Tibetan Quadrisyllabics, Phrases and Idioms. བོད་དབྱིན་ཤན་སྦྱར་གྱི་ཚིག་ཚོགས་དང་གཏམ་དཔེ། 8185102902

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Tibetan Quadrisyllabics, Phrases and Idioms

Acharya Sangye T. Naga and Tsepak Rigzin

LIBRARY OF TIBETAN WORKS AND ARCHIVES

Copyright©1994: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives

First Print 1994

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 81-85102-90-2

Published by the LIDrruy of Tibetan Works and Archives (L1WA), Dharamsala, (HP.) 176215, India, and printed at Indraprastha P11~ss (CB1) 4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Mug, New Delhi-11CXX>2.

Publisher's Note A very important element of Tibetan language which has provided life and beauty in the evolution of human thought communication is its rich repository of Idioms and Phrases. It makes for conveying a point or idea just in one single idiom what could not be expressed in so many prosaic sentences. Efficiently effective and melodious, it is very commonly used among the older generation Tibetans. New generation of Tibetans are not very aware of the importance of this aspect of the language. It is feared that if our generation can not preserve this rich aspect of the language, there may be a danger of losing this richly melodious aspect of the language. Therefore I impressed upon its importance to Mr. Tsepak Rigzin and Mr. Sangye T. Naga to bring this work to light. I am thankful for their response and labour of love. It is hoped that this small effort will contribute in some way towards the enrichment and preservation of the Tibetan language.

Gyatsho Tshering Director. January 1994

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Compiler's Note I joined the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives on August 1st 1991, as a member of its Research and Translation Bureau. One of the first project that was assigned to me by both Mr. Gyatsho Tshering, Director and Mr. Tsepak Rigzin, the then head of the bureau, was this small collection of quadrisyllabics, and idioms. The Library· felt that this type of book was needed for its language students, therefore in 1980 LTWA obtained Mr. Jampa Choedak's initial collection of idioms from Mr.Pema Gyalpo. These idioms and phrases were added to the collection being prepared by Mr.Rigzin, whose· sources were derived from various Tibetan articles, books, most notably from His Holiness the Dalai Lama's public speeches. Having entrusted this project to me, I worked in the sincerity of being able to motivate and aiding individuals, who show a keen interest in the Tibetan Language, be they Tibetans or Westerners. For further information, one interesting article on quadrisyllabic phrases, entitled: "The Phonetic Structure of ABCD Type Words in Modern Lhasa" 1 and one chapter on "Phrases" in The Classicnl Tibetan Languagi' are suggested. In addition, the following Tibetan language books are also recommended: Modern Tibetan Language Vol.I & JI3,

A Basic Grammar of Modern Spoken Tibetan 4, Essentials of Modern Literary Tibetan 5, Modern Spoken Tibetan: Uzasa Dialect6, Textbook of Colloquial Tibetan 7 and New Plan Tibetan Grammar and Translation 8•

This book is aimed to act as a bridge between the so called literary and colloquial language. Therefore, it is sincerely hoped that this book may be prove to be a source of guidance. Lastly I wish to thank Mr. Tenzin Dorjee, the senior most translator at LTWA, for his assistance in editing this book. May this book help the reader to skillfully master the Tibetan language, whereby one can read both the classical as well as the modern Tibetan literatures!

Acharya Sangye T. Naga Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamshala, H.P. INDIA.

X

"1'~~·~~·~1:.11

primordial purity with spontaneity/primordial

purity with self-perfection

"1'~"1·~~·~Cl·~·~r::.·5S~·"l~r::.·~~·

... ... .... "l~r::.~·CIQ.'~Cl·~.r:fr~~l The 'primordial purity with spontaneity' is a philosophical view in the Nyingma tradition (of Tibetan Buddhism).

