Only getting thirsty, some people start to dig out wells;

You may put forth all your strength polishing a boulder,

But can you ever succeed in turning it into a mirror, sir?

Those who study the ways of Dao are countless as sands,

Still, only the few have obtained Clay Crystal of Insight.

Men use to toss away pure gold but shoulder off chaff,

They try to cheat others but end up cheating themselves.

Some of us use to take pebbles and claim them as gems;

Steaming sand, they do pretend they cook a pile of rice.

Trying our best, we drive a hard bargain over meat or fish,

Then shoulder it home to feed our wives and kids. Why

Do we take the lives of others to give life to our own kin?

The Buddha said, “Originally, we are all of a kind."

Ultimately, all beings have their true nature of the self.

Still, we all must consider with great care our thoughts

To avoid idle quarrels and strife that can be likened

To piling up sand in one spot—to turn it into one heap

Is still a problematical task to be performed all at once.