Ryokan Taigu (1758–1831) was a Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist monk known for his poetry, calligraphy, and hermit lifestyle.
CLEAR ALL
The Japanese poet-recluse Ryokan (1758–1831) is one of the most beloved figures of Asian literature, renowned for his beautiful verse, exquisite calligraphy, and eccentric character. Deceptively simple, Ryokan's poems transcend artifice, presenting spontaneous expressions of pure Zen spirit.
What a monk can teach us about living, laughing, and child’s play
From Stephen Mitchell comes an anthology of poetry chosen from the world's great religious and literary traditions—the perfect companion to Mitchell's bestselling translation of Tao Te Ching.
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Keep your heart clear and transparent, and you will never be bound. A single disturbed thought creates ten thousand distractions.
Taigu Ryokan (1758–1831) remains one of the most popular figures in Japanese Buddhist history.
Ryokan was a quiet and eccentric Zen Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit. His poems are characterized by his playfulness, directness, and questioning nature.
An exploration of the life of the Zen priest-poet Ryokan is interwoven with memoir of the author as she observes Ryokan’s life during her own training as a Zen priest in Japan and encounters Ryokan in contemporary life as a model for learning and renewal.
The Zen Poet Ryokan Taigu is one of the most beloved figures of Japanese Soto Zen, regarded also as one of the greatest poets of the Edo Period, along with Basho, Buson, and Issa.
100 poems by Japanese poet Taigu Ryokan (1758–1831) included in English, original Chinese, and Japanese by poets Mei Hui Liu Huang and Larry Smith. With an introduction "Taigu Ryokan: Great Fool" by Larry Smith.
Love, compassion, and peace—these words are at the heart of all spiritual endeavors. Although we intuitively resonate with their meaning and value, for most of us, the challenge is how to embody what we know: how to transform these words into a vibrant, living practice.
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