Lit.: decorating pillars with pine

branches/ Sense implied: unnecessary aids "1'Cl~'Q.E.l!l'5S~·

'tl i 'CI' Cl! Cl'CI' ~·~~~ ·3(-~·Q.~ 5S 'cN~'5SF3i'OJ'if~ ·5fC!~f t5l'tf~'CI'~'~l Decorating pillars with pine branches is such as giving one hundred rupees to someone who has thousands of rupees.

,.,-~.iJ~:f~ complication/controversial issue OJ~'"l'Q.~.Q.~Cl· CI'OJ'"fi'~·mr::.·~lll·5Sr::.·CftN~·~~l There are many complications in accomplishing this task.

1·~·1-~1 "1'~.,-~.S~'CJl "l·~·,=~·r.t"l~'CJl

dilly-dallying! to

complain or make some excuses fC~'fr::.·s~·~~·"l·~·,=~·5S·s~l Do not dilly-dally while studying.

"1~·~·,.-~·~·l concave/ uneven/ a land with many holes ~· 5S~'~'OJ5S'"1C.'~·1r::.·~·l'l!l·Q.~Fl"l'Cfi;r::.·l It is difficult to go through the uneven mountain passses of high lands.

~~·~~~·cN·.:q~l

omniscient wisdom/all knowing wisdom

~r::.~·!~·4J~~Cl·CI~·~~·5Ss;·~·J1~·arCl~;·;~·to;i~ ·~lJ·~r::.·a-r~s:l\·

.....,

~r::.·1 Some bad people did not abide by the law and that's why all of us are ruined.

CJ1"-"~c:.·l

Good natured girls are very attractive.

76

f:..~'Q'fl't::l~al1 to unite the evil persons ~~·t.l'fl't::l~a.r·~·t::J.a~:tft::J~' ~·.t,~(ll1 If evil persons unite there is no peace for good people.

~~·Q.z:,'~t:J~~·1 to flatter evil persons ~~·t.~%,'~t::J~c:.:s~·t.~·~·~E:~· ..,.., ...

~"'');";

".:>"'

~~·~·~~·.t,·...,(ll·~-o~·%,~1

One of the most serious shortcomings of an administration is to flatter evil persons

~~'Q'~9J"~·~~tr.f1

evil persons becoming very strong or proud/ This is used when there is disorder in a society where the evil persons become very strong.

~~·Q·,:t.z:,·~·t:Jo~·~1 t:J.a~·2fJt:J·~·~1 If evil persons are not defeated, the good people cannot feel happiness. ~~·Q·as~tr.r·:cf'.z:.1 indulged in bad habit/bad habit .!>C:.'%.~·~~c:.· ~%,'C:.~'t.l'a.!C:.(II'~%,·~·.t,~·t.~·~~c:.·~~(ll1 One should not indulge in Ute bad habit of drinking alcohol

~~·Q~·.z:,~·z::1~~1 ~·ry~·~t:J~~1 Lit.: Evil persons praise themselve as crows praise their feathers/ This proverb is used to appraise for self-praise ~~·s~·~~ifJ to appraise one's own evil deeds ~·~~·~~·~~(\!· ~(ll·c:.~·s(ll·a.r·~~if~~c:.·~·~~1 evil deeds. ~~·Str.r'1'~ZZ1

Evil people will appraise their

Lit.: nine various evil deeds/Sense implied:

77

exploitations or atrocities deeds ~·&l~·~~·CJ~.:c::.~·s~·~·~r~r l;!ryC::.'I;!'~~~

Chinese exploited Tibetans in various evil deeds.

Tit for tat instruction is not said in the thought transformation texts. c:.~·OJ~'CJ.=!C:.'~E.C::.'S~·~·~c::.·~·~;~~~·

....

