---

Korean Zen Poems by Ko Un

THE HERMIT
Jang Ku-Song the hermit was busy shitting when he heard frogs croaking. It made him recite

The croaking of frogs on moonlit nights in early spring pierces the world from end to end, makes us all one family.

Look, if you've had your shit, wipe yourself and get out of here


THE LOTUS SUTRA
The Lotus Sutra. Ultimate reality. So far you've been bashing me badly. Now I'll cudgel you, bastard. Oh! Ouch! Take that too. Oh! Ouch! Oh! Ouch!

The Lotus Sutra dashed away. Fields open wide, once the farmers have gone.


A SMILE
Shakyamuni held up a lotus so Kashyapa smiled. Not at all. The lotus smiled so Kashyapa smiled.

Nowhere was Shakyamuni!


WHY KILL?
Let be. Please, let be. Kill Buddha if you meet him? Kill mother and father if you meet them? Why kill? Things made of clay all fall to bits once soaked by monsoon rains.


ANANDA
Even Shakyamuni could never tame Ananda but Kashyapa kicked him out and tamed him. Throw away all you know. Throw away all you don't know. Then and only then one star shines bright.


A SHOOTING STAR
Wow! You recognized me.


These are all from: 'Beyond Self: 108 Korean Zen Poems'by Ko Un