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This article is about the Zen monk. For the Japanese type of inn,
see for Ryokan inn.
Ryokan (良寛) was a Zen Buddhist monk who lived in Japan
1758-1831. He soon left the monastery where practice was frequently quite
lax, and lived as a hermit until he was very old and had to move into the
house of one of his supporters.
Ryokan was famous for his poetry and calligraphy. His poetry is often
very simple and inspired by nature. He was a lover of children, and
sometimes forgot to go on his alms round to get food because he was
playing with the children of the nearby village.
There is some debate as to whether Ryokan was enlightened, but he lived
a very simple, very pure life, and stories about his kindness and
generosity abound.
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