~JJ~·c::.c::.·l:!J~·.a~·r.~.~.(l:TJ'~~~

If one always harbour bad thought one's fortune will diminish naturally. c:.c:.·c:.~·~l:l'l~·~l:l'l~l

natural

urge/

involuntarily/

automatically/spontaneously c::.·~c::.·~a.r·~;~~JJ·fc::.~·CJ·~JJ~·c::.c::.· C::.JJ'~l:!J~·~~·~·~·~~~ Bad thoughts spontaneously arise in us.

c:.~.:~l:l'l~·~~·2Jr full of anger and spirit/angry and forceful C:.OJ'CJ'S~·CJ~~l

meeting the challenge of hardship with

courage/willingly bearing hardships f~;~'f'c::.·l:!J~C::.·~~·c::.a.r·~;~· rs~·~·~;~~~·~·~"lr.~.·a.r~·~;~5"~·~.q;~l One should put effort to meet the hardship with courage at the time of learning.

78

c:..arz::r~~.-.a~l attempt becoming useless &:~t~~a:~·f~"l·crif.r&:~;r::.·~· t::.C'-J"&:~"{r::.·.a~·~·~~~~·c.r~~l If one does not think properly, there is a possibility that one's attempt might become useless.

~·~2f~·~~l a cry in lamentation/crying desperately for help ~'TJ~·r::.OoJ·~~~·~t~~·~·~?5\~~~\s~·Qt~~·%·OoJ·r.s~l What is the use of crying desperately for help when one is in calamity?

~(a.rjfJ:.."OJt:..~q

uprising!

demonstrations

against

somebody/rebellion ij'~·~Ool"fl&:l"~t~~·~(OoJ· ij:l\ "Colt::. t~~·'2r::. t~~• ~!"Q" ~·~·df~~C'-J·~·~~"l this year.

The 35th national uprising of Tibet falls

C:~~~ ·~OJ·OJ~l sycophancy/ flattery r::.·~~"l~·~Ool·OoJ~·s~·a:~fl~·OoJ· ~"l~·Cfi!~l

I don't like those who flatter.

C:i~·C:~c:..·r nepotism/favouritism ~e:a:~·~r::.·~·~·l'"]t~~·ifir::.·a:~:l\·~ ~~·~~r::.·s~·a:~fl~·a:~r::.·Cft)f~·~~l In every society of the world, there are people who indulge in nepotism.

C:~~-'.";Jl il~·;Ji";Jl Lit.: wrinkled face and tearful eyes/ Sense

implied:

unhappiness

an

indication

of

suffering

and

"]~t~~·~t~~·~~·il·a:~r::.·~·&:~·~"l~:l\·a:~·~r::.·il"l·a:~~·a:~t~~·

~r::.t~~·~~"l Most of the Tibetan faces in Tibet are full of tears and wrinkles.

79

t::l~~~ One should cultivate the inseparable nature of one's Lama and the deity.

~ ~·F·~~~1 embarrassment ~~·il~·t:l.~~·s~·~~{l.r~~:.·~·~~·fl·!~:.~· itinw bad reputation ~r:..·Cf~r:..·*l~·s~·~r ~t;.,·r:..~·ll·f!·Oi"r:..·~~-.,·~~l If someone acts honestly there will not be any bad reputation.

104

~;~·~~·~~·~~.1:.1 spreading bad rumours ~;~·c,~·~c.·a.5~·,r

~c,·~c,·~-r·s·q·c,~·q·a_~·a.~~·~~-rl One should stop this bad activity before the spread of bad rumours.

~;~·~~·~~~·it~1 to lose both wealth and fame i)~·~~~·i{-r· ~~·~~·~·~·af~;~·~~·~~-r·it~·sc.·irc.·t Having been defeated in the election, Migmar lost both wealth and fame this year.

~;~·3r~E:"~·~~1 to keep and take mortgage ~~·a·~~~·qijc,· ~;a.·~·a.E'~·cit~·~~c,·~~-rl The keeping and taking of mortgages should be done in accordance to the agreement

t:J;~·~~t:J@I~l'~\~'4J:.'t:J1 one who is efficient in many tasks c.·~·~c.·i·~r~·~·q;c.·a.~q~~·f~·a.~~·q~·~·~~·~~l secretary is very efficient in all tasks. t:J;~·t:J;~·~~·~~

Our

to boast of having done this or that rs~·

~c,·~·q;c. ·q;c. -~ ~-~ ~·q-49~·~~:, -~ -r·~c. -~ ~- i -r·s ~-~·~·~ ~t Nobody will trust you although you may boast of having done this or that.

