Rambling once to the Far East

And having been borne along

On a gentle breeze, I suddenly

Encountered a strange vagrant

Who also was rambling about,

Slapping his butt and hopping

Like a kiwi bird: hop-hop-hop.

Amazed at the sight, I stood

Reverentially, saying to him,

"Sir, who are you? And why

Are you going on like this?"

He went on slapping his butt

And hopping like a kiwi bird,

Replied, "I'm enjoying myself."

"I wish to ask you a question,"

I said. He lifted up his head,

Looked at me and said, "Pooh!"

That was the only word he said.

I, however, continued, saying,

"Heaven's breath is out of harmony;

The breath of Earth is bound up;

The other six elemental influences

Do not act in concord; the seasons

Do not observe their proper times. . .

Now I wish to blend together

The essential qualities of Nature

In order to nourish all living beings--

How shall I run about this task?"

Still slapping his buttocks and

Hopping about, he shook his head

And said: "I do not know, man;

I really don't know! He who says

He knows is a liar; and that's it."

As the World Classics teach us,

He who does know and yet says,

'I don’t know' is a superior man

Of great intelligence; but he who

Does not know and yet says,

'I do know' is a defective man

Who actually suffers from disease.

Only he who knows that his defect

Can be developed into disease

Will indeed be prevented from it.

The sagely minded man never suffers

From any disease because he knows

What his defect really is; he knows

Long before it starts to be developed

Into disease which cannot be healed.