Trivia

Proverb curved in water basin/吾唯足るを知る

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Pocket

When you go to Zen temples, you may often find this style’s water basin.
What is this?


An important teaching is curved in the stone.
When you read letters clock-wise sharing the square in the middle, four Kanji appear, that are 吾、唯、足、知.
Ware(吾): I
Tada(唯): just
Taru (wo)(足): sufficient/enough
Siru(知): know

In other words, I just know that I am contented.
According to Buddhist teachings, we should know how we are blessed instead of complaining about the current situation.
When we compare to others, we might suffer from the feeling that we are missing something.
However, if you focused on how much you have already had, you would know how much your life is fruitful.
When you shift your mind, you will appreciate tiny things such as waking up in the morning, eating meals and sleeping , and you will be able to enjoy your daily life.


Do you have similar proverbs in your practices or religions?
Comment below!

【Translation for language learners of either English or Japanese】/英語・日本語学習者向け翻訳 えいご ・  にほんごがくしゅうしゃむ  ほんやく


禅寺に行くと、このような手水場を見かけるかもしれません。
これはなんでしょうか。

この石は、重要な敎えが刻まれています。
中央の四角(口)を共有させて時計回りに文字を読むと、『吾・唯・足・知』の漢字四文字が現れます。


つまり、『吾唯足るを知る』です。
仏教の教えによれば、現状に不平不満を言う代わりに、如何に恵まれているかを知るべきだと言う事です。
他人と比べると、何か足りていないと苦しむ様になるかもしれません。
しかし、もし如何に貴方が既に持っているかに注目すると、貴方の生活がどれだけ充実しているかに氣付くでしょう。
貴方の考えをシフトしたら、朝起きて、ご飯を食べて、寝るという些細な事に感謝をし、日々の生活を楽しむことができる様になるでしょう。


貴方の習慣や宗教に、似たような格言はありますか。
コメントをよろしくお願い致します。

Pocket

+1
Miki

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  1. AvatarAnonymous says:

    When You Love What You Have, You Have Everything You Need

    But we have no proverbs carved in stone (literally).

    +1
  2. MikiMiki says:

    Thank you for sharing the superb proverb!
    That’s right.
    We easily forget what we have already had.
    You could be the first person who will do it.

    0