Zen Buddhism and Martial Arts
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Author of this poem:
Zen Master Hsu Yun
HEARING THE BELL AT GE JIANG SHAN TEMPLE - BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE MOUNTAINS
Heaven turns so slowly and gently, it tolerates my age.
Without mercy, days and months advance to cut off my time.
I return to my cave in the mountain, but the trees are all gone.
I look down on the river and all I see are meandering curves.
The sun is captured in a cage of delicate clouds.
I listen to the wind.
Suddenly I hear the Temple Bell!
The sound comes washing over me,
Waking me from the dusty labor of my thoughts.
And distant heaven opens wider and wider to me.
