November 18^th, 2024

Song of T’aego Hermitage

I’ve lived in this hermitage
How long I don’t know
Deep and secret and
Without obstructions
Heaven and earth meet
Like box and cover.

There’s no turning toward
Or turning away.
I do not stay in the east, west,
South or north
The jewel tower and the jade palace
Do not stand opposite me.

I do not take guidelines from
Bodhidharma as a model
As the light shines freely through
Eighty four thousand gates.