A Zen Phrase by Pang Yun (I)
龐蘊 禪句 (一)
80 X 35 cm in Cursive Script (草書)
Translation
English Translation
Original Chinese
A yellow leaf withered away with the wind and turned into dust,
黃葉飄零化作塵,
Fundamentally not of delusion nor concreteness.
本來非妄亦非真.
(Translated by KS Vincent POON, Oct. 1, 2022)
Background information
This Zen phrase was composed by Pang Yun (龐蘊, approx. 740-808 AD)(1), a renowned Lay Buddhist (Layman/Householder, 居士) of the Tang Dynasty. Despite his affluence (2), he often reflected on his life and befriended Monk Danxia Tianran (丹霞天然禪師, 3). He also sought tutelage from other Zen Masters such as Monk Shitou Xiqian (石頭希遷禪師, 4) as well as the revered Monk Mazu Daoyi (馬祖道一禪師, 5). His poems and verses are documented in the book Quotations from Pang, a Lay Buddhist (《龐居士語錄》), which was compiled by the venerable Tang statesman Yu Di (于頔, ?-818 AD)(6).
_______________
(1)《龐居士語錄》Vol.3, compiled by 于頔. Taipei: 中華電子佛典協會(cbeta), https://cbetaonline.dila.edu.tw/zh/X69n1336_p0143a24.
(2) "(龐蘊)甞以舡載家珍數萬". See 《釋氏通鑑》Vol. 9, compiled by 本覺. Taipei: 中華電子佛典協會(cbeta), https://cbetaonline.dila.edu.tw/zh/X76n1516_p0104a04.
(3)《釋氏稽古略》Vol. 9, compiled by 覺岸. Taipei: 中華電子佛典協會(cbeta), https://cbetaonline.dila.edu.tw/zh/T49n2037_p0832a12.
(4) 超永, 《五燈全書》Vol. 6. Taipei: 中華電子佛典協會(cbeta), https://cbetaonline.dila.edu.tw/zh/X81n1571_p0463b22.
(5) Ibid..
Jump to: Buddhism
Jump to: Works in Cursive Script