松涧辺、携杖独行、立处云生破衲。
竹窗下、枕书高卧、覚时月侵寒毡。
In a river valley of pines, I walk alone with staff in hand; Standing still for a moment, Clouds rise around my tattered robes.
Beneath a window looking out on bamboo, I stretch out with a book for my pillow.
When I awake, The moon shines in on the cold, cracked floor.
色欲火炽、而一念及病时、便兴似寒灰。
名利饴甘、而一想到死地、便味如嚼蝋。
故人常忧死虑病、亦可消幻业而长道心。
Physical desire may rage like fire, But if you think of what happens when you get ill, Your fervor will turn cold as ashes.
Fame and fortune may be as sweet as candy, But if you consider the place of your death, They will seem like chewing wax.
Therefore, If a man will always take time to think of death, and ruminate on illness The works of illusion will disappear, and the Way-seeking mind will endure.
争先的径路窄、退后一歩自寛平一歩。
浓艶的滋味短、清淡一分自悠长一分。
The alleys and bypaths of fighting to get ahead are narrow.
But step back a pace, and that pace will be broad and wide.
The taste of the voluptuous and rich is short.
But make yourself just one percent plain and pure, and that one percent will become calm and composed.
忙处不乱性、须闲处心神养得清。
死时不动心、须生时事物看得破。
If you wish to avoid falling into confusion when busily occupied, Cultivate your mind and make it pure during your leisure hours.
If you wish to avoid extreme agitation at the moment of death, Observe the world and see through it while still alive.
隠逸林中无栄辱、道义路上无炎凉。
In the forest of seclusion, there is no honor or disgrace; On the road of right conduct, no flaming up or cooling down.
热不必除、而除此热悩、身常在清凉台上。
穷不可遣、而遣此穷愁、心常居安楽窝中。
You need not seek protection from the heat of the day; But if you seek protection from the distress of thinking of the heat, Your body will always sit on a platform both refreshing and cool.
You may not be able to drive away a devastating poverty; But if you drive away the unhappiness of being in such a state, Your mind will always reside in a house of pleasure and peace
进歩处、便思退歩、庶免触藩之涡。
着手时、先図放手、才脱骑虎之危。
When about to advance a step, Quickly think about retreating one step, too: Thus you can avoid the disaster of getting stuck in the hedge When about to grasp at something, Consider first letting it go: Thus you can escape the danger of riding the tiger's back.
贪得者、分金恨不得玉、封公怨不受侯、権豪自甘乞丐。
知足者、藜羮旨于膏梁、布袍暖于狐貉、编民不譲王公。
About the man who is greedy: Though money is parceled out, he will resent not receiving jewels.
Though commissioned with public office, he will grumble about not acquiring a fief.
Though influential and powerful, he will still happily behave in a beggarly way.
About the man who knows sufficiency: He considers his plain herb soup tastier than fatty meats or high-class rice.
He considers his padded coat warmer than a robe of fox or badger skins.
Though one of the commoners, he is not less satisfied than a nobleman.
矜名、不若逃名趣。
练事、何如省事闲。
Being proud of your name Does not compare with fleeing fame altogether.
Becoming skillful at something Is not like avoiding externals and having time on your own.
嗜寂者、観白云幽石而通玄、趋栄者、见清歌妙舞而忘倦。
唯自得之士、无喧寂、无栄枯、无往非自适之天。
The man who has a taste for quietism Looks into the white clouds and hazy crags, and becomes intimate with the mysterious.
The man who runs after the magnificent Watches sublime dances and beautiful chants, and forgets all fatigue.
Only for the man who is satisfied with himself Is there neither tumult or quiet, Neither the magnificent nor the withered.
There is no place he can go that is not appropriate for him.
孤云出岫、去留一无所系。
朗镜悬空、静躁两不相干。
A single cloud leaves the peaks:22 Going or staying, with neither is it entangled.
A bright mirror like moon hangs in the sky: Peace or noise, with neither is it concerned.
悠长之趣、不得于醲酽、而得于啜菽饮水。
A tendency for deliberation and composure Is not obtained while drinking strong wines, But rather while sipping simple bean soup and drinking plain water.
A sense of pathos and compassion Is not developed from the dry and solitary, But rather from blowing the bamboo flute and plucking the lute.
This is known to be true: The taste of the thick and rich is always short, While the meaning of the simple and plain alone is truth.