Water amid Fire and Fire Amid Water

Blue ice of ten thousand years contains fire
that can burn grasses and trees.
How can you see this principle with the eyes of ignorance?
Burning fire also contains coldness.
Though this principle is said to be very subtle,
it is not unusual once you know it.

As, after thunder and lightning,
we can't catch them.
so it is like a dream.
Who else is to blame when you don't know it yourself?

Ancient masters said,
"How ridiculous it is that you are looking for the ox
while you are riding it!"

Deceived by false forms,
you turned your back on true self.
Once water has been found amid fire all of a sudden,
all the universe is full of water.
Once fire has been found amid water,
it is deep and deep.
Though this news is announced
by blowing a golden trumpet without its body,
the deaf parrot only blinks its eyes.

When a ray of light, cutting through clouds of five colors,
makes a circle in the sky,
it is revealing itself over the earth.

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