Translator: Haskel, Peter
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Great Fool : Zen master Ryokan : poems, letters, and other writings
Ryokan Taigu (1758-1831) remains one of the most popular figures in Japanese Buddhist history. Despite his religious and artistic sophistication (he excelled in scriptural studies, in calligraphy, and in poetry), Ryokan referred to himself as “Great Fool,” refusing to place himself within any established religious institution. In contrast to Zen masters of his time who…