(Lin Yutang's poems give me a sense of calmness and reminder of the essential points of dharma. Just to share some samples below...
you can find his website at: http://yogilin.net/
note that his poems are translated from chinese and may seem awkward in phrasing sometimes... pls ignore all the coloring... i had some trouble with cut-and-paste... enjoy! )
The Grace of Hindrances in the Light of Oneness
Yutang Lin
Encountering obstructions is a matter of daily life;
Hardship adding to suffering forces beings to seek emancipation.
Setback and depression reveals ones propensity and habits;
Suspicion, jealousy and slander are passes to conquer.
Steep mountains and rapid rivers enrich training and experiences;
Blocking in front and pulling in rear open together a sidewise path.
Purity permeates in harmony, sublimating poisons and dirt to naught,
Then the grace of hindrances in the light of Oneness is appreciated.
Written in Chinese: July 19, 1998
Comment added in Chinese later on July 25, 1998:
Upasaka Stanley Lam considered the content of this poem as being very helpful to the growth of practitioners, and asked me to write a short explanation to expound the hidden significance. Thereupon I wrote the epilog as follows:
In life it is indeed inevitable to come across tragic accidents or frustrating situations. All sorts of hardship and suffering keep on accumulating, thereby forcing people to seek out paths to liberation. This is the background that led to peoples engaging in spiritual practices. In the face of setback and long-term depression, various sinister habits and propensities in peoples mind would readily reveal themselves in thoughts, emotions, speeches and actions. A practitioner may thus become aware of his or her infirmity, and treat it through antidotal, mediate or sublimate ways. Human relationship are infested with suspicions, jealousy and slanders. A practitioner at such a juncture should not fall into the swamp of entanglement; instead, simply continue to follow the guidance of Bodhicitta in actively participating in Dharma practices and services, and then after having passed the test of months and years, all such difficulties would just fade away. Consider the various difficulties and hardships as trials on the path, then the more dangerous and steep the pass, the better it would enhance the practitioners ability to endure, adjust and sustain. When hindrance, interference and drag arise, a practitioner would not argue or fight with others, but choose to go on a new path and thereby experience deeper the vast openness of the whole Dharmadhatu.
After long years of practicing as described above, all the poisons and dirt of attachment, calculation, habitual propensities, sinister thoughts, greed and hatred in the practitioners mind would have faded away, and only pure innocence permeates. In this pure innocence there is no longer any entanglement or haggling with people over matters, only relaxation and tranquillity naturally prevail. Furthermore, to all the hardships, suffering and hindrance that one has ever encountered one is forever grateful because they have helped ones Bodhicitta to sprout, grow, be tried, and mature. After Bodhicitta has outgrown self-centered antagonism in this way, it unfolds without boundary to all sentient beings in the limitless time and space of the whole Dharmadhatu, and saturate the limitless-oneness which encompasses the whole Dharmadhatu.
Translated: August 14, 1999
El Cerrito, California
Respect Others' Wills
Yutang Lin
Others' wills should always be respected carefully;
Consequences of actions will be born individually.
Step after step involved and stirs up causal ripples;
What minds long for will lead and form the tracks.
Comment:
To practice non-self one should respect others' wills. When the significance of causal laws are fully comprehended, one sees clearly that no one can take over the consequences of others' actions, and hence one would not make decisions for others. Each step in the course of one's life involves many causal conditions; only firm resolutions could lead and shape paths.
Written in Chinese on March 16, 2003
Translated on March 20, 2003
El Cerrito, California
Should Work Harder
Yutang Lin
Deep sufferings and drastic calamities shot up frequently.
Wished to avert enraged waves and yet lacked the power.
At junctures of hardships one should not regress in distress.
A Bodhisattva's perseverance will be even more prominent!
Comment:
In view of the profoundness of sufferings and the frequency of calamities in the world, some practitioner would raise the thought of giving up or regress. In light of the great Bodhi mind, gatherings of sufferings should be the causal conditions for a Dharma practitioner to make even more strenuous efforts. Endless salvation is to guide beings from within transmigration to liberation from sufferings, but not to escape from the world for personal immunity.
