17.04.2010, 12:42
John Liddell Kelly
1850 - 1926 Neuseeland
Renunciation
"Seek ye and find!" said Christ. With subtler thought
Mild Buddha said, "Renounce and all possess;
The more ye search and toil, you gain the less;
Desire, fame, power and wealth are vain; seek naught!"
In youthful years, with Christian zeal full-fraught,
Much did I seek through anxious strain and stress:
Much, too, I found, but must in truth confess
The things I found were not the things I sought.
So I turned Buddhist; have renounced, possessed;
Conquered the flesh and cast ambition down;
Have naught, yet all I wish for; is it well?
Well? to be old, dull, passionless; the zest
Of life gone out? If this be wisdom's crown,
if quenched desire be Heaven-Lord, send me Hell!
1850 - 1926 Neuseeland
Renunciation
"Seek ye and find!" said Christ. With subtler thought
Mild Buddha said, "Renounce and all possess;
The more ye search and toil, you gain the less;
Desire, fame, power and wealth are vain; seek naught!"
In youthful years, with Christian zeal full-fraught,
Much did I seek through anxious strain and stress:
Much, too, I found, but must in truth confess
The things I found were not the things I sought.
So I turned Buddhist; have renounced, possessed;
Conquered the flesh and cast ambition down;
Have naught, yet all I wish for; is it well?
Well? to be old, dull, passionless; the zest
Of life gone out? If this be wisdom's crown,
if quenched desire be Heaven-Lord, send me Hell!