Japanese Buddhist Proverbs
191
86.—Shōshi no kukai hetori nashi.
There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth and Death.[1]
87.—Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.
Even the touching of sleeves in passing is caused by some relation in a former life.
88.—Sun zen; shaku ma.
An inch of virtue; a foot of demon.[2]
89.—Tanoshimi wa kanashimi no motoi.
All joy is the source of sorrow.
90.—Tondé hi ni iru natsu no mushi.
So the insects of summer fly to the flame.[3]
91.—Tsuchi-botoké no midzu-asobi.
Clay-Buddha’s water-playing.[4]
- ↑ Or, “the Pain-Sea of Life and Death.”
- ↑ Ma (Sanscrit, Mârakâyikas) is the name given to a particular class of spirits who tempt men to evil. But in Japanese folklore the Ma have a part much resembling that occupied in Western popular superstition by goblins and fairies.
- ↑ Said especially in reference to the result of sensual indulgence.
- ↑ That is to say, “As dangerous as for a clay Buddha to play with water.” Children often amuse themselves by making little Buddhist images of mud, which melt into shapelessness, of course, if placed in water.