;·~~·C1J~·~~·~1 ~·~~·~~~·~~·~1 Lit.: An old horse has more experience over the roads, and an old man has more life experience/ Sense implied: the older the man, the greater experience he has. ;·~·t:J$'~41~

Lit.: splitting a horse's tail into a hundred

strands/ Sense implied: over cautious aJ-r·~~·~c,·a;~-r·aJ·~· e_·q!"'o/1~-~~c,·~~-r·~~-it~l There is no need to be overly cautious over petty things.

105

carry two saddles/ Sense implied: one man cannot do two jobs at the same time.

;·~~~·af~·~·~;·~~~-~~~-q Lit.: one horse needs one saddle/ Sense implied: one thing will necessitate the other.

;·?fa.r~~~r~~·af~·~·sc:.·2t::.:{c:.·cr~~l Lit.: If a horse has the energy to run fast, he has the whole northern plain to run in/ Sense implied: This proverb is used to test how much one can do (a sarcastic remark).

i'33'm~·~c:.·a.r~~·~·t:l.ac:.·l Lit.: It is better to lead a horse before it is tired/ Sense implied: to do something before someone is completely discouraged. i'r ii~·~·~~·W"r::~(lf·~~·~~·I:J·~~~·CJ·w~l It is necessary to have undaunted courage to achieve a big task.

~·ftf~·~·~e:~l hatred/ animosity ~·t-~~·JJ·~·fi'~·~~·~t~·~·~r::~~·~·JJ· ~~·~·r::~~·&~'C11(1f"~~·c)f~·l If all of us are not over-powered by hatred and animosity, there will be happiness automatically.

~·~~·~9·~·~ftfas·~l enmity like boiling liquid poison ~11J"S9(\f" C11·~·~~·~9·~·~~·~fJC11'~'UI~·~~·~~·C11'9~\I:J'C11~'~11}'Ql'~'9~~~ Though one shows enmity like liquid poison toward the enemy, it does not harm the enemy but in turn it harms oneself.

~·~9'ftf9'z:::!iS~~l to hold evil thoughts in one's heart v~e11·r::~· ~~·Q-~·~~·~r::~~·~(lf·CJ~-t~·~·~~·~·~9·fi'9·r::~o~(\f·s~·~(lf·s~·Jl·~~·t I never hold evil thoughts in my heart since I received an empowerment from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

~·~9·J~·~z:::!l cruel thoughts and deeds l'~·CJ·w~·~·~·~9·f~·~r::~· tfE::.·~~(Ifl If one is a practitioner, one should abandon cruel thoughts and deeds. ..... ~

...... G\ ::r:: .... !1 ........ nausea JJ'(J~'~E::.'tll'~~·~(lf·~·~~·"-19'9'~~9 When I travel in an automobile, I get nausea. -

~·&J~'Cll9'Ql

208

~·1:3~~·iff43:1 feels inconvenienced and disappointed J:.~·~·

"~·~~·~"'·(~.~·c.t·s~·~·~~·4J~·~·~·~~~·"~·r-t.l~.~·a.~"'·e"'·c>r~·1:3·&!~~ When a disciple gives back his vows, the spiritual master feels inconvenienced and disappointed.

~·f~·c:.c::~c:.·l relaxed and easy going l:lg~·~~"'·~·~.~s"·~~=-·sl:l·~· ~·if"·~~·~~·&l~·~·~~·~~·~~·~l:l'S~;~·e·i;"l One can accomplish a great purpose with contl'ttual diligence even if one is a relaxed and easy-going person.

~~·aJz~r~c:.·~tll·~~·c.q eyes

to feel disgusted and show angry

f!'"'~·~"'·4J~·~~"'.~"'·~·~·~~·ar"l·~c:.·il"1l~·"l~~·~·~s"1

From yesterday onward the teacher felt disgusted with me and shows his angry eyes.

