A ‘Kệ’ is a literary form in the Scriptures, usually with one chapter of the Scripture accompanied by a stanza to praise or elaborate, explaining the meaning in more detail. A stanza has no limit on the number of lines, it can be long or short (see also PHTĐ by Doan Trung Con); for example: the ‘Kệ Kiến Tánh’ by the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng, or the stanza in ‘Khuyen Thien’, (Exhortation) (Vol. 5) by Master Huynh the Prophet. A stanza with 2 to 7 words per line is called ‘Special Stanza,’ while 8 to 32 words is called ‘Thông Kệ’.
Note on the Oracle Vol 5 (1975)
gatha (plural gathas)
(Hinduism) A poem or mantra, especially one recited mentally as part of meditation or mindfulness practice.
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