Tag: Ryokan

  • Poem – To Zen Master Ryokan

    The great fool’s voice echos through empty hallways and into the grand chamber where the king sits in disobedience listening with half a heart while the other disappears into darkness.

  • Poetry Month – Poems by Ryokan

    Selections 4 and 5 for National Poetry Month. These two poems of Zen Master Ryokan are from Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf, Zen Poems of Ryokan, translated by John Stevens. Untitled If someone asks My abode I reply: “The east edge of The Milky Way.” Like a drifting cloud, Bound by nothing: I just let…

  • Poem by Zen Master Ryokan

    Another year lingers to an end; Heaven sends a bitter frost. Fallen leaves cover the mountains And there are no travelers to cast shadows on the path. Endless night: dried leaves burn slowly on the hearth. Occasionally, the sound of freezing rain. Dizzy, I try to recall the past – Nothing here but dreams. ~…

  • 2013 Poetry Month #9 – One Robe, One Bowl

    Today’s poems are from the collection “One Robe, One Bowl – The Zen Poetry of Ryokan”, published in 1997 by Weatherhill. I have posted and written about Zen Master Ryokan, born around 1758 in Japan, a few times on this blog, and want to continue sharing his writing and wisdom. His work cuts through any…

  • Senzing Zen

    This blog will officially move to its new domain in a few days.  The logo has been updated along with the header image.  The website, www.senzingzen.com has the following meaning: The sensing and feeling of the energy and dynamism of Zen. In my recent studies of various philosophies and schools of thought, I keep coming…

  • Reading and writing

    To help with my writing funk, I’ve been reading a lot more than usual.  And that advice is always given to writers: read more.  Read different genres or subjects than what you are writing about.  This helps to expand your mental awareness and give a larger pool of ideas and images to the mind and…

  • On Writing Poetry

    I’ve spent most of the weekend reading a book titled “Sky Above, Great Wind”, the life and poetry of Zen Master Ryokan.  Out of the zen masters I have read, I am finding his teaching to be uncluttered, using only the words that are needed to show the path.  His poetry is sparse, honest, self-depracating,…