Written in Chinese and translated on January 13, 2005
El Cerrito, California
Let Go Whenever Possible
Yutang Lin
Major or minor matters are all pulling strings and hanging hooks.
Let go of any when possible would increase degree of freedom.
Right in the middle of daily life, try to apply this awareness well,
Then even while juggling mundane affairs one could feel at ease.
Comment:
Be it major or minor, a matter would hang in the mind. Regardless of being loose or tight, a grasping would tie. Comprehending the nature of such facts, let go whenever possible. Thus freedom would increase, and moving around would be easy.
Written in Chinese and translated on March 7, 2006
El Cerrito, California
Minding Others' Business
Yutang Lin
Intending to mind others' business, one's grasping is deep indeed.
Whatever others do will be criticized, causing others resentments.
To practice Dharma one should learn to check on oneself at first:
Which among my intentions and behaviors is agreeable to Bodhi?
Comment:
Practicing Dharma is not for self-interests; rather it is for all beings to attain Bodhi. Criticizing others at their every move, not realizing that this reflects deep grasping of one's own. Benefiting others has not yet become apparent, and yet their feelings of loathsomeness have already been rooted. Why not cultivate oneself first by constantly striving to achieve concord with Bodhi? Paths of enlightenment are originally open and widespread; in the absence of intentions all match naturally.
Written in Chinese and translated on March 14, 2006
El Cerrito, California
As Seen from Buddha's Eyes
Yutang Lin
Human life is short and passes swiftly
One's path in life had better be chosen earlier
If it is known that all in the world become illusive just as eyes turn
And the taste of Dharma practices had slightly been savored
To know for certain that Dharma is solid
　　　　And in the long run could benefit sentient beings
Then one should renounce worldly considerations and tangles
Whole-heartedly and fully devoted to
　　　　Dharma practices and services of Dharma propagation
All are shaped as causal conditions dictate
Carelessly meddling, at times warm and at times cold
At most will result in temporary superficial changes
To what extent one is engaged, and to what degree one had contributed
Only then could correspondent harvests be expected
Karmic causes and consequences in Samsara recycle endlessly
To escape and transcend fate of a worldly being, 'tis easier said than done
As to self-liberation and also being capable of granting emancipation to all
　　　　That is truly more difficult than ascending to heavens
While entangled in worldly engagements, practicing only once in a long while
Who could believe that such practices will yield fruits of transcendence
Awake sooner, ordinary efforts are simply insufficient
Complete dedication is only the first step of genuine Dharma practices
Having devoted one's prime years to the enlightening path of Dharma
And still continuously propagate the teachings and pray for all beings
Even then, one can only sincerely remind you the above once in a while
As to solid renunciation of worldly engagements to practice Dharma
It still awaits your own choosing and putting it into action
Because only you are the dictator of your own life
Written in Chinese and translated on January 31, 2009
El Cerrito, California
Clearing the Mind
Yutang Lin
The other side of preferences is hindrances.
Barriers or blinds of mind are hard to clear.
Recognize the senselessness of self-torture;
Rely on constant practices to regain clarity.
Comments:
Usually individuals have preferences, and therefore couldn't help being pulled hither and thither. All sorts of prejudices and preferences form an all-encompassing net to snare and torment one inside; thus one could not even imagine the peace and harmony outside such nets. Through long-term Dharma practices one would gradually experience a state of mind that is free from worries. With such an experience as a point of reference for comparison, one would then find it easier to escape from previous routines of self-confined torture. In order to attain ultimate liberation it is necessary for one to be completely devoted to a life of Dharma practices and services. Only in the absence of second thoughts could thorough escape from suffering be realized.
Written in Chinese on November 24, 2002
Translated on November 26, 2002
El Cerrito, California
Practice without Aiming
Yutang Lin
In original purity lies Buddhahood, no need to seek for anything.
To escape from transmigration, one depends on diligent practice.
Dharma practices and daily life intertwined into one continuum,
Right at the moment of such practices all aspirations are absent.
Comment:
Things being originally pure, free from needs and wants. To attain emancipation, practice diligently toward attainment of enlightenment. Through long-term practices without indolence, Dharma fused into daily life. Then, at the juncture of activities, there is no aspiration or expectation.
