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小塘　　
永覺 元賢禪師 (1578-1657)

窗前閑半畝，開做小方塘。

雲過暫留影，月來時有光。

灌花借春色，洗硯流墨香。

唯有塘中水，澹然卻自忘。

“Small Pond”

Window front has a half acre of land there unused.
Dug it out and a square water pond was made.

Temporary shadows of moving clouds visited.
Moonlight shines whenever moon appears.

Plants were watered for cultivating the beauty lent by spring blossom,
Ink fragrant spreaded out after ink slab was washed with pond water.

There just be the water in pond,
I almost forgot it, from my peaceful and tranquil mind.

————-Ancient Chinese Zen poem
by a Famous Zen master Yung-Chuie Yuen-Xien (1578-1657) —————

Zen Poem Study:

The first 2 paragraphs use 10 Chinese words to describe
the pond location, size and its independent arisen cause.
The land left unused there, so he makes good use of it in a
natural way.

The 3rd and 4th paragraphs describe what happens in pond.
Clouds are the visitor in the daytime. Moonlight is the invited 
guest in the night. There are so many beautiful changes on the
surface of water pond from daylight to dark in a day. However
there is no attachment to the nature of water itself.

The 5th and 6th paragraphs:
The author’s life is very easy and free. He starts using the pond
water to cultivate his own garden, meantime he takes the
advantage in observing how the upcoming seasonal beauty of
spring blossom will bring to him. He practiced the same way for
his spiritual liberation as how he follows the law of natural world
for his gardening. He cultivates in an easy natural way and he
deserves a good harvest at the end.

He uses Chinese brush pens for writing his poems. Chinese
calligraphic writing needs ink stick and ink slab. Ink slab has to be
maintained and cleaned from time to time. He uses the pond water
to wash it. There is Ink fragrant spreads off when he washes it.
 

Reflection from this Zen poem:

The author lives himself into the natural world. He carefully
observes what is happening around him and senses it by his
bodily organs. He also writes and puts his hands-on for the
gardening works as part of his practicing life.

He practices with his full-mindfulness and always remains
awakening for his doing. A simple small water pond brought
him a joyful life. Although clouds come and go, moonlight comes
and goes. It changes the reflection from daylight to dark on the
water, but the water in pond is till the water and has not change
the character. It can also be utilized for gardening and for washing
other things. Here in this poem, the author conveys his message
that for a Zen practitioner 
whose mind shall always remains calm and tranquil just like this
water pond no matter what he does. In fact, the small pond water
in this poem represents the mind state of author through Zen practice.