Many here have an appreciation of poetry, and many may know of the tradition in
the Chan and Zen sect of teachers -- or perhaps of many monastics -- writing a
final poem before death, which they intend as their "death poem".
There are many such poems recorded and available for reading.
I don't know if this is common in other sects.
My teacher Sheng Yen wrote his poem in Taiwan at age 79 before his death there
on Feb. 2, 2009, at 4 PM Taiwan Time.
He was the first Chinese cleric to receive a PhD (1975) in Buddhist Studies
from Rissho University in Japan.
(In Japan, when a master dies, people say he has "Changed his place of teaching
the Dharma").
Sheng Yen's poem is translated below:
Busy with nothing, growing old.
Within emptiness, weeping, laughing.
Intrinsically, there is no "I".
Life and death, thus cast aside.
--Joe
PS I have the Chinese text, and will scan it and put up an image in the
"Photos" area of the site for this Group, for those who can read Chinese.
Perhaps they can also make alternative translations to share, or give insight
into a word or two here and there.
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