Ofudesaki 03:065

Ofudesaki
Author: Miki Nakayama Date Published: 1998 Pages: 486 (English ed.) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 unnumbered set

Ofudesaki 03:065 is a verse from the Ofudesaki. The English translation below is the sixth edition translation.

Content

Ponder this: no matter how clear the water may be,	shian seyo nanbo sundaru mizu ya to te	しやんせよ　なんぼすんだる　水やとて
if you put mud into it, it will become turbid.	doro o iretara nigoru koto nari	とろをいれたら　にごる事なり

Alternate English translations

Third Edition

Ponder over it deeply! However clear the water may be, if you put mud into it, it will become turbid at once.

Inoue/Eynon

Reflect upon this deeply! However clear water may be, it will become impure if mud is put into it.

Commentary

Commentary by Yoshitaro Ueda (2008)

From Michi no Dai: Foundation of the Path 33:43–4

However clear the water may be, it will become turbid if you put mud in it. That is, even a very clear mind can become clouded with the arising of greed, which is represented by mud. The clouded mind cannot understand God the Parent’s intention—which means that God’s blessings will not be fully received.

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