2月4日

學道詩
宋 性空妙普 ( 約 1066~1142 )

學道猶如守禁城，晝防六賊夜惺惺；
將軍主帥能行令，不動干戈定太平。

──選自《大明高僧傳》

February 4th

Poem on Learning the Way
Xingkong Miaopu (Approx. 1066 - 1142, Song Dynasty)
English translation: Zhi Yue

Learn the Way as if guarding city walls;
Prevent the six thieves* during the day and remain alert when night falls.

The general is capable of issuing orders:
Weapons are not to be raised to ensure peace.

── from Daming Gaoseng Zhuan
(Biographies of Eminent Monks of the Ming Dynasty)

* "Six thieves" refer to the field of form, field of sound, field of odor,
gustatory field, tactile field, and conceptual field.