Written in Chinese November 22, 2005
Translated on November 23, 2005
El Cerrito, California
Purification of Karma
Yutang Lin
Heavy karmas from the past are difficult to purify.
Viewed in light of Bodhi they could turn into stock.
No longer see them as good or bad, right or wrong.
Buddha sprouts grow out of application of manure.
Comments:
Buddhists often encountered many hindrances on the path to enlightenment because of their heavy karmas generated in the past. Especially those heavy clouds lingering in their minds that are beyond their ability to drive away, and beyond their strength to clear away through repentance. Nevertheless, if one could ardently aspire toward Great Bodhi, wishing to dedicate one's life toward Dharma practices so that all beings may attain enlightenment sooner, then it would be possible to purify past karmas quickly. Why is this so? When one who has developed Great Bodhi reflects over past karmas, such a person will no longer become trapped in distinctions and comparisons of good or bad, or right or wrong. Instead, all past karmas will be looked upon as experiences gained in the process of leading oneself toward enlightenment. Consequently, all past experiences will become bases for one's advancement on the path to enlightenment. Thus, past karmas are turned completely into stocks for Dharma practices, and thereby thoroughly purified.
The success or failure of this transformation process rests on whether one's Bodhicitta is genuine, remains steady and never wavers. May Dharma practitioners comprehend this teaching, and thereby soon leave behind the suffering of past karmas!
Written in Chinese on November 6, 2006
Translated on November 28, 2006
El Cerrito, California
Going along with Impermanence
Yutang Lin
Dharma teaches impermanence and nothing could be grasped
And yet Buddhists wish for stability and smooth wish-fulfilling
As soon as some obstacles or accidents happen, they wonder why
Grasping to self-interests like this, how could great peace be attained
Flowing changes and broken dreams are norms of worldly life
Only minds set on suffering of sentient beings, and their enlightenment
Can transcend suffering, can find stability amid ocean of waves
Do not grasp deluded at an illusive notion of personal security
Go along with impermanence, care not for flowing changes
Only an immovable great mind can universally relieve all sufferings
Written in Chinese and translated on October 14, 2007
El Cerrito, California
Causal Conditions
Yutang Lin
All present or disappear as causal conditions meet or disperse
Those carefully planted and nurtured
Gradually grow, mature and yield fruits
Those uninterested to bother with or remain connected
Naturally wither, discontinue and fade away
Behaving according to personal likes and dislikes
Could bring about decreasing of favorable conditions and
Increasing of adverse hindrances, contrary to one’s wishes
Learn about causal conditions, and then choose one’s moves
Only then can one hope to increase favorable conditions wished for
Or reduce unwelcome adverse situations
Buddhists always act according to causal conditions
They should also study conditions first and then make wise choices
Only then can they have more help and less hindrance on the path
To attain perfect enlightenment sooner
Wishing them well with a prayer from Bath Pond
Written in Chinese and translated on March 16, 2008
After fire puja to Green Tara
El Cerrito, California
Straightening Thoughts
Yutang Lin
Seeing through the ill consequences of self-centeredness,
One thought involving oneself means already bewildered.
With pure mind contemplate often the suffering of beings,
Dedicate merits of Dharma practices equally to save all.
Comments:
Thoughts that involve one's self are already astray from enlightened awakening. A Dharma practitioner should often contemplate the various sufferings of sentient beings, and dedicate the merits of Dharma practices equally to all beings in order to save them from such suffering.
Written in Chinese on December 8, 2000
Translated on December 10, 2000
El Cerrito, California
Beyond Facing Others
Yutang Lin
Pray to Buddhas without self-imposed distance
As if facing someone beyond reach;
Original purity has never been confined;
Remain harmonious in Oneness inseparable.
Comment:
While praying, reciting praises, or saluting to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do not become limited by one's own concept of "facing the other party" to feel distant from them. One should understand that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have already transcended the confine of a "self," and remain in the Oneness that encompasses all sentient beings. In order to achieve inspirational communion with such holy beings one simply needs to expand one's mind to the limitless state of being constantly mindful of all sentient beings. In daily life one's speech and activities should also be oriented toward ways that are beyond antagonism. When opposite attitude is adopted, there will be entanglements drawing all involved into the maze of endless suffering. It is not difficult to go beyond a "facing others" position. Simply refrain from haggling, criticizing and expecting, and devote all energy toward practicing the Dharma and propagating the Dharma as an equal-opportunity service to all beings.
