One Thought, a Mortal Life · Stubborn and Foolish by Nature · 33 / 102
· Asking the Way
Seeking the Way in the Realm of the Three Pure Ones, I cross the to of shimmering light. The evening drums intone; from the broad cliff a flying spring pours down.
I wait for the cloud-wrapped peaks to open again, aglow with rose-colored cloud, to ferry the true scripture across and offer up the three treasures. Only famed traces remain; so I ask after the Law, and wear myself away chasing light and shadow.
Glosses—
Realm of the Three Pure Ones: the highest place in the heavens;
Shimmering light: a glittering radiance;
Cloud-wrapped peaks (yún xiù): ridges wound about with cloud and mist;
Three treasures: the three treasures first appear in Laozi's Daodejing: "I have three treasures, which I hold and keep. The first is compassion; the second is frugality; the third is not daring to be first in the world. Being compassionate, one can therefore be brave. Being frugal, one can therefore be ample. Not daring to be first in the world, one can therefore become the chief of all vessels."
*This work is original. If you repost it, please credit the original author Shixi Lin; any infringement, once discovered, will be pursued to the full extent of the law. In addition, the accompanying image comes from the internet and belongs to the original artist FanMing.