~tllli.T'!'OJC:.'-t'~c:.·~~C:.'-T'S'~"'ll early to rise and early to bed l.l~~·~.~·"l'-'J\'CJ'{'-!·~"1'-''!'~~"'·"~·~a;c:."''S''1)CJ'S~·c.t·i:~l

New

brides are early to rise and early to bed. ~ ;t::l..jJ\'s~·~·~(li.TC:.'l

. ~ ::t::nuscellaneous expense "'s·~~·~\,:1\'s"·~~·"'~·~·

~~·{J:. ·if{~·~"l'I.I~·Cf~~·i;"l Abroad, miscellaneous expenses are very high too.

tll~~·f~·l:lftllli.T'~~~l to expose others' faults "1~~·!-J~·I:l("l'-'' ~~~'S"'CJ'-1':1\~·~~·~·t.l~·'t"l'-''"1~·~~·34"1 It serves no purpose to oneself to expose others' faults.

209

CJa'3Jfl"l'CJ'.i~·c.f~~~ depend on others.

He is a great scholar who need not

~~~·~~~·~.r~£~·z:;q an outstanding/incomparable '-'=-~·~~· t::l~3J·~~·~~~·~·9~~·~'!J~'3J'~i~·CI~·(~·~;~·~r:_·~9·~;~·~9·~~~ Buddha Shakyaminin is a great outstanding perfect teacher.

9~~·tJ~·~c::~~1 one's own and others' happiness l'~·3J~~·~·s· ~

'i?

~

......

0."'

t::l';;~~·~·9~~·t::ll'~r:_·~~·~r:.·9·~~~

If one's activities are in conformity with the dharma, there will be happiness for one's self and others.

9~~·~~·tJ~Cl!'tJ'Cl!'~t:..·~~·t.l1

to feel happy over others'

suffering 9~~·~9't::l!OoJ't::l'OoJ'~r:.i·~·~~~·~;~·OoJ~·~r:.·~~·s·ii·~r:.·l One ought to feel compassionate but not happiness at others' suffering.

9~~·~~·~~·a~c:..~1

to take the responsibilities for others'

welfare 9~~·~~·rs~·a~=-~·~;~·~·s=-·~t::l'i:l3J~'~I;I~'~~~·~·~~·~9'~~~ It is the commitment of Boddhisattvas to take the responsibility for others' welfare.

9~~·g~·q~~·f5~1 to dispute and be partial to others .!It::!'~~·~· ~~·~~·~=-·rsQJ·~·~&~·~;~·i\f~·~·~·l9~·~=-·9~~·r~·~~~·~~·Df=-·~·~~~ If relations among the political leaders are strained, there will be dispute and partiality in the society.

9~~·3~·[:~·~~C:..~1 to follow what others say ~9·~~·9=.·~~· ~r:.'t::!i9'~9~·s~·~~~·~;~·OoJ~·9~~·i!~·i:~·~sc..~·g·i:J·~r:.·l

210

It's not

right to follow simply at what others say, one should examine whether it is good or bad.

~~ar·~·i!~·r.yl

inconceivable

immeasurable/ that cannot be repaid/ f"i·'~~..Q)~a.s·~·iJ~·'~~·~·s"i·a.s·':l~"i·"i~·~t.Q)·~"i·~·

~~~·r~·~z;.l Due to the inconceivable kindness of Buddha, His teaching is flourishing in this world.

~~·i!~·~~·~~':!~l baseless under-estimation or insult .Q)~"i·a.s· Zll~·iJ~·~z:.·~~':!~·s~·'~·~·z:.c_·~~-~5a.s·':!z:.·~~':!a·~l To disparage others with baseless under-estimation or insult is a cause for one's going to hell.