Written in Chinese on March 24, 2000
Translated on March 25, 2000
El Cerrito, California
Unraveling Layers of Binding
Yutang Lin
Situation and karma vary with each individual;
Unraveling layers of binding relies on mastery.
Principles and training may follow the Dharma;
Understanding and utilization are up to oneself.
Comments:
Each one lives within individual situation and karmic conditions. When one aspires toward liberation from suffering one need to contrive a way out of the layers of binding that one is in. Buddhist theories and practices are principles and training on pursuit of ultimate liberation. Actual application of such teachings is up to individual comprehension and performance. Therefore, no matter how the relationships evolved previously there is no need to haggle over it. Instead the emphasis should be on learning how to escape from the current situation of being trapped.
Written in Chinese and translated on September 8, 2001
El Cerrito, California
The Only Important Matter
Yutang Lin
Any instant one could die; what is the thing that matters?
Grasping is meaningless; they should be all swept away.
How much could one do to help benefit sentient beings?
Reveal the path to help them attain transcendence of self.
Comments:
One could die at any instant; grasping is meaningless in this light. To be open-minded beyond life-and-death matters one needs to see through the vanity of grasping to the notion of a self. The key to Buddhist practices is to diminish grasping to self; a practitioner should be free from dualistic mentality among human relationships. The only way to thoroughly benefit sentient beings is to help them transcend their self-imposed limitations.
Written in Chinese and translated on October 23, 2001
El Cerrito, California
Nap
Yutang Lin
Let mind waive good-bye to tedious trifles of the world
Let breathing be like breezes that gently caress forests and prairies
Let pulses be like tidal in and out of ocean water at peaceful beaches
Let all illusive appearances encountered during waking moments
Return to the reality of being incapable of being grasped
And enter unfathomable and boundless space of light
Written in Chinese on March 9, 2008
Translated on March 10, 2008
El Cerrito, California
Only Because All Beings Had Been Forgotten　
Yutang Lin
Why
　　　　Still saying bad things about someone
　　　　Always feeling angry toward someone
　　　　Could not help dripping tears over someone
Only because all sentient beings had been forgotten
　　　　If still remembered
　　　　How could there be the leisure to mind about a someone
Why
　　　　Still reluctant and procrastinate
　　　　Always worrying about this and worrying about that
　　　　Could not let go worldly entanglements
Only because all sentient beings had been forgotten
　　　　If still remembered
　　　　How could you not to renounce at once and devote your life to Dharma
Mindful of affairs of only a tiny few
Yet salvation of boundless and endless sentient beings had been forgotten
If this is not upside down, what is it
If this is not ignorant delusion, what is it
If all sentient beings always remembered
One would not care about
　　　　Worldly success or failure, right or wrong, and personal favors or grudges
One would only care about
　　　　Have sentient beings all been saved or not
　　　　Have you attained full enlightenment or not
Written in Chinese and translated on April 19, 2009
El Cerrito, California
Dharmadhatu Mind
Yutang Lin
One person, so minute
One lifetime, brief as lightning
No matter how diligent
What can be accomplished is too limited
In light of these facts
What can Dharma practices accomplish
To escape from transmigration
　　　　How could beginningless past karmic debts be cleared
Attaining enlightenment and saving all beings
　　　　Certainly sound like babbles of an ignorant dreamer
Therefore, believing in Buddha and engaging in Dharma practices
One need to make sure that one comprehends the Dharmadhatu Mind
　　　　Dharmadhatu is originally boundless and limitless
　　　　Dharmadhatu is originally in oneness
As long as one believes deeply in this without doubts
All Dharma activities are functions of the whole Dharmadhatu
And hence beginningless past karma can be extinguished
Countless sentient beings can be universally helped and saved
Ten Directions and Three Times have neither boundaries nor barriers
Bodhi aspirations and activities prevail everywhere forever
To the arising of any limited mind and view
A Dharma practitioner should know to pity oneself
How could one, for such a trifle, renounce
　　　　Buddha's Dharmakaya, Buddha's compassion and Buddha's wisdom
Written in Chinese and translated on August 26, 2009
El Cerrito, California
Meddling Too Much
Yutang Lin
