proverb

Poet and Monk

Indic

Traditionally attributed

Text

The poet hopes for a perfect verse and grieves the imperfect one. The monk practices the imperfect verse and lets the perfect one go.

tr. Zen Lineage editorial

Attribution

Lineage: Indian Patriarchs

By Ashvaghosha

Sources

  • contentEssays in Zen Buddhism, First Series

    D. T. Suzuki