If not to govern the world, how can we make

Men's nature good? The human mind,

If pushed about, gets depressed; if helped along,

It gets exalted. Now exalted and now depressed,

Here it appears as a prisoner and there

As a wrathful fury. At one time it becomes pliable

And soft, yielding to what is hard and strong;

At another, it is keen as the sharpest blade,

Fit to carve or chisel the hardest stone. Now it is hot

As a scorching fire, and anon it is cold as the icy water.

It is so swift that while one is bending down and

Lifting up one's hands in propping the Buddha's feet,

It shall twice have put forth a soothing thought

Beyond the four seas. Resting, it is still as a deep abyss;

Moving, it is like one of the shooting stars;

In its resolute haughtiness, it refuses to be bound --

Such is the human mind! It is the beauty of the skin

Of tiger and leopard which makes men hunt them;

The agility of a monkey and sagacity of a dog

Which strangles the bear make men lead them on a leash.

But can one similarly endowed be matched to

The sagely minded man? Does the human nature permit it?