Pippa's Song from Pippa Passes

The year's at the spring, And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven; The hill-side's dew-pearl'd;
The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven-‑All's right with the world!

Robert Browning

Dr. Ogura’s Comment
I came across this poem when I was 16.  It was in the English textbook for High School.  Among many other poems and verses, this one continued to stand out in my mind.  At that point in my life, I was unable to grasp the depth of the poem but I had some sense that this one has some very special meaning.  I lost the textbook and forgot about this poem except the last phrase, “God’s in His heaven – All’s right with the world.”  I even forgot about the author of this poem.  Only about five years ago, I was able to find this whole poem, again.

This is a Song of Enlightenment by a western poet.  It is almost identical to many words spoken by Zen masters.  It is amazing that both eastern and western men had the same insight into the very nature of the “world.”  In spite of our preoccupations or hang-ups on issues, problems, conflicts, right-wrong, good-bad, beautiful-ugly, high-low, black-white, etc., still "All's right with the world" as it is. 

At this level, we transcend all of our conditioned, educated, or pounded-in perceptions, opinions, positions, etc., and are struck with profound awe about the harmony and the beauty of the world as it is. 

Please refer to my comment on “Zen Koh-an #2” in "Wisdom for Life, New and Old."

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