Impenetrable Koan

[beaufort]

Impenetrable Koan

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
- Buddha

Word spread from sangha to sangha -
it is Dojin, Path of Love.
As a child he studied the Dharma,
sat face to wall his given mantra intoning
through the silent space.
He walked in meditation, slowly
heel to toe; again, again;

then slipped away to the distant mountain
renouncing both fear and desire,
sitting beneath the rocky crags
the years slow-crawling by,
his only visitors pendulous spiders,
and shadows creeping across cavern walls,
marking the days.

And now, Dojin, with one horrible scream
gone up in saffron flames.

[ellajam]

Impenetrable Koan

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
- Buddha

Word spread from sangha to sangha -
it is Dojin, Path of Love.
As a child he studied the Dharma,
sat face to wall his given mantra intoning
through the silent space.
He walked in meditation, slowly
heel to toe; again, again;

then slipped away to the distant mountain
renouncing both fear and desire,
sitting beneath the rocky crags
the years slow-crawling by,
his only visitors pendulous spiders,
and shadows creeping across cavern walls,
marking the days.

And now, Dojin, with one horrible scream
gone up in saffron flames.

Hi, beaufort. I admit to still being confused by this poem.

The title: What is meant to be impenetrable, the quote or the poem? I find the quote clear, and the poem to be a retelling of a well known story.

I'm not even sure of your use of the word Dojin. When I look it up it seems mean a group.

I'm not sure what your goal is here.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Mitya]

Beaufort, the entire substance of this poem resides in the last two lines. Considering that this poem is titled 'impenetrable koan,' it might not be too much of a stretch to just use those two lines. Koans are typically short, and your last two lines fit the spirit of this poem very well.

In fact, it might even add to its mystique.

[beaufort]

Thanks to you both. Dojin is a name sometimes given to Buddhist boys, it means "Path of Love". I meant the "Impenetrable Koan" to refer to the paradoxical and non-understandable situation whereby a Buddhist monk, trained to "observe" emotions (including anger) rather than act out on them would engage in self-immolation.

Obviously I didn't present this clearly. I will work on it some more. I like the short version idea, too:

And now Dojin
with one horrible scream
gone up in saffron flames

I guess I would need to change the name "Dojin"

Anyhow, thanks