His home
Was in Shuangcheng;
Where there is abundant produce,
Where there is plenty of fertile land.
But, he, a young lad from the Bai family
Wished not for a common life.
Wished not for a common life.
Therefore, he learned from masters,
Served the Buddha, and studied Sutras.
He learned from masters, served the Buddha,
And studied Sutras.
In the North he followed Changren
In the South he succeeded Hsu-yun
For the multitude, he rose above the mundane world.
For the multitude, he rose above the mundane world.
Then, vicissitudes of life and stormy events
Of the nation
Impelled him to travel far abroad,
to travel far abroad.
Years have gone by; the time has passed thus.
Years have gone by; the time has passed thus.
Who was to know, today,
On an alien land he would sow seeds
that would take root.
On an alien land he would sow seeds
that would take root.
First he established Gold Mountain Monastery.
Now he creates the Translation Institute.
Gold Mountain Monastery and then
The Translation Institute.
Should Hsuan Tsang’s spirit be with us,
How could he not envy Bai Shuangcheng!
How could he not envy Bai Shuangcheng!
