Springs of (interpreted) Eastern Wisdom

I recently unearthed a large box of books from our basement storage area. They had been displaced to this nether region every since my move here five and a half years ago. Many of the paperbacks had to be discarded as I flipped through their dank-smelling, age-stained pages. I did, however, manage to salvage some of my favorites.

I have two tiny books that are crammed with words of wisdom from eastern philosophers. I’ve read them both, cover to cover many times and yet, I remain largely unwise. Go figure.

I thought about it for a bit this early morning and decided that the problem lies in interpretation. Oh, they’re written in my primary language, but too often, the transfer of thought processes wasn’t made clear enough.

And so, I’ve decided to post some fine excerpts from these little gems (books), and offer my own special version of what the wise messages truly meant to convey.

First I’ll offer the actual quote and author. Immediately after, I will present my own interpretation so that you too, might take heed and live the life of a full-flavored sage.

“Man cannot for a thousand days on end enjoy the good, just as the flower cannot bloom a hundred days” (Tseng-Kuang)
It’s really okay to be a jackass every now and again (WH)

“One moment of patience may ward off great disaster; one moment of impatience may ruin a whole life” (no author named)
Use condoms (WH)

“The greatest revelation is stillness” (Lao-Tse)
Exercise isn’t worth it (WH)

“Rejoice at your life for the time is more advanced than you would think” (author’s name in eastern writing but looks kinda like this: #*&^^)
We’re all gonna die and it could happen tomorrow (WH)

“That the birds of worry and care fly above your head, this you cannot change ~ but that they build a nest in your hair, this you can prevent” (&@*#)
Wash and brush your hair often (WH)

“Thousands upon thousands of rivers flow into the sea, but the sea is never full ~ and if man could turn stone into gold, still would his heart never be contented” (author unknown)
We’re a spoiled rotten lot (WH)

“The quieter you become, the more you can hear” (Baba Ram Dass)
Shut your pie hole and listen up (WH)

“The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be” (Bruce Lee)
Easier is better (WH)

“Work is prayer. Work is also stink. Therefore stink is prayer” (Aldous Huxley)
I don’t have an interpretation for this. I just like the “work is also stink” part.

“Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there” (Miles Davis)
Jazz allows you to screw up (musically) and still fit right in (WH)

“If you are too excited by joy, later you will have to cry” (Tibetan saying)
Whatever you do, don’t enjoy happiness too much (WH)

“No suffering befalls the man who calls nothing his own” (Dhammapada)
Sell everything and claim bankruptcy (WH)

“One joy dispels a hundred cares” (no author named)
Dwell on the good shit (WH)


I can’t be the only one who reads a fine quote and puts his/her own spin on it. This is an open invitation to join me in clarifying the words of the wise. Feel free to place your interpretations in comments here, and if you can’t think of a quote that particularly moves you, steal one from this post.

I’m in the process of organizing my home-office (notice I didn't say RE-organizing). Anyone who knows me, even a little bit, will appreciate the depth of that sentence. Hopefully, in a few days, I’ll be posting about this most exciting adventure.

And finally, in keeping with the theme of this post, as well-known genius/comic, George Carlin, once said, “Ya can’t have everything, where would you put it all?”
Well, as I peer into boxes, bags and bins of my “stuff,” I’m beginning to feel as though I DO have everything … and my mission this week is to find a place for at least a small percent of it.