智猴三尊　林鈺堂

目不取相離偏執，耳絕分別免隨轉；
口守緘默無是非，智猴身教寓意深。

跋

佛友送來三智猴，不見不聞及不說；
天生感官寧棄置，智者守拙達解脫。

高家送來木雕一組三猴，各以雙手遮眼、遮耳及掩口。識其寓意深，而詠之。

往年在馬來西亞蒙佛友贈「遮面佛」小泥像，為泰國僧皇所製者。其雙手遮臉，寓意則為遮障。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　二○○三年八月十五日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　養和齋　　　　於加州

---

Three Wise Monkeys　Yutang Lin

Eyes grasp no form, free away from prejudices.
Ears make no distinction, spared futile chasing.
Mouth keeps silent, no contending pro and con.
Three monkeys set model of profound wisdom.

Comment:

Dharma friends brought three wise monkeys,
Each not seeing, not hearing or not speaking.
Natural sense organs rather put to no misuse;
Wise ones react dully to attain emancipation.

The Ko family offered me a set of three wood-sculpture monkeys. Each one covers eyes, ears or mouth with both hands. I recognized the deeper significance of these gestures, and hence wrote this poem to expound on them.

Years ago while I was visiting Buddhists in Malaysia a Buddhist there offered me a small clay statue of "Covering-face Buddha." It was a blessing amulet made by an "Emperor of Monks" in Thailand. Its gesture of covering the face with both hands signifies the covering of all hindrances.

Written in Chinese and translated on August 15, 2003
El Cerrito, California

---

[Home][Back to list][Three Wise Monkeys]