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Dream of Leaf Lake
- Preface of Dream of Leaf Lake
- By Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, Sheng-Yen Lu
- Translated by Haiyan Shen
- Edited by TBN
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(Preface from Book 160,
Dream of Leaf Lake)
I began to compose poems over forty years ago. I also edited a small
poetry magazine called Rivers and Streams. I had a collection of
my poems published, entitled "Collection of Light Smoke."
My writing won me the "prize for new poetry"-the gold
picture prize of national military art.
In my youth, I was highly thought of as a young writer for my creation
of poetry, prose, and novels. I myself cannot even count how many
newspapers and magazines I submitted my works to. I never stopped
writing even after I devoted myself to Buddhist cultivation. For
this reason, someone claims that I am number one in the field of
writing books and expounding the dharma.
In the past, I dreamed of becoming a poet. What about now? To tell
you the truth, now I am living a hermit life, truly apart from the
multitudes, and I have truly bid farewell to my disciples. I do
not have any plans to go anywhere, and I am free from thoughts of
good or evil. At this particular moment, my heart and mind are purified,
without any desire for worldly affairs, any favors from anyone,
and any attachment to anything. Only at such a moment as this, I
feel as if I have spontaneously become a poet.
In my retreat hut, my inspiration for composing poems springs forth,
and inexhaustible poetic lines remarkably flow out.
With such an urge for writing poetry, I told myself: It's better
to put it into action! Thus, upon the publication of my previous
collection of poems, entitled "Moon in Water," I have
written this book, called "Dream of Leaf Lake."
Leaf Lake is the name I use for the lake located next to my retreat
hut, because the shape of the lake resembles that of a leaf. Leaf
Lake accompanies me through my days and nights.
When the rooster calls, the straw hut is still bathed in the bright
moonlight,
And the guest there is sound asleep in his dream.
He wakes up at daybreak,
Facing Leaf Lake, he fully expresses his feelings in his writing.
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