My Favorite Story of a Poem

The story starts with a famous Chinese writer and poet Su DongPo (蘇東坡) (Lived 8 January 1037 – 24 August 1101) during the Song Dynasty. He is so famous that a dish was named after him, Dongpo pork (东坡肉), a prominent dish in Hangzhou cuisine. He was an outspoken intellectual and a major personality of the Song era that could not win favor with the Emperor and later in life was demoted to become an official in the far away province. This transfer was a blessing in disguise because it was good for his writing and his spiritual growth. He had little to do in this leisurely environment and above all he could mingle with like minded intellectuals and enlightened monks. He chose his residence next to a quiet river just opposite a famous Buddhist monastery by the name of Golden Peak. The monastery was presided over by the famous master Fou Yin. Taking this great opportunity, Su engaged in many talks with the master to learn all he could.

One day during deep meditation at his residence, Su experienced something he thought was enlightenment. Being a prolific poet, he was inspired to express his innermost experience with a poem.

稽首天中天,     (Qǐshǒu tiān zhōng tiān,) 

毫光照大千,     (Háo guāngzhào dàqiān)

八風吹不動,    (Bā fēng chuī bù dòng)

端坐紫金蓮.    (Duān zuò zǐjīn lián)

My translation: 

I bowed my head below heaven,

Minutest lights shine through my deepest bounds,

The strong eight winds from each direction cannot move me!

I sit straight upon a purple lotus.

The poet was so pleased with his deep journey into enlightenment and his epiphany that he was immovable by the eight strong winds that he asked his servant to sail across the river to bring his poem for the perusal of his esteemed master, expecting praise. Upon reading the poem, master Fou Yin scribbled two characters and asked the servant to return it to Su.

Su looked at what master Fou Yin scribbled. At Su’s dismay and suprise the two characters were: 放屁  Fàngpì meaning "Bull shit" or literally "fart".

Well, Su was not happy as you can guess and in an indignant rage he immediately demanded his servant to sail him back across the river to confront the monk. Upon seeing the monk, Su exclaimed, "If you don't like my poem, that's fine. I share with you because I consider you my friend. Why did you call my inner experience "bull shit" ("fart")! Old monk." 

Knowing the poet's anticipation to get an answer, our master calmly spoke to his angry friend, "My honorable friend, you said you are 'Immovable by strong winds from eight sides', yet you are blown across the river by a simple 'fart'! ("八風吹不動, 一屁過江來). Our poet was embarrassed and said no more.

What are your thoughts? Have you heard this story before? I have heard other versions where the river is a lake. Is my translation correct?

谢谢,

Justin