Call me by my true names by Thich Nhat Hanh

[samvara]

Zen poetry which gave me much joy.

Zen Corners
There is only one zen center,
but there may be many zen corners.

Never mind.
A corner is a center,
and a center is not other than a corner.

Everywhere we chant "Form is emptiness.
Form is not other than emptiness."

Froglessness
The first fruition of the practice
is the attainment of froglessness.

When a frog is put
on the center of a plate,
she will jump out of the plate
after just a few seconds.

If you put the frog back again
on the center of the plate,
she will again jump out.

You have so many plans.
There is something you want to become.
Therefore you always want to make a leap,
a leap forward.

It is difficult
to keep the frog still
on the center of the plate.
You and I
both have Buddha Nature is us.
This is encouraging,
but you and I
both have Frog Nature is us.

That is why
the first attainment
of the practice -
froglessness is its name.

Comments

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

*jumps off the plate*