Categories
- Japanese (623)
- Kotowaza (313)
- Yojijukugo (310)
- Long Fiction (6)
- Meta (11)
- Nonfiction (70)
- Poetry (13)
- Short Fiction (19)
- Uncategorized (12)
- World-Building (174)
- Miscellaneous (24)
- Rules (126)
- Setting (68)
- Japanese (623)
Archives
-
Recent Posts
Tag Archives: Buddhism
You can lead a horse to sutras
縁なき衆生は度し難し (En naki shujou wa do shigatashi; “It’s hard for the Buddha to save those who do not know the Buddha”) Definition: People who don’t heed advice or warnings are very hard to help. Salvation is difficult for those who … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Buddhism, 衆生, Lotus Sutra, salvation, social distancing, unsalvageable, 度する, 法華経, 仏縁
Leave a comment
Leaves from the vine
愛別離苦 ai.betsu.ri.ku Literally: love – separate – detach – suffering Alternately: The pain of being separated from your loved ones. This is one of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: The separation in question is most often due to the … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged airbender, bereavement, Buddhism, 苦, Nirvana Sutra, separation, suffering, 別離, 大般涅槃経, 愛
2 Comments
Fishing for tsuris
四苦八苦 shi.ku.ha-.kku Literally: four – suffering – eight – suffering Alternately: Deep distress, terrible hardship, anguish, malaise. The very bad feels. Notes: You might think, as I did, that this phrase is nothing more than a doubling for effect, but … Continue reading
‘Tis the season
…and the age. 私利私欲 shi.ri.shi.yoku Literally: me/private – benefit/profit – me/private – desire/greed Alternately: One’s own profit; one’s own greed. The self-centered attitude or behavior of someone who is motivated by avarice over all else. Notes: 欲 may also be … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Buddhism, commercialism, 私利, 私慾, 私欲, greed, selfishness, 我利
Leave a comment
Power is small things in large numbers
一粒万倍 ichi.ryuu.man.bai Literally: one – particle – ten thousand – times (as in multiplication) Alternately: From something tiny, a huge profit. By extension, an admonition not to look down on small or simple things, because even the most humble appearance … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged accumulate, Buddhism, goodness, layers, power, profit, rice, 報恩経, 一粒, 万倍
Leave a comment
Consider the lotus of the pond
It toils and spins SO HARD 難行苦行 nan.gyou.ku.gyou Literally: difficult – go / undertaking – suffering – go / undertaking Alternately: Extreme difficulties or suffering. In particular, this describes when someone is enduring privation and hardship as part of (Buddhist) … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Buddhism, difficulties, 苦行, 難行, hard work, Lotus Sutra, starvation, 妙法蓮華経
Leave a comment
A real eye-opener
開眼供養 kai.gen.ku.you Literally: open – eyeball – offer – nurture Alternately: This is the name of a Buddhist ceremony in which the eyes are added to a Buddhist sculpture or image, completing it and investing it with a soul. By … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged animism, Buddhism, 開眼, memorial ceremony, 墓, 法要, 仏画, 仏像, 供養
Leave a comment
