Page 246 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

e taint of prayers is non-repetition, the taint of houses ill-

repair, the taint of (bodily) beauty is sloth, the taint of a watch-

man, lack of vigilance.

e fault of others is easily perceived but that of one’s self is

difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbours’ faults like

chaff, but hides his own, even as a dishonest gambler hides a los-

ing throw.

If a man looks after the faults of others and is always inclined

to take offence, his own evil propensities will grow; far indeed is

such a man from their destruction.

A man is not learned because he talks much; he who is

patient, free from hatred and fear, he is called the learned.

A man is not an elder because his head is grey; his age may

be ripe, but he is called ‘old-in-vain’.

He who is beyond merit and demerit, who lives chastely,

who with knowledge passes through the world, is truly called a

mendicant.

A man is not a sage because he observes silence, if he is fool-

ish and ignorant; but the man who taking the balance, chooses

the good and rejects the evil, is a sage and for that very reason,

he who understands both worlds is therefore called a sage.

He who does not rouse himself when it is time to rise, who

though young and strong, is full of sloth, whose will and thought are

weak, that lazy and idle man will never find the way to wisdom.

rough meditation wisdom is won, through lack of medi-

tation wisdom is lost; let a man who knows this double path of

pain and loss so conduct himself that wisdom will grow.

Cut down the whole forest (of lust), not a tree only. Danger

comes out of the forest (of lust); when you have cut down the

 