Empty Shadow

How long it is since I jumped into weeds of thoughts
with a knife of doubt between my teeth!
Surprised at the sight of a dashing devil, I sprang up.
Oh, I was deceived by an empty shadow.
Why didn't I know sooner that delusions and right thoughts have the same origin?
Puting down a thought,
How comfortable I am!
The songs of the birds in the woods
sound closer, more beautiful and more vibrant than usual today.
How many years I have been deceived by empty shadows
not realizing this good time!
Once I've been freed from the net of karma of this kalpa,
everything looks new and different.
North, south, east and west and the sky and the earth!
None of them are different from the origin.

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

Monthly Magazine SEOUL(June 2009)