Mountains and seas and sunlight,

The hearts of all beings, and even the silence between,

It is a space, full and whole.

Ms. Woo Jeong yeon, a poet from Korea, the Land of Morning Calm, shares her poem

Poet Ms. Woo Jeong yeon was born in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea the Land of Morning Calm. She is currently studying in the Department of Buddhist Studies at Dongguk University Graduate School. In 2013, she received the New Writer’s Award from Buddhist Literature. Her poetry collections include The Road to Songgwangsa, Birch Tree Lover, and Planting Lotuses. She was also awarded the 7th Buddhist Literature Writer’s Award.

The Void

An empty space

Is not truly empty.

It holds completely—

A small spring and thickets,

Beasts and tiny creatures,

Sounds and movements,

Mountains and seas and sunlight,

The hearts of all beings, and even the silence between,

It is a space, full and whole.

***

허공

텅 빈 공간은

비어있는 것이 아니라

작은 샘과 수풀과

짐승과 미물과

소리와 움직임과

산과 바다와 햇살과

중생의 마음과 여백까지

오롯이 품고 있는,

만공이지

_____________  

Read: The Words of the House – Poetry from Korea