文╱唐．白居易（772~846）

對酒詩

蝸牛角上爭何事，石火光中寄此身；

隨富隨貧且隨喜，不開口笑是癡人。

僧院花

欲悟色空為佛事，故栽芳樹在僧家；

細看便是華嚴偈，方便風開智慧花。

──選自《白居易詩集校注》

Chan Poems by Bai Juyi

Bai Juyi (772 846, Tang Dynasty)

English translation: John Balcom

Wine Shared Together

Why do we fight over snails’ antennas?

Residence in this body is like the spark of a flame.

No matter rich or poor, be happy and joyful,

Those who do not smile are the ignorant people.

Flowers in a Monastic Courtyard

The wish to become enlightened to form and emptiness is the task of the Buddhas.

Planting fragrant trees in the monastery,

Observing them closely,

I saw the Flower Adornment’s verses─

The wind’s skillful means blossoms the flowers of wisdom.

── from Bai Juyi Shiji Jiaozhu

(Revisions and Annotations of Bai Juyi’s Poetic Works)