Zen 96

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Zen 96 Page 8

by Alexander Goldstein

this sentimental romance --

  My Song of Contemplation,

  Which is about the incident waves,

  A gentle gesture, a maiden's head

  Elegant rotation amid the delicate scent

  Of resinous sap moistening the cedar cones

  And sleep-glued buds of the red pines

  And everlasting game of the northern lights

  Bounded off from its own reflection

  On the slick of a deep blue glaze

  To a half of its full satisfaction

  Till the rare day break. . . And though

  I have sung away this Song of mine

  Time and again, what remains in the end

  Is not the fascinating romance

  Of my fleeting life's contemplation.

  96

  It Takes Time

  If now you take a monkey and dress it

  In the garments of a king, it will bite

  And tear them and will not be satisfied

  Till it has got rid of them altogether.

  If you look at the difference between

  The past and the present time, it seems

  As great as that between the monkey

  And the king. I hate to tell you that but

  In the same way, those who think

  That wealth is the proper thing for them

  Cannot give up their revenues.

  Those who seek distinction cannot give up

  The thought of fame; those who cleave

  To power cannot give the handle of it

  To any other authorities. While they hold

  Their grasp of those things, they're deadly afraid

  Of losing them. When they let them go,

  They are grieved and they will not look

  At a single example, from which they might

  Perceive the silliness of their reckless pursuits;

  They are under the doom of inevitable collapse.

  Hatred and kindness, taking and giving,

  Reproof and instruction, death and life. . .

  These eight things are means of rectification,

  But only those who are able to use them duly

  Do not refuse to comply with their changes.

  Hence, it is said, "Rectification of Names,

  Personalities and Conducts," when the minds

  Of some persons do not acknowledge

  This simple appropriateness; and it’s because

  The gate of awareness in them has not been

  Opened yet. Well, it takes time to put things right.

  * * * * *

  About the Author

  Alex Stone is the pen-name of Alexander Goldstein, a graduate of the Far-Eastern University in Sinology, lived and worked in mainland China for a period as a translator/interpreter, a manager, and a martial arts' practitioner. A certified instructor of 'Chang-quan' (external-style boxing) and 'Taiji-quan' (internal-style boxing), he is a lecturer of Chinese culture and traditions at the Open University in Tel-Aviv. He also is the constructionist of Lao-zi's "Dao-De Jing," the commentator of "Zen (Chan) Masters' Paradoxes," "The Illustrated Canon of Chen Family Taiji-quan," a Chinese novel and some other editions, which are available in print and electronic publishing at most online retailers published in English, Spanish and Russian. What makes his books so appealing is profound analysis and authority, with which various strains of the vigorous Chinese culture are woven into a clear and useful piece of guidance for a business person who conducts the affairs with far-eastern counterparties and for a counsellor who develops strategies that enable leaders to position their organisations in the Asia-Pacific region effectively.

  ENDNOTE

  The Canon of Grand Triad (Tai Xuan Jing): Oracular Values of Heaven, Earth and Man

  Decoding of the "Lao-zi" (Dao-De Jing): Numerological Resonance of the Canon's Structure

  Monks, Beasts & Dreams on Heavenly Terrace

  Taste of Hanshan (Cold Mountain)

  Yi Jing: the True Images of the Circular Changes (Zhou Yi) Completed by the Four Sages

  Strategic Thinking and Stratagemical Thoughts in China

  Ancient Wisdom, Management and Negotiations in China

  Deciphering the 36 Chinese Stratagems

  From 001 to 100: One Hundred Poems Completed by Alexander Goldstein

  The Fifty Odes

  and others.

  Connect with Alexander Online:

  AuthorsDen: https://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?id=129491

 


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