文／唐．龐蘊（？~808）

但自無心於萬物，何妨萬物常圍繞。

鐵牛不怕獅子吼，恰似木人見花鳥。

木人本體自無情，花鳥逢人亦不驚。

心境如如只遮是，何慮菩提道不成。

──選自《大慧普覺禪師語錄》

Wooden Man, Flowers, and Birds

Panyun (? - 808, Tang Dynasty)

English translation: Venerable Miao Guang

If the phenomenal world has never crossed one’s mind, what does it matter if one is constantly being surrounded by its objects?

An iron ox does not fear a roaring lion; it is just as flowers and birds appearing in the eyes of a wooden man.

Intrinsically, the wooden man has an insentient nature, while flowers and birds are never frightened by humans. Similarly, the mind is just in such a state; why worry about failure to attain enlightenment?

── from Dahui Pujue Chanshi Yulu

(Records of Chan Master Dahui Pujue)