The Clear Mind
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of those who make their meal from simple herbs and vegetable,
many are as pure as ice. as stainless as gems.
those who dress in fancy clothes and feast sumptuously,
lower themselves to acting like servants and slaves.
ultimately the mind is made clear by simplicity
and intergrity lost by opulence.
one who does not seek favours from others is naturaly upright.
the person who is content with plain fare will be unmoved by temptations.
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Everlasting Intergrity
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one's attitude while still in the world should be open and free,
so as not to cause resentment in others.
the benefits one should leave after he is gone should flow the lenght of time,
so as to give others thoughts of contentment.
one has to be big-hearted, understanding and accommodating towards others so as not to incure their wrath.
in helping others there should be no thought reward.
only then will one earn their esteem.
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Giving Way to Others
when walking narrow by-paths,
step back a pace
and let anothers pass.
when you have a stroke of good fortune,
surrender one-third of your portion for the enjoyment of others.
this is the law for making one's way through the world most comfortably.
if you make allowances for others,
they will also give leaway.
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The Correct Approach
in associating with friends,
one should have at least a bit of a chivalrous spirit.
in becoming a person of worth,
one needs at least a modicum of artlessness.
friends should be supportive of one another,
to share weal and woe.
in one's dealings with others,
one has to be sincere always to maintain one's intergrity.
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Helping others,
Helping Oneself
in passing through this world,
one is esteemed if he steps back a pace for others to go ahead.
stepping backward is thus preliminary to stepping forward.
in serving others, it is felicitous to show a bit of magnanimity.
benefiting others is truly the foundation of benefiting oneself.
to retreat is to advance,
to let go is to gain.
thus to retreat a step can mean an advance of a hundred steps.
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Right Action
even if one has performed
world-shaking meritorious deeds.
if their value is not to be negated,
the word "pride" does not apply.
even if one has commited a crime
that has reached the heavens,
if one has truly repented, the word "regret" does not apply.
one who thinks he is all-powerful courts disasters.
even if one commits the wors atrocity,
so long as he deeply repents,
the offence will fade into nothingness.
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Tactful Action
the human heart will reverse itself
the road through this world is steep and uphill.
for places that are difficult to pass,
one should know the advantage of retreat.
for places that are easily travelled,
one should do his best to give some breadth to other,
so they may do the same.
human nature is ever-changing
and the path of life is never smooth.
once one has overcome difficulties,
one has to learn to give leeway to others.
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Proper Behaviour
when dealing with people of no status,
it is easy to be severe,
but difficult not to be hateful.
when dealing with people of high status,
it is easy to be fawning.
but difficult to maintain proper decorum.
it is difficult to be harsh with lowly people,
but difficult to treat them with compassion.
it is not difficult to treat a gentleman with respect.
the difficulty is in treating everybody with equal consideration.
