White Universe

"White Universe," composed by the Venerable Master in 1972, is a poem that teaches all. Starting off in a majestic and extraordinary manner, it comes crashing down like the Yellow River, its heroic style is reminiscent of the flourishing Tang Dynasty, and its bold message shakes up people's souls and minds.

In early spring in the year of 1972, Gold Mountain Monastery held a seven-day Dharma Assembly for reciting the Six-Syllable Great Bright Mantra to pray for the nation's peace and prosperity. Each day, aside from the times of the high meal offering and the noon meal taken together by the assembly, people rotated in shifts throughout the day and night, reciting non-stop twenty-four hours a day. Over sixty people participated for the full seven days. Seeing the fourfold assembly recite the mantra with such sincerity and concentration and without fear of suffering, the Venerable Master composed "White Universe" to exhort them for their efforts.

Guo Wu, Vajra Bodhi Sea, April 1995

Ice in the sky, snow on the ground.

Numberless tiny bugs die in the cold or sleep in hibernation.

In the midst of stillness you should contemplate,

    and within movement you should investigate.

Dragons spar and tigers wrestle in continual playful sport;

Ghosts cry and spirits wail, their illusory transformations strange.

Ultimate truth transcends words;

Not thought about or talked about, you ought to advance with haste.

With great and small destroyed, with no inside or out,

It pervades every mote of dust and encompasses the Dharma Realm,

Complete, whole, and perfectly fused, interpenetrating without obstruction.

With two clenched fists, shatter the covering of empty space.

In one mouthful swallow the source of seas of Buddhalands.

With great compassion rescue all,

Sparing no blood or sweat, and never pause to rest!

- Venerable Master Hsuan Hua