寒山·《蒸沙拟作饭》英译

蒸沙拟作饭，临渴始掘井。

用力磨碌砖，那堪持作镜。

佛说元平等，总有真如性。

但自审思量，不用闲争竞。

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Day Labor

One man steams a pot of sand for rice;

His neighbor, thirsty, sinks a well.

His brother cramps his strength, rubbing bricks

Into—he hopes—perfect mirrors.

The Buddha says we have one nature,

That we are truly so.

Think of that.

Not struggle, but thinking makes it so.