Saturday, February 2, 2008

Like a Man Floating in Water.


Like a man floating in water
Who dies of thirst, afraid of drowning:
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.

Like a person skilled in medicine
Who cant cure his own disease:
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.

Like a deaf musician
Who pleases others, not hearing himself:
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.

Like someone on a corner
Saying all kinds of fine things,
While having no real inner virtue
So are those who dont practice.

--The Flower Ornament Scripture, trans. by Thomas Cleary

No comments:

Post a Comment