Like a man floating in water
Who dies of thirst, afraid of drowning:
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.
Like a person skilled in medicine
Who cant cure his own disease:
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.
Like a deaf musician
Who pleases others, not hearing himself:
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.
Like someone on a corner
Saying all kinds of fine things,
While having no real inner virtue
So are those who dont practice.
--The Flower Ornament Scripture, trans. by Thomas Cleary
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.
Like a person skilled in medicine
Who cant cure his own disease:
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.
Like a deaf musician
Who pleases others, not hearing himself:
So are those who are learned
Who do not apply the teaching.
Like someone on a corner
Saying all kinds of fine things,
While having no real inner virtue
So are those who dont practice.
--The Flower Ornament Scripture, trans. by Thomas Cleary
