Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/271

Rh “He that has once looked upon a stupa shall for all eternity avoid the three worst catastrophes.”

“One sudden thought can strike illumination.” Is that not just as good?

If you’ve had such an illumination, why are you lingering here in this world of illusion?

Though my body lingers, my heart has left it long ago.

Unless you had no heart at all you wouldn’t have failed to feel the presence of a stupa.

It was because I felt it that I came perhaps.

In that case you shouldn’t have spread yourself out on it without so much as a word of prayer.

It was on the ground already….

Just the same it was an act of discord.

“Even from discord salvation springs.”

From the evil of Daiba

Or the love of Kannon.

From the folly of Handoku

Or the wisdom of Monju.

What we call evil

Is also good.

Illusion

Is Salvation.

“Salvation

Cannot be watered like trees.”

“The brightest mirror

Is not on the wall.”

Nothing is separate.
 * Nothing persists.
 * Of Buddha and man there is no distinction,
 * At most a seeming difference planned
 * For the humble, ill-instructed men
 * He has vowed from the first to save.
 * “Even from discord salvation springs.”
 * So said Komachi. And the priests:
 * “Surely this beggar is someone beyond us.”