Friday, October 22, 2010

Ryokan

I found a great deal at our local Goodwill store. A book of poems by the Zen Hermit, Ryokan for 49 cents. He was born in 1758 and passed away in 1853.  I've always loved his poetry...here is a sample.

"At the main crossroads, playing Hotei,
coming and going with my bowl. How many years have passed?
Pretending again I do not know where I am going;
A fresh wind blows and the bright moon covers the autumn sky."

(Hotei is the fat Buddha who carries a sack and passes out gifts)
Hands palm to palm,
Shinzen

7 comments:

  1. I was just on my way out to the local second hand bookstore when I decided to have a quick check of the blogs. I hope I find a gem like this.

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  2. Failed. Or not. But the book shop was bare.

    I ended up walking by the water instead. Perhaps this was better.

    I'll try the book shop again this week and find a book, water permitting.

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  3. That's a lucky find! That's why, you can never go wrong with a trip to the thrift bookstore.

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  4. Wow, you guys do this as well...

    ..I love the old second hand book shops and the even the charity book shops have some real gems in store. I visit my local stores every week. A very nice post Shinzen...

    ...did you find your gem Ta Wan?

    :-)

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  5. We are all book junkies as well...whodathunk?

    I'm off to Madison, WI this weekend to visit my daughter at college...and to visit 1/2 price book stores!

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  6. Ta Wan...the joy of finding a great book and deal is not finding them all the time, right?

    Thanks Brian and Doug...I've been slow at blogging lately...life is happening.

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