The crepe myrtles at Guryongji Pond bloom even more vividly red

Jungbong Seongpa, daejongsa

Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

How much effort did I put into my practice during the summer retreat?

With the hwadu vividly present, amidst Great Doubt,

A western wind suddenly blows through the old pine in the courtyard,

A lone crane soars high into the boundless sky.

Seon practitioners!

Your ardent, single-minded investigation of the hwadu has curved the sweltering summer heat, and a gentle breeze has begun to blow.

The clear stream flowing over the rock beneath the shade of the old pine eases the world’s heat. The crepe myrtle trees at Guryongji Pond have bloomed a more vibrant red, and the pine’s scent has grown more profound in the absence of wind.

As practitioners at all monasteries in retreat ardently strive in the tradition of hwadu meditation in accordance with the Dharma, the Buddhas and Patriarchs praise them, the celestial beings rejoice, and the four-fold assembly unites in faith. Truly, this is a sublime and sacred place of spiritual practice.

Since they have all attained the clear eye of the true Dharma, there is a cause for celebration throughout the land, and the field of merit for all sentient beings is now perfected.

O practitioners who are leaving the monastery gates after completing the retreat!

What gifts have you prepared to share with the various sentient beings awaiting you beyond the temple gates?

What fragrance can you offer to those sincerely seeking enlightenment? What skillful means will you show to a world entrenched in strife, opposition, and conflict? What hope can you give to those who suffer from drought, heat, and war?

Only a practitioner who conveys the boundless Dharma can be said to have repaid the Buddha’s blessings and reciprocated the generosity of the patrons. Such a practitioner brings peace to sentient beings with every step.

To those who ask for news from Mt. Yeongchuksan,

When the shade is deep, a cool breeze arises. Now that the intense heat has passed, the crepe myrtles at Guryongji Pond have bloomed an even more vibrant shade of red.

On a mountain where a drizzle falls,

When birds chirp softly,

Turn inward to observe the workings of the mind.

The wind sways the branches of the old pine.