in the cherry blossom's shade

by Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)

translation by Robert Hass

In the cherry blossom's shade

there's no such thing

as a stranger

After seeing the beautiful pictures of blossoms on Prabhu's blog, i couldn't resist the crab-apple blossoms in the garden of our old house. The cherry blossoms are not open yet, but i couldn't wait to post this haiku of Issa.

It is so pure.

Blossoms are a metaphore for enlightement, for the Buddha mind. After going through winter the seemingly dead branches start to blossom. There is no feeling of separation anymore, because the seemingly dead branches (metaphore for our little ego's) got wiser and older going through the seasons, so they reach enlightement and nothing seems foreign anymore. Because enlightement brings this tremendous feeling of oneness.

Which reminds me of page 1299 of Shri Guru Grant Sahib

Naa ko bairee nahee bigaana sagal sang ham ka-o ban aa-ee

no one is my enemy and no one is a stranger. i get along with everyone.