-

~~·i!~·f~~~~l baseless over-estimation a!"i·ry~·iii:)'CI'O.Z'al"i·ry~· ~"':.-~ .... tiii~'CIZ:.'t!'"'"1'Zil~·&~~~·~·~lZil~·z;.~l

It is a baseless over-estimation to praise somebody for having good knowledge when he/she has not.

~~·i!~·~~'':!Sf to make a base out of baseless i':!·~·t~~~:z:..·!~· Zll~c_·~·a.z~·Zil~·ii~·Zil~'':!ES~l~"l~·c_a,z·~·':!·a!~t It is more difficult to start something from nothing campared to improving an already existing school.

~~~·s~·~'1&J·~{&J~1 native

-

the reunion of the exiled and the

Zll~~-s~·i5"'~·il·31~31·~r~~~·~c_·':!a·~·~~·~:z:..·~·~~z;.·':!a·~·':!·

tlll~l

We hope the day of the reunion of the Tibetans inside Tibet and those in exile will come very soon.

~~·g·aJ~~·~~~l a well established base/ strong foundation 211

"·a;·~t~'SOJ'?S'"·~~~·~·~~"'·~~~r~~·~·cil~"'·~~"'·a;~"'·af"l

At

present the foundation of the Tibetan government in exile has become well established.

-

~~~·~~~·~+!"'~"! Seven fundamental rights are mentioned in the Indian Constitution.

z:q~·f~·z:q~~·~c:.~l the basic condition ~~·"'~·?;"·~·~~·~~·~~"'· ~~"'·~~·~af"·~'-'·IS~·~~~"''S"'CI'~"l It is announced that the basic conditions in Tibet are quite good today. z:q~c:.·a.t;ra:lz:q~·Qa,

to strengthen the main path/ the

construction of high ways · ?S'"·il·~!l'.l"~'~"'·~·!l'.l·oOJ'!I'.I~t;,:~~· ~~~·a.~!r.!·cil~"!'CI~·~:;~af.!·z:.t·~~~ The Tibetans constructed well the high-ways in Himachal Pradesh.

z:q~c:.·~~~·q~t'~~l

unwavering patriotism or love toward

the government ~~~·iJ~"''~Q'I~.-i!~·~~"'·a.r~o.r~~~r~:~·~·cr~~~ People with unwavering patri~tism are called nationalists.

z:q~c:.·~~~·~c:.·2.!J sincere loyalty/ faith in one's government .:.

::o:-:-

:.:"":

-

....

....

~

...

~~~·'-'~!1'.1'-''S~·"~·~"·~·"~·I;l"!'~~·~:;~~~·~ry:::.·~~:;~·;.:;·!r.l·~~~

If one has a firm and sincere loyalty to one's government, one cannot be deceived by the enemies.

9~c:.·~~~·~~·~9 ..,.,

Or..

....,.,

pure loyalty f~:;~·~~·~!l'.lf.I'OJ'~~:::.·iJ~f.l'~!l'.l·"~· ......

~~"''CI~'I:;I"1~'aii:;I'~~:::.·~OJ'ai!

It is very important to advise the students to develop pure loyalty to one's government.

212

~~~-q~·Jt~·03~"4J~·~·~~·.at::~l

An old man's wisdom is better than a young man's might

t::l~~~·~t:,·~·t::l~~~l

whether to stay or not f!r:::.·~·'ll·~·-.r·OJ"

CI~ZIJ4f"~r:::.·&~·CI~ZIJ41"~41·~·il~t I don't know whether he stays in Lhasa or not at present.

t::IJ:t:.·e~·s~·e~~·l:la-~~·~c:.·&~:t:.'

l:l'a-~~·i'~·~~·~Zil·~Zil·~c:.·~~~ All the developed countries have excellent factory production.

c:~a~·5:1c:~~.r~o.r·c:~l unbearable/ !·~~·Cf~·e~:t:.'l:lS~'!I:l~·s~·l:la'&t~:t:.· l!l'f~·l:l;c:.·1:1·~~~ unbearably.

