Peach Blossoms (MK37)
KOAN:
a. (Entangling Vines, Case 8) Lingyun was wandering in the mountains and became lost in his walking. He rounded a bend and saw peach blossoms on the other side of the valley. This sight awakened him and he wrote this poem:
For thirty years I sought a sword master.
How many times have leaves fallen
and new buds appeared?
But from the moment I saw the peach blossoms,
I’ve had no doubts.
b. (Transmission of Light, Case 12) Later, Keizan, the Japanese teacher wrote:
The village peach blossoms didn’t know
their own pink
but still they freed Lingyun
from all his doubts.
– PZI Miscellaneous Koans, Case 37
Misc
December 17, 2017
Tree of Life
Allison Atwill, “Tree of Life,” 2008. Acrylic on birch panel with copper leaf, 30″ x 60″.