Ancient wisdom has a way of surviving the ages, as certain life lessons remain true regardless of the generation or time in which they are heard.
Today, Japanese culture has an interesting blend of advanced technology, low crime and high levels of respect and gentleness. Their culture is arguably one of the wisest, most unique and interesting in the world, and their ancient proverbs serve as some of the roots as to how they’ve evolved into today’s humble and kind society.
Meant to give insight into one’s true nature, existence itself, and to open the way to a liberated way of being, these ancient Japanese life lessons and Zen teachings contain something that everyone can learn from.
Here Are 27 Eye Opening Japanese Proverbs And Wise Zen Quotes That You’ll Continue Thinking About
1. If a problem can be solved, then it’s not worth worrying about it. If it can’t be solved, then it’s useless to worry about it.
2. A frog in a well does not know the greatness of the sea.
3. When you accept everything, everything is beyond dimensions. The earth is not great nor a grain of sand small. In the realm of great activity, picking up a grain of sand is the same as taking up the whole universe. To save one sentient being is to save all sentient beings. Your efforts of this moment to save one person is the same as the eternal merit of Buddha.
4. The day you decide to do it is your lucky day.
5. The sun does not know who is right or who is wrong. It shines without purpose and provides warmth to all.
6. Cold rice and cold tea are bearable, but cold looks and cold words are not.
7. The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.
8. Even when months and days are long, life is short.
9. When you listen to someone, you should give up all your preconceived ideas and your subjective opinions; you should just listen to him, just observe what his way is. We put very little emphasis on right and wrong or good and bad. We just see things as they are with him, and accept them. This is how we communicate with each other. Usually when you listen to some statement, you hear it as a kind of echo of yourself. You are actually listening to your own opinion. If it agrees with your opinion you may accept it, but if it does not, you will reject it or you may not even really hear it.
10. Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid of standing still.
11. Fall seven times, get up eight.
12. If you ask, you may feel shame for one minute, but if you do not ask, you may feel shame for your whole life.
13. A husband and wife should be similar to a hand and an eye: when one’s hand hurts, the eyes cry; and when the eyes cry, the hand wipes away one’s tears.
14. The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention.
15. When one is in love, even scars are as beautiful as dimples on a person’s cheeks.
16. The one who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger one.
17. Calmness of mind does not mean you should stop your activity. Real calmness should be found in activity itself. We say, “It is easy to have calmness in inactivity, it is hard to have calmness in activity,” but calmness in activity is true calmness.
18. Check seven times before ever doubting someone.
19. If you understand everything, you must be misinformed.
20. Boasting begins where wisdom stops.
21. We learn little from victory, much from defeat.
22. One kind word can warm three winter months.
23. Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.
24. Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
25. In Zen, we do not find the answers, we lose the questions.
26. Fortune will always come into a house with laughter.
27. Once you’re facing in the right direction, all you need to do is put one foot forward.
Are there any sayings that deeply resonate with you?
Let us know in the comments.
You are Loved.
