When Will Spring Come in My Mind?

In the dizziness of endless change
Is a thing which has never changed.
Only because of our ignorance,
We can't see it.
Why?

It is because time of cause and effect is not ripe enough.
We must pay all attention to the very thing
That never changes in the endless change and find out
What it is.
We ourselves can see the very thing
That never dies even though we die
And never changes even while we are alive.
What a big blessing it is
If we can see the form that never moves at all!

It neither burns in the roaring flame,
Nor changes in cold ice.
What on earth is the very thing?

However hard I may strike the empty space with my fist,
There is no trace left in the space.
Only my mind gets disturbed.

With spring coming,
Young leaves are budding out and flowers are blooming.
When will spring come in my mind?

If you find out the true form of an enlightened zen master in a flash,
You will realize at long last that everything in the world is illusion.

 

Written by Master Subul Sunim of Ahnkook Zen Center
Translated by Boo Ahm (Song Soo-kyong)

Monthly Magazine SEOUL(February 2008)