Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind

Japanese translation:

「随処作主」(ずいしょにしゅとなる)

Added to glossary by Juan L. Mera F.
Oct 4, 2009 17:59
14 yrs ago
English term

Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind

English to Japanese Art/Literary Religion Japanese Zen Proverb
Dear Colleagues:

Although I´m an English Spanish translator, I have a very unusual requirement, I need to translate this Zen Proverb into Japanese, it will be painted as a mural painting in a Karate school. I have no knowledge of Japanese, but I understand that this proverb can be written in Kanji symbols.

It is very important that this proverb is properly written, since this school will receive several Japanese visitors during the following months.

I will be very grateful for your suggestions about this unusual requirement.

Thanks a lot,

Juan Mera

Proposed translations

+5
6 hrs
Selected

「随処作主」(ずいしょにしゅとなる)

When your question is literally translation, 心を支配せよ、心に支配されるな (Rule your mind, not be ruled by it) would do.
But I wish to choose actual Zen teaching and I found this here.

http://www.manpukuji.net/zenkotoba.html

Since you do not read Japanese, let me explain what this means --- "Be master of your own mind always. Then you may find the truth."

HTH
Peer comment(s):

agree Yumico Tanaka (X) : Yes! To Juan:I hope you don't need(ずいしょにしゅとなる)because its ending needs to be modified if you put, る-->れ
22 mins
Thank you Yumico-san!
agree Yasutomo Kanazawa
3 hrs
Thank you Kanazawa-san!
agree ayami : I agree but 随処作主 is difficult to understand even for Japanese unless you have zen knowledge. Your other translation 心を支配せよ、心に支配されるな is a good one and easy to understand.
13 hrs
Appreciate your comment!
agree Tomo Fuji : I agree with atchristian. 随処作主 is impressive, but not many Japanese might know this expression/phrase (I didn't!). I think your other translation is excellent.
1 day 4 hrs
agree Minoru Kuwahara : in my view the answered translation itself is excellent. Just imagine there is a karate dojo where they uplift a wall scroll with a proverb written in grass character. -
4 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks a lot!"
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