The Chinese have exploited the Tibetans

220

~· ~~·~·~~

total desperation ~-~~-~-~tll·~·~tll·~;~~·tll~~·~·~.tl}~·

~~·~·~·il~l I shall not seek others' help until I am in total desperation.

~·~·~·~1 scatter-brained il·~·~·~·~·l't~.~·~"'·"l·~~t!j·l:;!!a.r~·~·~~~ The scatter-brained persons will not complete their work. ~~·~·~~·~1 inattentive f~;~·~tll·~;·~·;r;·~·~·l't~.~·~a,·"li'~"~·if~;~·~t~.~· ~t!j·Cf~;·~·~-~~~ The inattentive students do not listen well to the teacher during the teaching. ~·~9·21~~·=~1 desperate and helpless ~-~t!j'21:;!~·=~·§~·;·5:1·~~· t!j~-~~-g~-~~-~-~~1 A person may do anything when he is desperate and helpless.

~·~~·~-~~·~c::.·OJ'&J~C::.~1 Lit.: A desperate dog jumps at the walls/ Sense implied: helpless

~~·~~·~:::.·~:::.·1

noise/ uproar il·~~·~~·~·~~-~~·~~-tN"~·~·~~tll The mob is running towards me in uproar.

~~·~ry&r~~~-&~1

disrupting rumours ~~~rtJ·~~t~.~·~~·t!jry~·

~~tll·a~·~·tll~~·~~;~~·~·il·~~~;~·~~~ Wise people are not overpowered by disrupting rumours.

221

~.1\·ci·2J1 an exaggerator ~:.;·a;·~·~s·~·s~l Don't be such an exaggerator.

0..

0..

.....

"'''-J"ifi 0.fl:;l~~·"'::.'1

They spent the whole night yesterday in an

uproar.

~~·9%9·~s~q Lit.: like the mixing of water with milk/ Sense implied: very friendly ::.·l-~9"~'a!-9~"~·;:f~·9~9·~~"~· 0..

..........

~::.·l:;l~~·"'!l.!'tJ't.\1~1

We two friends are very friendly, hard to be separated like milk in the water.

~\ ~~· ~~1 glaring! glittering ~~·,!;~·,!;~·~:.;·al-i!!~.!"''o~·9~:.;·~·~~1 All that glitters is not gold.

q'~·a.1\·~~·~~1 having thousands of rays of light "9:.;'S9"~·~· ~·~'"\"1'~~·~:.;·-w-::.·~"\·~·~·.:::Fl The sun with thousands of rays of light rises from the to~ of the eastern hill.

q'~·~~·~9~1 a deserving responsibility il·~·~"\·"\·w::.·~"~'tJ~· ~9~·~~·~·2:"1'tJ:.;·§~·~·~~1 Anyone who is given a deserving job will definitely accept the responsibility.

q'~·I:!I:!~·~~J~~·l whoever is deserving! appropriate il:;l'~9.~"~· t.~·~·~::.·o.J·~~·I:;l~9'1:;l~9~9·9~::.·~9"~'9"\::.·1 deserving student as prefect.

Please appoint a

q'~·~~·~ci~~·~l fitting and appropriate f!::.·~a,·~~·9~::.·1:;l·~·~"~· ~::.·~a'l~"!·.::r~9·§::.·~59 It is very fitting and appropriate for him to become a teacher.

222

OJ'Fa·~·331 Lit.: the setting sun/ Sense implied: old age a:f"'t.~' ~t.~·a.rF~·~·3J·~~·3J~~t.~·z:.~·~~l Growing old is like the setting sun.

