Portal:Poetry/poem/19

How Huineng became the 6th patriarch of Zen Buddhism: a poetry contest, with works by Shenxiu and by Huineng
The gatha by Shenxiu: 身是菩提樹，　The body is a Bodhi tree, 心如明鏡臺。　The mind a standing mirror bright. 時時勤拂拭，　At all times polish it diligently, 勿使惹塵埃。　And let no dust alight. Hui-neng's response: 菩提本無樹，　Bodhi is fundamentally without any tree; 明鏡亦非臺。　The bright mirror is also not a stand. 本來無一物，　Fundamentally there is not a single thing — 何處惹塵埃。　Where could any dust be attracted?