SONG OF THE STRAW THATCHED HUT

SONG OF THE STRAW THATCHED HUT

-- 艸庵歌 Caoan Ge  (J. Soanka)

By  Shitou Xiqian (Shih-t’ou Hsi-ch’ien, J. Sekito Kisen)

(b.700 - d.790)

Translated by Gregory Wonderwheel

I tied up the straw thatched hut without precious objects.

With the cooked rice finished, I followed the aim of appearances and soon slept.

As the first season was accomplished, I saw the thatch was new.

Later when it is worn out, I will repay my debt and reconstruct the thatch.

The resident hermit -- subdues permanent residency,

And does not categorize the middle space with inside or outside.

A worldly person resides in a place; I do not reside.

A worldly person has affection for a place; I do not have affection.

Although the thatched hut is small -- it contains the Dharma-realm (Dharmadhatu).

In a square ten feet, an old man studies liberation of the essential body.

A bodhisattva of the Supreme Vehicle trusts without doubt.

The middle and inferior hear it and surely give rise to (a sense of) strangeness.

Asking about this thatched hut -- poor or not poor?

Poor and not poor: the original master is present.

Not dwelling south or north and east or west

A foundation on top of "the firm and stable" therefore becomes superlative.

Green pines below -- light inside of the window.

The Jade Palace (of Heaven) and the Vermilion Tower (of Hell) do not compare.

With a patched cape covering the head, the 10,000 affairs come to rest.

Here and now, this mountain monk already does not meet (anyone).

Residing in this thatched hut -- ceasing to work on liberation.

Who boastfully spreads out a mat aiming for customers?

Revolve the light and turn back your illumination, then you come back to the origin point,

Breaking through to the boundless root of the spirit, you do not face backwards.

Meet the ancestral masters -- be intimate with the teachings.

Tie straw for a thatched hut; do not create backsliding.

Abandon your 100 years (of lifespan), yet be alive vertically and sideways.

Wave a hand, then do, just without doing wrong.

One thousand kinds of words -- ten thousand categories of liberation,

Are only necessary not to obscure the teaching for long.

If you desire to know the undying person inside the thatched hut,

How is it free from and yet right now covered by the skin bag?