The Nomadic Flâneuse

If Taoism is a dialectic between yin and yang, then Buddhism is into transcending duality, Red Pine argues.

The Taoist understanding of emptiness is the oneness with the Tao through the creation of an immortal spirit body, the Buddhist emptiness on the contrary is not to do anything instead of the permanent current in Taoism.

Reading Cold Mountain’s poem The Simple Path, I wonder whether he believed there was only one single path or there were single paths all leading to the Cold Mountain? Is Cold Mountain more taoist or buddhist, or it doesn’t matter when one reaches mindlessness?

The Simple Path

Cold Mountain

Translated by Red Pine

I enjoy the simple path

between dark vines and mountain caves

the wilderness has room to roam

with white clouds for companions

there’s road but not to town

only mindless men can climb

at night I sit on the rocks alone

until the moon comes up Cold Mountain

自乐平生道

寒山

自乐平生道，烟萝石洞间。

野情多放旷，长伴白云闲。

有路不通世，无心孰可攀。

石床孤夜坐，圆月上寒山。