閒持 貝葉書 |
I walk to the eastern room and read | 步出 東齋 讀 |
~~ | |
True essence is understood, not seized: | 真源 了 無取 |
Forgotten tracks to what the world pursues. | 忘跡 世所逐 |
Wisdom of the sages, hope in darkness: | 遺言 冀可冥 |
For nature, character, merely follow familiar ways. | 繕性 何由熟 |
~~ | |
The Masters a courtyard a quiet room | 道人 庭 宇靜 |
The color of moss joining deep bamboo | 苔色 連深竹 |
The sun rising through fog, the morning dew | 日出 霧 露餘 |
Green pines like ointments in a bath | 青松 如膏沐 |
Tranquil, placid without words | 澹然 離言說 |
Happy, enlightened, my heart’s satisfaction | 悟悅 心自足 |
Notes:
1. 1st /2nd verse, Liu used the well water to gargle in order to clear his mind.
2. 3rd verse, ancient Indians wrote Sutra on Borassus tree leaves. Thus, ancient Chinese also call Sutra Borassus trees after the leaves they were written on.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
柳宗元 | 柳宗元 | Liǔ zōng yuán |
晨詣超師 院讀禪經 | 晨诣超师 院读禅经 | Chen yì chāo shī yuàn dú chán jīng |
汲井漱寒齒， | 汲井漱寒齿， | Jí jǐng shù hán chǐ, |
清心拂塵服， | 清心拂尘服 | Qīng xīn fú chén fú |
閒持貝葉書， | 闲持贝叶书， | Xián chí bèi yè shū, |
步出東齋讀。 | 步出东斋读。 | Bù chū dōng zhāi dú. |
真源了無取， | 真源了无取， | Zhēn yuán liǎo wú qǔ, |
忘跡世所逐； | 忘迹世所逐; | Wàng jī shì suǒ zhú; |
遺言冀可冥， | 遗言冀可冥， | Yí yán jì kě míng, |
繕性何由熟？ | 缮性何由熟？ | Shàn xìng hé yóu shú? |
道人庭宇靜， | 道人庭宇静， | Dào rén tíng yǔ jìng, |
苔色連深竹； | 苔色连深竹; | Tái sè lián shēn zhú; |
日出霧露餘， | 日出雾露余， | Rì chū wù lù yú, |
青松如膏沐。 | 青松如膏沐。 | Qīng sōng rú gāo mù. |
澹然離言說， | 澹然离言说， | Dàn rán lí yán shuō, |
悟悅心自足。 | 悟悦心自足。 | Wù yuè xīn zì zú. |
Literal Notes
柳宗元 | Willow Ancestor Primary=[Liu Zongyuan(773-819) |
晨詣超師院讀禪經 | Morning visit-a-superior super teacher/master academy read Zen/Buddhism-meditation sacred-books/classics |
[super teacher/master= a master named Chao] | |
汲井漱寒齒， | Draw-water well rinse-mouth/gargle cold teeth [Draw-water well=draw water from the well] |
清心拂塵服， | Clean/clear heart brush-away dust clothes |
閒持貝葉書， | Leisure hold cowry leaf book [cowry leaf book= sutra, Buddhist scripture] |
步出東齋讀。 | Step/walk out east study-room/building read |
真源了無取， | Genuine source understand-clearly no fetch |
忘跡世所逐； | Forget/unfounded trace/way world actually chase/pursue |
遺言冀可冥， | Leave-behind words hope can dark/dim [Leave-behind words= last words before dying] [dark/dim = here means agreeing without prior consultation] |
繕性何由熟？ | Mend/rewrite personality why/how follow/from familiar [Mend/rewrite personality= nature, disposition] |
道人庭宇靜， | Tao people garden/courtyard room quiet/tranquil [Tao people = refer to Master Chao] |
苔色連深竹； | Moss color connect/join deep-color bamboo |
日出雾露余， | Sun out fog/mist dew remain/residue |
青松如膏沐。 | Green pine as/as-if ointment/paste bathe |
澹然离言说， | Tranquil/placid like-this away-from words tell [Tranquil/placid like-this = in a tranquil way] |
悟悦心自足。 | Comprehend happy/pleasure heart self sufficient [Comprehend happy/pleasure = pleasure from comprehending the Classics] [self sufficient= self-satisfied] |
Year:
2012
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