佛教谚语
Buddhist Proverbs
1. A clay Bodhisattva crossing the river can hardly save itself [let alone anyone else].
泥菩萨过河，自身难保。
Ní púsà guò hé, zì shēn nán bǎo.
Moral: When in serious trouble, a person may not be able to save his own tail, let alone anyone else'.
Like this?2. The person who drinks knows best whether the water is hot or cold.
如人饮水，冷暖自知。
Rú rén yǐn shuǐ, lěng nuǎn zì zhī.
Moral: One must personally experience something in order to know what it's really like.
Like this? 3. We bring nothing with us when we're born, [and] we take nothing with us when we die.
生不带来，死不带去。
Shēng bú dài lái, sǐ bú dài qù.
Moral: Even if you earn a ton of gold in your life, you can't take it all with you—remember, everyone dies one day.
Like this? 4. What comes around, goes around.
善有善报，恶有恶报。
Shàn yǒu shàn bào, è yǒu è bào.
Moral: People will be treated in the same manner in which they have treated others (inferring a level of "karmic retribution").
Like this?
1. A clay Bodhisattva crossing the river can hardly save itself [let alone anyone else]. | 泥菩萨过河，自身难保。 | Ní púsà guò hé, zì shēn nán bǎo. | Moral: When in serious trouble, a person may not be able to save his own tail, let alone anyone else'. | Like this? 2. The person who drinks knows best whether the water is hot or cold. 如人饮水，冷暖自知。 Rú rén yǐn shuǐ, lěng nuǎn zì zhī. Moral: One must personally experience something in order to know what it's really like. Like this? 3. We bring nothing with us when we're born, [and] we take nothing with us when we die. 生不带来，死不带去。 Shēng bú dài lái, sǐ bú dài qù. Moral: Even if you earn a ton of gold in your life, you can't take it all with you—remember, everyone dies one day. Like this? 4. What comes around, goes around. 善有善报，恶有恶报。 Shàn yǒu shàn bào, è yǒu è bào. Moral: People will be treated in the same manner in which they have treated others (inferring a level of "karmic retribution"). Like this? |
*Notes:
1. A Bodhisattva is an enlightened person who forgoes nirvana in order to save others from suffering. However, since water dissolves clay, a savior made of such a material could save no one "on the other side of the river" (i.e. “the unenlightened”). This expression can be used in jest to refer to oneself when unable to help others due to personal difficulties or limitations.
*Notes: |
25 Chinese Proverbs
Although death befalls all men alike, it may be heavy as Mount Tai...