GHI CHÚ:
Bài thơ tiếng Việt này là bản cô đọng, sát nghĩa và giữ hồn thơ từ bài phú “Cư Trần Lạc Đạo” của Vua Trần Nhân Tông (1258–1308). Tuy nhiên, bản dịch tiếng Anh kèm theo sẽ làm cho ý chỉ Thiền dễ hiểu, không tập trung vào giữ hồn thơ.
…. o ….
Teachings on Zen by King Trần Nhân Tông
Quench your cravings, keep your mind like that of a mountain monk, and cast aside all luxuries—even while living in a dusty city.
Let go of notions of right and wrong, listen to the song of stillness, and see where the mind arises; then no other teaching is needed.
See and hear with full awareness, reflecting like a mirror; then greed and hatred naturally subside, and delusive thoughts inevitably vanish.
Once you realize that there is neither self nor other, karmic forces naturally dissipate, allowing the radiance of moral conduct to shine forth.
Eat fruits and vegetables and live simply; do not depart from the nature of awareness.
Live with a mind of suchness, and you will perceive that the luminous mind is the Buddha.
The Pure Land is the pure mind; the West is not far away.
That unconditioned and still mind is the radiant nature of Amitabha.
Do not forget the profound debt of gratitude owed to the king, teachers, and parents. Cultivate merit to develop concentration and wisdom to their fullest extent.
Playing a holeless flute, you will naturally hear a heart of compassion emerge, perceive no distinction between yourself and others, and come to cherish the world.
When the cypress tree is perceived as the mind, delusion vanishes. When the sound of bamboo is heard as the mind, the clouds disperse, and the moon appears.
When the true nature of reality is perceived as suchness, there is neither North nor South; the mind remains serene, clear, and void.
Eat when you are hungry; sleep when exhausted; find joy in the Way, live in harmony with your circumstances, and abide in constant mindfulness—serene, joyful, and at peace.
When the mind clings to nothing, the Buddha appears; amid the myriad worldly scenes, there is no need to seek Zen.
NOTE:
This Vietnamese poem is a concise and faithful adaptation that preserves the poetic spirit of the prose “Cư Trần Lạc Đạo” by King Trần Nhân Tông (1258–1308). However, the accompanying English translation prioritizes conveying the Zen message in an accessible manner over maintaining the original poetic essence.