Taigu's Bulls

[Myozan Kodo]

Two bulls drinking at a stream.
One a reflection of the other.
But which one?

[Taigu]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

Myozan's bulls:

Two bulls drinking
could they both be reflections
of the very stream?

No drinking, no bull
not even a stream
where are you then?

:wink:

T.

[Jundo]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

Sounds like a bunch of bull to me. :wink:

[Gregor]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

A Zen Priest poetry slam ... This is a first.

[Taigu]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

An old tradition, Gregor...conversing in poems has always been a way to bypass the limitations of the dualistic mind, a way to dance, just leaving birds feet prints in the snow. Nothing much. Actually bullshit. . i also call it junk on my blog. But much better that the would be this and that, i think this and it wouldnt be better like that that you find eveywhere.

There is something I cannot teach.

The way of birds, waters, rain and stuff.


Feel welcome.

Gassho


T.

[alan.r]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

These are wonderful. Thank you Myozan and Taigu. Here is a little addition.


No bulls, no stream, no reflections.
Where am I?
Beside the steady breathing
Of my wife’s sleep.



Gassho,
alan

[Graceleejenkins]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

These are wonderful. Thank you Myozan and Taigu. Here is a little addition.


No bulls, no stream, no reflections.
Where am I?
Beside the steady breathing
Of my wife’s sleep.



Gassho,
alan

Alan, you might enjoy the Haiku Chain thread. Gassho, Grace.

[Myozan Kodo]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

Great responses!

The bull enters the stream:
They are one!
Tokudo in a room or online:
Different permutations, same sum.

Time this monk versifying quit.
My great awakening?
That I'm full of shit.


:wink:

[Kyonin]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

Beautiful, beautiful thread.

I will sit on that.

Thank you.

[Shokai]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

Choco;

May be a language thing but, don't sit on it; sit with it :lol:

And Myozan; not full, just down a quart. :lol:

[disastermouse]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

I was never able to talk about bulls and streams. Even coming from the country, bulls were not a regular part of my life. Neither are lotus blossoms or chopsticks or mystic mountains.

I think it all started simple with teachers referencing what was at hand. We could be talking about one's hand on a PS3 controller or motorcycle handlebars. We could talk about vodka mixing with water...

Not as poetic, but with a lot less embellishment or reversions to old forms that can make what is really quite mundane seem 'special' in an artificial way.

What is more direct and immediate than reality? Why not use what is most direct and immediate to illustrate it?

My half a nickel,

Chet

[alan.r]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

I was never able to talk about bulls and streams. Even coming from the country, bulls were not a regular part of my life. Neither are lotus blossoms or chopsticks or mystic mountains.

I think it all started simple with teachers referencing what was at hand. We could be talking about one's hand on a PS3 controller or motorcycle handlebars. We could talk about vodka mixing with water...

Not as poetic, but with a lot less embellishment or reversions to old forms that can make what is really quite mundane seem 'special' in an artificial way.

What is more direct and immediate than reality? Why not use what is most direct and immediate to illustrate it?

My half a nickel,

Chet

In the morning sun
empty bottles on the windowsill.
My hair still smells like smoke.

*

The dog running in his sleep,
a dusty controller not touched in years.
Another spring day.



Here are the things that go in poem, here are the things that don't? Here are the things that are real, here are the things that aren't?

A poem is its own reality; it just also happens to point.

[Taigu]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

Quite true Chet and yet the bull here has a good old significance as well...I often use modern words in my f..... .. poetry. Which I have boiled down to the simpliest form. Used to write novels, essays, philosophy, very long forms.
But your suggestion is good and welcome.

gassho


Taigu

[disastermouse]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

Quite true Chet and yet the bull here has a good old significance as well...I often use modern words in my f..... .. poetry. Which I have boiled down to the simpliest form. Used to write novels, essays, philosophy, very long forms.
But your suggestion is good and welcome.

gassho


Taigu

We're you referencing the Ox Herder?

Chet

(I think I need to work on making my comments sound less critical. Often times I make it sound like my preference is 'the way'. I have no problem understanding the old poems and stories about lotuses and other common things of the time and I understand the stylistic choice. I'll try to make an attempt to reflect that it's preference.)

[Taigu]

Re: Taigu's Bulls

Indeed, Chet and some other stuff. First, Myozan's poem is inspired by my quote of an old Koan describing two bulls entering a river and vanishing, obviously a vivid description of how the pair of opposites cannot but collapse into each other. Second, the sound of awakening is often described as being like the spontaneous, gut-like, sound of a cow, or a bull. Because the bull, wild ox, water buffalo or cow represent the original nature, raw and empty. Third, the famous Koan of the Gateless gate comes to mind, case 38 of a great cow or bull passing through a window and the tail not making it...

gassho

Taigu