菩提

英譯 – 神秀與惠能 － 菩提與明鏡 | English Translation of Chinese Poetry —— 中文詩詞英譯 (wordpress.com)

曾培慈 / Betty Tseng

 英譯 – 神秀與惠能 － 菩提與明鏡

Shenxiu and Huineng – Bodhi and a Clear Reflecting Plane

中文原文﹕

神秀 –
身是菩提樹，
心如明鏡台，
時時勤拂拭，
莫使惹塵埃。

惠能 –
菩提本無樹，
明鏡亦非台；
本來無一物，
何處惹塵埃？

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Shenxiu –
I strive to be a tree of bodhi,
And have a heart of a clear reflecting plane,
Forever polishing it I will be,
To never let it be dusted and vain.

Huineng –
The bodhi did not really the form of a tree possess,
A clear reflector restricted not to a plane;
When not a thing ever really mattered,
Where could dust have gathered and lain?