Below is the chapter from two excellent sources along with the original Chinese text. The first source is from a translation by D.T. Suzuki & Paul Carus in 1913 followed by a translation by Stephen Mitchell in 1988.
Chapter 12
1. "The five colors [combined] the human eye will blind;
The five notes [in one sound] the human ear confound;
The five tastes [when they blend] the human mouth offend."
2. "Racing and hunting will human hearts turn mad,
Treasures high-prized make human conduct bad."
3. Therefore
The holy man attends to the inner and not to the outer. He abandons the latter and chooses the former.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Colours blind the eye.
Sounds deafen the ear.
Flavours numb the taste.
Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires wither the heart.
The Master observes the world
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.
The five notes [in one sound] the human ear confound;
The five tastes [when they blend] the human mouth offend."
2. "Racing and hunting will human hearts turn mad,
Treasures high-prized make human conduct bad."
3. Therefore
The holy man attends to the inner and not to the outer. He abandons the latter and chooses the former.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Colours blind the eye.
Sounds deafen the ear.
Flavours numb the taste.
Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires wither the heart.
The Master observes the world
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.
No comments:
Post a Comment