One guy, having an interview with a venerable master
By the name of Old Sage,
Questioned him thoroughly, said, “I’ve heard, Sir,
That you were a sage and I came here,
Wishing to see you, without grudging the length of my trip.
During the stage of ten long days,
The soles of my feet became callous and hardened,
But I did not dare to stop and rest.
Now I perceive that you are not a sage, sir.
Because there was some rice left about the hole of a mice,
You sent away your only adherent—that was unkind.
When your foodstuff, whether raw or cooked,
Remains not all consumed, you keep on hoarding it up
to any extent. . .”
The master looked indifferent, and gave him no answer.
Next day that young man again saw Old Sage and said,
“Last night I taunted you, Sir,
But today I have gone back to a better mood of mind.
What’s the cause of the change?”
The master replied, “I consider that I have freed myself
From the hindrance of claiming to be artfully knowing,
Spirit-like or sagely-minded person. Yesterday,
If you had called me an ox, you might have done so,
Or if you had called me a horse, you might have done so.
If there be a reality which corresponds to your ideals
And you deliberately give it a name,
Which other men will not receive, you will in the sequel
Suffer the more. My manner is what I constantly observe—
I did not put it on for any occasion so long. . .”
Upon hearing this, the young man sidled away out
Of the master's shadow. Then he retraced his steps,
Advanced forward and asked him, “How should I
Cultivate myself to touch slightly the brim of the vessel
Of your tremendous wisdom?”
The master replied him this way,
“I have my three treasures, which I hold fast and enshrine;
The first is called ‘mercy,’ then comes ‘frugality,’
And the third one is ‘not daring to go ahead of the world,’
And that’s all. Those who strive to be in front
Always risk finding themselves lonesome and behind.
Only the last will be first and the first last,
For the called are many and the chosen ones are only few.
Only the partial becomes integral and the crooked straight;
Only the unfilled comes to be filled and only the few many,
And only the many surplus, which leads to nothing.
Hence, repay scorn with kindness.
Since the large comes out of small, enlarge the small
And multiply a few, deal with a problem
Starting from its easiest end, and accomplish a great thing
In all small details. Try to act where there is no action,
Taste the tasteless to develop a taste, work effortlessly
To achieve effect. The words of mine implicate the gist,
All my notions bear practical fruits.
Since people have no knowledge of this,
They do not know me, too. Those who know me are few,
And I am on that account is highly prised, my young friend.”
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