Three Pines and a Buddha - Part 5

The Jina Buddha of Infinite Light (Amitabha) in His Pure Land Paradise (Sukhavati)

The Jina Buddha of Infinite Light (Amitabha) in His Pure Land Paradise (Sukhavati)
Western Tibet, Guge, 15th century - LACMA Collections

Authored by A. S. Kline © Copyright 1999 All Rights Reserved.

This work may be freely reproduced, stored and transmitted, electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose. Conditions and Exceptions apply.


301.

Something there

in the mind

that dances

with light

and flames.

302.

Over the wet grass

and paving stones -

one tiny frog.

303.

In the bath

of flame

the marriage

of spirits.

304.

Behind

the slatted blinds

a love

which is

long patience.

305.

The deep colour

of the paper

on which

the mind writes -

startled me.

306.

The bull's dark blood

stains the floor

of the arena -

the lances

lie across him.

307.

Beauty is the opposite

of transience.

Form is the enemy

of time.

308.

Love is

the tenderness

and transience

of the rose.

309.

Never to stop

the current

of feeling -

beats

that old Buddha

hollow.

310.

So fierce

this feeling

for what will pass.

311.

Eyes close

the flower opens.

Fragrance

and plum-blossom

mingle.

312.

A feeling

emerges -

and becomes

the rose.

313.

From front to back

of the sea -

this moon

and its power.

314.

Which way

back

among

the white clouds ?

315.

These carnations

dipped

in deep colours

of dried paper.

316.

Passing on

the message -

bowed leaves

of bamboo.

317.

What remains

for the eye -

the form

when the feelings

have separated.

318.

Having been

so close -

ten feet apart

infinite space.

319.

So many tracks -

the hidden world

has danced

on this new snow.

320.

All these colours

faded -

more beautiful

than the original.

321.

The sound

of birds

agitated

by the spring.

322.

The lark -

one pillar

of crystal

that falls

through the ear.

323.

Saw for the first time on the morning sky's

full moon -

the hare

under the cassia tree.

324.

An edge of feeling

is needed

to feel the edge

of this world.

325.

How could we see

the whole world's beauty

when one moment

overwhelms us ?

326.

Passion sits

on the chest

of a blind man.

327.

Yellow sea-poppies.

Red poppies

of the cornfield.

White heads of death.

328.

Bathed with love

the child

confuses

light with gold.

329.

Instead of that -

let the present

pity the future.

330.

All that time -

only the faint stir

of the winds of spring.

331.

Open window -

on always-green water

always-blue mountain

the ever-loving heart.

332.

Under a layer

of frost

a fall

of snow

and flowers.

333.

Water

on the pear-blossom

forms drops

then falls.

334.

White powder

white fragrance

in this dawn

of the dying moon.

335.

In beauty's

uncertainty -

its exquisite

confirmation.

336.

On her new

scarlet jacket

calligraphy

of gold.

337.

Under the kingfisher covers'

silver embroidery

feeling

the chill of dawn.

338.

Not too much -

life's sadness.

Not too much -

knowledge of things.

339.

Stone cinnamon

water magnolia

the mind on fire

at the other end

of the sky.

340.

Light on the water

touches

light in the sky.

Endlessly drifting

the abandoned heart.

341.

In the corner

of the garden -

hot wall's glare

humility of shadow.

342.

At twilight -

no form

only colours.

343.

Looking for

nothing

finding

everything.

344.

Wandering

in the night sky

among a million

dreaming stars.

345.

Fabulous red

legendary purple

in the forest

of the golden moon.

346.

The description

of colour

is the experience

of time.

347.

Held back

the balance

that is almost

escape -

water drop

on lotus leaf.

348.

The god

of the northern forest

who does not understand

humanity.

349.

The burning

in me

the burning

in you. 0

jewel in the lotus.

350.

In the fog

a swollen sun

and silver leaves.

351.

Eyes that weep

where

sweet mouths meet.

352.

Weeping blood

weeping darkness

the fragility

of meeting.

353.

Compassion's

tangled threads

like the delicate

offerings of seaweed.

354.

Your mind

moves

with the rhythm

of the moon.

355.

The golden fish

swims up to feed

from the emperor's hand

out of dark water.

356.

What does it say ?

On the ancient seal

untranslated

writing.

357.

Out of excess suffering

the altar of Kwannon

the gate of ashes

perfume

and the phoenix.

358.

The tensions

of red and black -

the meeting

of blood and darkness.

359.

The strange

golden breath

of unalloyed

joy.

360.

Inside

all which melts -

all which becomes

new form.

361.

What is held

inside

emerges

as a golden thread.

362.

On the midnight wall

our lives

expressed

in pictograms.

363.

The posterity

of the peony

is also expressed

in petals.

364.

Then in us

emerged

the madness

of the colours.

365.

In spring rain

the pine

is still drinking.