Two poems by Tsangyang Gyatso
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I. Once I feared that excessive affection would harm my spiritual practices; entering the mountains, I was afraid of leaving behind the one I loved. How can one find a way to have it all in this world—neither failing the Buddha nor failing her? II. It’s best not to meet at all; that way, there can be no love between us. It’s best not to know each other at all; that way, there will be no longing. Third, it’s best not to be together; thus, there will be no debts between us. Fourth, it’s best not to cherish each other; that way, there will be no need to remember one another. Fifthly, it is best not to fall in love; thus, there will be no need to abandon each other. Sixthly, it’s best not to be relative, so that they need not meet. Seventh, it’s best not to misunderstand each other; in that way, there will be no betrayal. Eighth, it is best not to agree; thus, there will be no continuation. Ninth, it’s best not to rely on each other; thus, there’s no need to cling together. It’s best not to meet in the tenth place; that way, we won’t have to be together. Yet once we meet, we understand each other; why meet when it’s better not to? How I might part from you, to spare us longing across life and death.
I think of Zhang Xiaoxian’s (Seeing and Not Seeing)
Reply to 2# llyy0327: It’s also by Tsangyang Gyatso, right? It’s another poem I really like. Whether you see me or not, I’m still there, feeling neither sorrow nor joy. Whether you remember me or not, that love remains there, unchanged. Whether you love me or not, that love stays the same, neither increasing nor decreasing. Whether you’re with me or not, my hand is still in yours, ready to hold on without giving up. Come into my arms, or let me dwell in your heart; we can love each other in silence, filled with quiet joy
Reply to 3# say_1001_plz: Yes, it’s his too
I was wrong; what I actually wanted to say was (whether in person or not), Zhang Xiaoxian’s
Reply 3# say_1001_plz
I have seen both of these songs; I watched the first one online, and the second one was featured among recent readers’ picks. I’m just wondering, how come the first one was written by this person?
Reply to 3# say_1001_plz: What is love? Love always teeters between being together and being apart. When they can’t be together, both people miss each other; but once they can meet, they start to find faults in one another, and end up missing the times when they were apart. When apart, they remember the good qualities of the other person; yet when together, they notice many things about them that they don’t like. When apart, you resolve to leave him, but once you see him, your heart softens. When apart, you decide to give up everything for him; but when you finally get to meet, you lack the confidence to do so. When apart, you promise yourself that you’ll make him happy, but when you meet, you forget those promises. Being apart is a form of torment; and once they can be together, they torment each other instead. When apart, you think you love him very much; but after meeting him, you realize you might not love him that much after all. When apart, you imagine doing many things with him; but when you meet, you discover that imagination is indeed more beautiful than reality. If you know that being together is painful, why go to such lengths to be together? Perhaps this is one of the most beautiful contradictions in the world
You all are so talented with words; I’d rather spend my time playing Monster Hunter 3 instead.
Reply to 6# llyy0327: That’s exactly what I mean. . I just saw this and quickly dug out my notebook to check – it turns out I had taken notes on it before
Reply to 10# say_1001_plz: I used to watch it, but I don’t watch it anymore. Those things are just part of memories; they’re not realistic. After watching them, one ends up with too many fantasies, and in the end, it’s all in vain