TWO POEMS IN TRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS

by Upasaka Liu Kuo-chi
poems and comments translated
by Bhikshuni Heng Chen

             AMONG HUMANKIND WHERE'S HEAVEN TO BE FOUND?
             JUST GO TO THE DHARMA ASSEMBLY'S BEAUTIOUS GROUND.
             I'M NOW, SO FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE ARRIVED:
             I HAVEN'T DREAMED LIFE'S FLEETING DREAM IN VAIN.

*The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

Professor Liu's comments on poem one:

Although our lives are transient dreams in which we see ourselves as fabulously wealthy emperors and kings, coming to the city o Ten Thousand Buddhas has given value to this evanescent dream of life.

IN THE CITY OF TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS

  TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS ARE BORN

TEN THOUSAND RAYS OF LIGHT:

  ITS HOMES ARE LIKE TEN THOUSAND LAMPS.

TEN THOUSAND MULTITUDES ARE ONE IN MIND,

  TEN THOUSAND GENERATIONS' WORK GOES ON;

TEN THOUSAND NATIONS ALL ACCLAIM

  TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS' TOWN.

Comments on poem two:

This second poem praises the city of Ten Thousand Buddhas. I used eight "Ten Thousands" in it. Ten Thousand Buddhas will appear in this city. The lights shining from all of the house make them look like lamps. Everyone will unite together to discharge the duties of the city, and not just for one, four, five, ten, a hundred years, but for ten thousand generations. In the world every nation takes the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas as its center.