I watch people in the world
Throw away their lives lusting after things,
Never able to satisfy their desires,
Falling into deeper despair
And torturing themselves.
Even if they get what they want
How long will they be able to enjoy it?
For one heavenly pleasure
They suffer ten torments of hell,
Binding themselves more firmly to the grindstone.
Such people are like monkeys
Frantically grasping for the moon in the water
And then falling into a whirlpool.
How endlessly those caught up in the floating world suffer.
Despite myself, I fret over them all night
And cannot staunch my flow of tears.
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I first made comment 3 years ago and now with more life experiences and events that have coloured my life I understand Ryokan's meaning much better, through experienced eyes I guess. He was looking from the outside 'in' as none of the wordly items meant anything to him, instead he worries over the people who waste their lives reaching for the moon when, if they look hard enough they already have it.
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The sadest thing is the human race never seems to learn
Even today never waiting for something they want but must have it 'Now'
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Reality
I see our world just as he did and have written several poems on our shallow society. I really liked the verse"such people are like monkeys Frantically grasping for the moon in the water and then falling into the whirlpool" That is so creative and is really what we humans seem to do.I wonder if all our tears are in vain? If the world was so dismal in1800 what would this author think of our horrid present? I imagine humans have forever been the same, never seeking what truly are gifts. They are like peacocks flaunting themselves and their loot. Keeping up with the Jones',see where that got us. But nothing changed,no lessons have been learned, we go on blindly missing life's true meanings of what is important. -
"For one heavenly pleasure
They suffer ten torments of hell, "
Lasting happiness can never be found in the external. It has to come from
within. There is a saying that goes, "In wanting nothing, I found I had
everything."
To secret is to separate the WANTS from the needs. Once we do tha
we see that we won't die if don't get the new pair of shoes, or shiny
new car. A cave in a rock will provide as much protection from the rain
as a multimillion dollar home. It's not about quantity but rather about
quality. Food, air and "basic" shelter are needs, most everything else
is but pure want. I could enter almost any home in the US and find dozens of item that people really don't need. To see how true that is
one need just look in your closet and ask when the last time was you wear each article of clothing in there.
I have a place with 6 rooms total and the only thing is 1 clock on the central room, the rest of the wall are totally bare, just the way I
like them...
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hi
From guest mansoor (contact)
hi some of his stuff is taken from RUMI like grasping for the moon in the water then falling into a whirpool -
I love the flow of your peom! And i agree with you fully! People seem forget what is important in life, but realises when its much too late.
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great poem
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300 years ago and probably more relevant today than then!
'Binding themselves more firmly to the grindstone.
Such people are like monkeys
Frantically grasping for the moon in the water
And then falling into a whirlpool.
How endlessly those caught up in the floating world suffer.' -
Just see how compassion flows.
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A sad thing to Hide
From guest Novice Poet (contact)
What a mournful sight to see a poet who knows no fame. If only, if only more were to stumble across such truth, then maybe we could appreciate such things. -
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Guest Novice Poet
Ryokan would probably say that it was a "mournful sight" to see a poet who only saught fame rather than just accepted things as they come.
I am sure that you, like me, would enjoy a little fame if it came along but that's not why we write. We write basically for ourselves and are still happy if we are not (yet) famous.
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I watch people in the world
beautifuly written i agree, i like the style, the way it flowed is choppy like an edgy style, the monkeys are able to be seen through your words. congradulations -
"I Watch People In The World"
I agree with Taigu Ryokan, such people are like monkeys...
He was an insightful man. ♥ -
it's a perfect poem. it'll last forever, because it will always apply, to any generation of people. it's sad, but it's the truth. i've found myself thinking about this a lot lately
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Words of Wisdom
In a moment of rage anger can seem more important than everlasting love and in an instant slay it with a poison tongue. The pen is mightier than a sword because it created the sword and speaks of what the sword has done and challenges and soothes and writes on from one generation to another. -
hehe....love the monkey comparison.....nice poem
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very apt
so suitable to our times yet written ages back, i am really surprised -
good stuff
From guest Juan of crhs12 (contact)
I'm a fifteen year old kid, and this poem really shows the important parts of life. Its not the possessions, but life itself -
Solidified in Asian beliefs are to humble oneself and not grasp for what one cannot have, this poem dripped of Taoist and Zen beliefs, wisdom lost to most people in this western world of consumption.
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Wow this is deep. Very true and I love his little metaphors.
haha ppl are like monkeys! LOL I love this guy! -
A poem for our time, what with everyone wallowing in credit card debt!
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Observative
He used a lot of natural scenes to stress his point. Typical of a man who travels on foot. -
The battle is endless. Be satisfied with what you have and good will come to you. Nothing has changed in hundreds of years. What a pity. Well written and still relevant.
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I love Ryokan's poems because they seem so much like diary entries. He records what he knows and feels, and it's that honesty which makes him so great.
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This is nice. When engaged in the act of just getting or in the hopes of "keeping up with the Jones'", the stress of vain actions lead to nothingness. I think most people are finally figuring this out, and I base this on the increased sales of magazines, self-help books, etc., that have simplicity as a theme. This poem serves two purposes--to show the foolishness of vain goals and to show compassion towards those that are caught up. Ryokan was in the "floating world" before he was able to retire to a life of meditation. Balance and knowing our real needs are two important factors in leading true-quality life.
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200 hundred years ago or today, the feelings are the same of so many people, grasping for what we think we need, trampling over what we actually need.
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