If You Could Strip the Air of Its Skin

Ha!

Do you know this principle?

If you could strip the air its skin,
how couldn't you know it?
If the air is holding the flying bird,
what is the air?

If it is I that see without seeing,
how can the air see me?
If the air sees like this and everything is clear,
in order to reveal the bone of the air,
you have to see your true self.

The air that sees without seeing!
If you unlock my shackles,
I can strip you of your skin,
otherwise,
you can neither take off nor see your skin.

How can you take off the skin?

If you reveal the true shape of the air
by letting the flying bird break the air,
your shape will reveal itself of itself.

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

Monthly Magazine SEOUL(July 2009)