A Lucky Strike
Hsiang-yen attained immortal fame
when he, briskly sweeping the courtyard,
send a small pebble flying. As luck would
have it, the pebble stroke a bamboo, and the
sound shattered Hsiang’s delusions.
when he, briskly sweeping the courtyard,
send a small pebble flying. As luck would
have it, the pebble stroke a bamboo, and the
sound shattered Hsiang’s delusions.
To celebrate his enlightenment he
composed this poem:
One sound, and I forgot all I knew.
I don’t need to fast anymore
All my actions support the way
I do not worry about dignity
I move as I please
I need not abstain
All who attained
moved this way
I leave no trace.
ps. What did he mean by leaving
no trace? Obviously, he left a trace
in Zen history. He meant no trace
for himself to later re-track.
Author: Pete
