Gyōson had been wandering the land for many years honing his ascetic skills when he came to Kumano to join in a test of faith. Lord [Fujiwara no] Suke’ie came to view the ceremony and saw him there, but because he was extraordinarily thin and frail and had completely changed his appearance, did not recognise him, and said to the monk next to him, ‘What manner of man is that? He seem amazingly enlightened!’ Hearing this, Gyōson composed:
心こそ世をば捨てしかまぼろしの姿も人に忘られにけり
| kokoro koso yo wo ba sutesi ka maborosi no sugata mo Fito ni wasurarenikeri |
In my heart I have left the world behind, yet Even as a phantom Figure, folk have Forgotten me, it seems. |
Archbishop Gyōson