Wu Ts’ailuan : My mind is like a jade jar of ice

For some information about the Taoist poet Wu Ts’ailuan, see this post. My mind is like a jade jar of ice,Never invaded by even half a mote of dust.Though the Continue Reading →

Bedil : If you stop your scatteredness

For some background on the Mughal poet and Sufi known as Bedil Dehlvi, see this post. If you stop your scatterednessand collect yourselflike a rose you will perfume the orchard Continue Reading →

Abul Hassan : We have chosen

For some background on the 10th c. CE Persian mystic Abul Hassan Kharqani, see this post. The Beloved created this worldand offered each group to choose their work and they Continue Reading →

Yuan Mei : P’u-t’o Temple

For more about this 18th c. CE Chinese poet and painter, see this earlier post. A temple, hidden, treasured                    in the mountain’s cleftPines, bamboo               such a subtle flavor:The ancient Buddha sits there, Continue Reading →

Bayazid : Among the broken hearts

Abu Yazid Bistami was a deeply mystical Persian Sufi of the 9th c. CE who had great influence on the Sufis of his time. For a little more about him, Continue Reading →

Candaka : May he protect you

Candaka (290? – 365? CE) was an Indian Vaishnavite poet, but there is no information about his personal life. Krishna went out to playMotherand he ate dirt Is that true Continue Reading →

Imadeddin Nasimi : Cancelled out

Imadeddin Nasimi (1369? – 1418 CE) was born in Azerbaijan, and became a member of the Hurufi sect, which proclaimed that the individual and God are essentially one. He was Continue Reading →

Junaid : The heart does not know me

For background on the 9th c. CE Persian mystic Junaid Baghdadi, see this post. For ten years I had to protect my heart from straying away and kept watch on Continue Reading →

Abul Hassan : Heaven or hell

For some background on the 10th c. CE Persian mystic Abul Hassan Kharqani, see this post. I do not say there’s no hell or heaven,but know that they are phenomena,and Continue Reading →

Namdev : When I see His ways, I sing

For some background on the Hindu minstrel poet and mystic Namdev, see this post. When I see His ways, I sing.Thus I find peace, O brothers. O brothers, lose yourself Continue Reading →