OJ'Fa·~·33·"t~·~·Fa·~z::~·~ift

Lit.: the setting sun and the

fading shadow/ Sense implied: to have become aged ;(41· ~·~3Jt.~·~~·~~~·~~·OJ·F~·~·~·~~:.·~·F~·~l:.l·~~~l:.l~·~·C4~·~·~~r Only religious practice can help when one becomes old. OJ'"t:zl'~~·"t:zl

Lit.: nine passes and nine valleys/ Sense

implied: distant 3J~·z:.~·;(~·~·r~~·~~·OJ·~~·~~:.·~~·l:.l~l:.l~·~·~· ~~·~·?4z:.1~·z:.~·~~l The translator Marpa Chokyi Lodoe visited

India by crossing nine mountains and nine valleys. OJ't:I~OJ·~~·t:~~OJ1

Lit.: to cross mountains and valleys/

Sense implied: distant and difficult travel ~·~~·~·s~:.·s~~· ~~·OJ·~~·3J~·?fl:.l410J'~·tf~·~·l:.lijl:l·~·~~1 If you cross many mountains and valleys toward the north of India, you will reach Tibet.

OJ·~·z::~sz::~·~·~-1\'~1

Lit.: over every mountain pass there is a

slope/ Sense implied: after every difficult time there is a good time ~·~·iJ·;¥;~·~~·a.rOJ·~~·l:.l~l:.l·~·~~·~·a~·z:.~~·~·~~:.·~· ~~! There will be good time after every difficult time in our life.

223

a.yz~p·l~~r.:~r~r~c:.:~r:::.·l

Lit.: long arm with short sleeves/ Sense implied: man of ideas but having financial

problems a.~~·&~~~r:.·a.~·s·~r:_·!r:.·s~~r~.,ra.~l'l·"rS~·UII~·il·~~~ I cannot do any work because of financial problems.

a.!.t:ll'~~l S"l'~~l Lit.: hand print! Sense implied: legacy/ feat l'~·il·l'l&l'?f~l'!'~'a,~·~a.y·~~\~·a.y~'i:l'l'~~·~·~r:_·~·~~·~~~·~~l Thonmi Sambhota is credited for leaving behind the legacy of Tibetan writing system.

0J.t:ll'~e..!'5J"l'~E:"l~l Lit.: to climb a rock with a maimed hand/ Sense implied: a fool's attempt l'l'f·z:.riJ~·::.r~·i[&~·::.r·~l a.!~'S&~' g~·a.y·~l~l'l·r.~·~sl

A meditation done without hearing teachings is just like a handicapped person climbing a rock.

0J.t:ll''.!'~e..T·2Jj S"l'~e..!·'fj Lit.: tight hand or fist! Sense implied: stingy/miser/ opposite of spendthrift r:.·M·~~·~~l:lj'a.!l:lj'r.l'~&~· ~~·sl:l)·~.c:;·~.c:;l Our master is very stingy. a.!!J1't~rcf;·~~,r~e..~·Q·~~l Lit.: remembering a pincer only when

one's hand is burnt! Sense implied: to think only when it is high time to do something &ll:l)·~.c:;·~l:Jl'!'l:l)%l:lj·~:~;.·jf~'f==-· ~:~;.·~l:I]'.IJ1~==-·~·~·a.yl:lj·r.~·~·~l'!'~&l·~·s~·~·~::_·l:lj%l:lj·~·~~l Studying hard during the examinations only is like burning one's hand and then remembering the use of a tong.

0J.t:ll'Q'W'.t:ll~z:rr9·.t:J~.t:ll'Ql Lit.: clapping with one hand/ Sense implied: impossibility "'!l:!')'l:J'.:n%9·~l'!'l:;ll9'~·1:;l~l:;l·~l:!·c.~.grr~~·&~· ~~1

It is not possible to clap with one hand.

224

o.~~·c.r·.tl~~·2fl

Lit.:

liberal

hand/

Sense

implied:

generous/spendthrift/extravagant ~ll)·CJ·~c:.('.I·Cfit~·~·3J·~Ff:.;.· ~·5r~~~ If one is not generous, people will not come to one.

OJ~'CJ.1\'.tl'W\~·~~·~f3.1:.'9'Q.f.1\l Lit.: If one has a piece of meat in the hand, the birds will hover in the sky/ Sense implied: If one has knowledge and wealth, others will gather around him. o.~~·~~·Q.:ilOJ·q~l

deserving to put into practice ~ll)·