#easternphilosophy

一寸先は闇。(Issun saki wa yami.) Translation: "One inch ahead is darkness."

石の上にも三年。(Ishi no ue ni mo sannen.) Translation: "Even on a rock, it takes three years."

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず。(Koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu.) Translation: "If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub."

出る杭は打たれる。(Deru kui wa utareru.) Translation: "The stake that sticks out gets hammered down."

虎の子を産んでも親は親。(Tora no ko o undemo oya wa oya.) Translation: "Even if a tiger gives birth to a cub, it is still a mother."

花より団子。(Hana yori dango.) Translation: "Prefer dumplings over flowers."

七転び八起き。(Nanakorobi yaoki.) Translation: "Fall down seven times, stand up eight."

猿も木から落ちる。(Saru mo ki kara ochiru.) Translation: "Even monkeys fall from trees."

馬の耳に念仏。(Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu.) Translation: "Buddhist sutras to a horse's ear."

雨降って地固まる。(Ame futte ji katamaru.) Translation: "After the rain, the ground hardens."

井の中の蛙大海を知らず。(I no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu.) Translation: "A frog in a well does not know the great sea."

急がば回れ。(Isogaba maware.) Translation: "If you hurry, take the long way around."

目くじらを立てる。(Mekujira o tateru.) Translation: "To raise an eyebrow."

虫の知らせ。(Mushi no shirase.) Translation: "News from the bugs."

備えあれば憂いなし。(Sona e areba urei nashi.) Translation: "If you are prepared, you have nothing to fear."

馬鹿は死ななきゃ治らない。(Baka wa shinanakya naoranai.) Translation: "Stupidity cannot be cured unless you die."

起きて半畳寝て一畳。(Okite hantatami nete ichijo.) Translation: "Waking up is half the bed, sleeping is a full tatami."

継続は力なり。(Keizoku wa chikara nari.) Translation: "Continuation is power."

猿も木から落ちる。(Saru mo ki kara ochiru.) Translation: "Even monkeys fall from trees."

言わぬが花。(Iwanu ga hana.) Translation: "Silence is golden."

良薬は口に苦し。(Ryoyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi.) Translation: "Good medicine tastes bitter."

鳥なき里の蝙蝠。(Tori naki sato no koumori.) Translation: "In a village without birds, bats are great singers."

縁の下の力持ち。(En no shita no chikara mochi.) Translation: "The person behind the scenes who holds the power."

馬の耳に念仏。(Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu.) Translation: "Buddhist sutras to a horse's ear."

継続は力なり。(Keizoku wa chikara nari.) Translation: "Continuation is power."

石の上にも三年。(Ishi no ue ni mo sannen.) Translation: "Even on a rock, it takes three years."

人のふり見て我がふり直せ。(Hito no furi mite waga furi naose.) Translation: "Observe the behavior of others and correct your own."

高い山から落ちる石は重い。(Takai yama kara ochiru ishi wa omoi.) Translation: "A stone falling from a high mountain is heavy."

鶏口となるも牛後となるな。(Keikou to naru mo gyuugo to naru na.) Translation: "Rather than becoming the mouth of a chicken, become the tail of an ox."

空鶴も１枚や２枚。(Karatsuru mo ichimai ya nimai.) Translation: "Even a crane dances a step or two."

蛙の子は蛙。(Kaeru no ko wa kaeru.) Translation: "A child of a frog is a frog."

立つ鳥跡を濁さず。(Tatsu tori ato o nigosazu.) Translation: "A departing bird leaves no trace."

二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず。(Nito o ou mono wa itto mo ezu.) Translation: "One who chases after two hares will not catch even one."

弘法にも筆の誤り。(Koubou ni mo fude no ayamari.) Translation: "Even Koubou made mistakes with his brush."

悪因悪果。(Akuin akka.) Translation: "Evil begets evil."

隣の芝生は青く見える。(Tonari no shibafu wa aoku mieru.) Translation: "The grass is always greener on the other side."

悪事千里を走る。(Akugoto senri o hashiru.) Translation: "Evil deeds run a thousand miles."

火のないところに煙は立たぬ。(Hi no nai tokoro ni kemuri wa tatanu.) Translation: "There is no smoke without fire."

弱肉強食。(Jakuniku kyoushoku.) Translation: "Survival of the fittest."

塵も積もれば山となる。(Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru.) Translation: "Even dust, when piled up, becomes a mountain."

意気地なし。(Ikujinashi.) Translation: "No fighting spirit."

逆境に勝つ者は逆境に強い。(Gyakkyou ni katsu mono wa gyakkyou ni tsuyoi.) Translation: "Those who win in adversity are strong in adversity."

転ばぬ先の杖。(Korobanu saki no tsue.) Translation: "A cane before you fall."

時は金なり。(Toki wa kane nari.) Translation: "Time is money."

後悔先に立たず。(Koukai saki ni tatazu.) Translation: "Regret does not come before."

三人寄れば文殊の知恵。(Sannin yoreba Monju no chie.) Translation: "When three people gather, there is wisdom."

乞食の馬鹿は乞食をする。(Kojiki no baka wa kojiki o suru.) Translation: "A beggar's fool begs."

頭隠して尻隠さず。(Atama kakushite shiri kakusazu.) Translation: "Covering the head but not the bottom."

千里の道も一歩から。(Senri no michi mo ippo kara.) Translation: "Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

弘法にも筆の誤り。(Koubou ni mo fude no ayamari.) Translation: "Even Koubou made mistakes with his brush."

The Chinese principle "Wu Wei" means non-action, or more appropriately translated as non-forcing.

When we try to force a thing to happen, we are exhausting our energy and creating unnecessary mental stress in our mind. This inhibits our performance by raising our doubts and lowering our confidence.

Bruce Lee said to "Be like water", which is to flow effortlessly. To be natural in your response and unique in your expression. Expressing yourself to the fullest. Not being a "mechanical man". You should be able to naturally be. To naturally feel yourself and to live the way you want to, rather than feel like you must behave in a different manner according to how others see you.

Strike soft not hard. Don't exhaust your energy where you don't need to. "Let it do its thing". Only use muscle at the right moment in the right way. And never get stuck in your mind with all its voices.

Live naturally.

We carry so many wounds from our past and current life that healing is and must be our topmost priority in life.

That is the essence of spiritual practice. Spirituality is another name for healing.

Some call it burning our karma or repaying our karmic debt.