Living in this world
Of course it is inevitable that there are matters to take care of
Nevertheless, with attention and energy both limited
One could care for only a few matters to certain extent
Not to mention the fact that worldly matters are all so complicated
Most of them are beyond the meddling of anyone
To meddle into matters that could not be helped
That is certainly meddling too much
As one meddles much
　　One's own attention and energy are spent as much
　　While others feel pressures as well
Meddling into matters beyond help
　　One would receive superficial agreement and deviation behind the back
　　Indeed it is just a waste of attention, energy and persuasion
In youth people are full of energies
　　They could not realize that days ahead are not many
Meddling in these and tampering in those
In most cases grand opening ends unnoticeable
As one advances in age
　　Gradually becomes aware of waning of remaining days
　　And scarcity of mental and physical strength
Naturally meddles less and less, and avoid as many as possible
Whoever could awake earlier to one's own meddling too much
Would be able to allow oneself and others to gain leisure sooner
For better spending of time on cultivation of enlightened qualities
Written in Chinese and translated on November 20, 2009
El Cerrito, California
Not to Blame Others
Yutang Lin
Easy to find fault with others
Eyes clear and sharp
Even traces are unforgettable
But it is also very easy
To have forgotten that one had made similar mistakes in the past
One's own shortcomings and transgressions
Either could not be reflected upon
Or are tolerated, embraced, and forgotten
Drips and bits of others
As long as those seem unsatisfactory to one
Are all unforgettable and unacceptable
Immediately let words pour out of mouth
　　　Without scolding first one cannot be satisfied
And one rests only after all complaints are out
While the right or wrong on all those points
　　　Are still hanging in the air
A Dharma practitioner would not blame others
For fear of pointing at exactly one's own past transgressions
Would not reveal others' mistakes and shortcomings
Lest one's own mistakes will not be forgiven by anyone
Willingly forgive others' offenses
　　　Taking those as opportune situations for practices
　　　Of no grasping and all-embracing tolerance
The most important reason being
Lest comparison and entanglement would not cease
And one could never attain liberation in enlightenment
Written in Chinese and translated on December 20, 2009
El Cerrito, California
Entangled in Views
Yutang Lin
People who often ponder in thoughts tend to be entangled by views
When prejudices are deep, even wouldn't seek the truth and despite facts
Such mental knots, unless one is willing to open eyes with even mind
Could hardly be illuminated or persuaded by others to dissolve
A Dharma practitioner might also at times become thus inflicted
Holding up one's views at a certain time
To take detrimental actions and paths
If one sincerely tries to emulate Buddha on the enlightenment path
One should remember what Buddha said
That even though he preached Dharma for forty-nine years
He indeed did not utter a word
Because Original Purity is beyond what are formed by words and phrases
Those antagonistic attitudes and all boundaries as set by conceptual stipulations
Owing to views to fall into antagonism among people
Simply adding and deepening the trails of self-assertion plus damaging others
This is only due to lack of clear comprehension that
Genuine realization is attained only after naturally being thoughts-free had occurred
Instead of applying efforts on the Dharma path to attain being thoughts-free
One creates karma that would tighten entanglements in views to hinder oneself
So sad and pitiful indeed!
When compared with those practitioners who are simple-minded
And firm in faith, and consequently receiving continuously
Tangible blessings and graceful inspirations
How unfortunate are those entangled in partial views!
May they open their wisdom eyes sooner
And readily escape from the entangling net of views!
Written in Chinese and translated on February 23, 2010
El Cerrito, California
Practicing Being Humble
Yutang Lin
With self in mind
Humbleness inevitably has a bottom line
As situation encountered and feelings arise
Inadvertently there emerges
Behavior of self-righteousness
Practicing Dharma
One needs to exert efforts on "being selfless"
As matters arise and thoughts emerge
Reflect on being "selflessly humble"
In other words
Not to forget how insignificant one is in the Dharmadhatu
And hence capable of being thoroughly humble and free from insistence
Written in Chinese and translated on May 10, 2010
El Cerrito, California