As the snowflakes fall
Thoughts slowly drift along
Fluttering, fluttering
Falling towards a timeless space
As the snowflakes fall
Entering dreams with pristine grace
Having just settled in the soft winds
Only to dwell in eternal time
The fate you’ve given me
The hope you’ve given me
The responsibility
The gravity
I didn’t retreat
I didn’t evade
No matter what, I bear it all
Just a tiny, tiny crystal
Yearning to reflect your sunlight
Clear and bright, for your light
Basking freely in your light
Joyous, for your light
Luminous, for your light
Because there is your light
So there is my light
Also wanting to light up the dark of night
Though so tiny
But still I wish to raise high that ray of light
Because the snow’s fallen
Because the snow’s fluttering
Again, I’ve entered
A country of dreams, thinking of you
Once again, your face brightens
Like a clear moon, illuminating darkness
As the snowflakes fall
Thoughts slowly drift along
Fluttering, fluttering
Falling towards a timeless space
As the snowflakes fall
Entering dreams with pristine grace
Having just settled in the soft winds
Only to dwell in eternal time
The fate you’ve given me
The hope you’ve given me
The responsibility
The gravity
I didn’t retreat
I didn’t evade
No matter what, I bear it all
Just a tiny, tiny crystal
Yearning to reflect your sunlight
Clear and bright, for your light
Basking freely in your light
Joyous, for your light
Luminous, for your light
Because there is your light
So there is my light
Also wanting to light up the dark of night
Though so tiny
But still I wish to raise high that ray of light
Because the snow’s fallen
Because the snow’s fluttering
Again, I’ve entered
A country of dreams, thinking of you
Once again, your face brightens
Like a clear moon, illuminating darkness
The Story Behind “Falling Snow”
Written by editors
Snow appears fairly often in Zhen-Ru’s songs, always as a vessel of purity and sacred aspiration. Sometimes it carries endearing memories of someone special, sometimes a promise, sometimes a long-awaited reunion, and sometimes the enlightening teachings that bring serenity and beauty into the world. In Zhen-Ru’s eyes, it embodies a world of meanings.
Since becoming the successor of her late spiritual Master 20 years ago, Zhen-Ru took up the mission to lead, care for, and inspire all fellow spiritual practitioners in their learning and growth, to be their support through joys and pains, good and ill, and in times of darkness and tribulation, to be their unfailing light of hope.
This autobiographic poem was indeed written in the heavily snowy season of 2021, when the world was still being ravaged by the height of the pandemic. One day in Ontario, Canada, snow coloured the world entirely white, with glimmerings of the snowflakes’ silvery colour. As a small group of monks were walking through the snow together, Zhen-Ru asked a student to videotape the scene. It reminded many of the time when late Master Jih-Chang told a story of himself driving alone through a howling snowstorm late at night. As much as the snow was intense, he was focused and steadfast. Among his students hearing the story that day, Zhen-Ru was the first to sense from it the steadfast spirit of the Bodhisattva—a heart always firm and willing even in the face of all the sufferings of the world, one that only knows to forge ahead in any circumstance, bravely and compassionately, to bring light and hope to all.
The Story Behind “Falling Snow”
Written by editors
Snow appears fairly often in Zhen-Ru’s songs, always as a vessel of purity and sacred aspiration. Sometimes it carries endearing memories of someone special, sometimes a promise, sometimes a long-awaited reunion, and sometimes the enlightening teachings that bring serenity and beauty into the world. In Zhen-Ru’s eyes, it embodies a world of meanings.
Since becoming the successor of her late spiritual Master 20 years ago, Zhen-Ru took up the mission to lead, care for, and inspire all fellow spiritual practitioners in their learning and growth, to be their support through joys and pains, good and ill, and in times of darkness and tribulation, to be their unfailing light of hope.
This autobiographic poem was indeed written in the heavily snowy season of 2021, when the world was still being ravaged by the height of the pandemic. One day in Ontario, Canada, snow coloured the world entirely white, with glimmerings of the snowflakes’ silvery colour. As a small group of monks were walking through the snow together, Zhen-Ru asked a student to videotape the scene. It reminded many of the time when late Master Jih-Chang told a story of himself driving alone through a howling snowstorm late at night. As much as the snow was intense, he was focused and steadfast. Among his students hearing the story that day, Zhen-Ru was the first to sense from it the steadfast spirit of the Bodhisattva—a heart always firm and willing even in the face of all the sufferings of the world, one that only knows to forge ahead in any circumstance, bravely and compassionately, to bring light and hope to all.
Translated by Amrita Translation Foundation
Author: Zhen-Ru
Translators/editors: Ven. Sabrina, Ven. Joanna, Ven. Elena, Ven. Tina, Ven. Jingli
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