At the suggestion of another, I'm going to compare a few different translations of one of my favorite cases from The Gateless Gate for shits and gigs. I find different translations interesting.
Anyway, here's Case 8 from The Gapless Fence:
Cleary Translation
Case 8: The Master Cartwright Makes a Carriage
Master Yueyan asked a monk, "Xizhong (the master cartwright) made carriages (with wheels) with a hundred spokes. We roll up the two hubs and eliminate the axle: does this explain transcendence or worldly wisdom?"
Wumen said,
If you can understand directly, your eyes are like comets, your mental workings like a flash of lightning.
Verse
Where the wheel of mental workings turns,
Even those who comprehend are still deluded.
The four directions, up and down,
South, north, east, west.
Yamada Translation
Case 8: Keichu Makes Carts
Master Gettan asked a monk, "Keichu made a hundred carts. If he took off both wheels and removed the axle, what would he make clear about the cart?"
Mumon's Commentary
If you can realize this at once, your eye will be like a shooting star, and your spiritual activity like catching lightning.
The Verse
Where the active wheel revolves,
Even a master fails.
It moves in four directions: above and below,
South and north, east and west.
Senzaki Translation
Case 8: Keichu's Wheel
Getsuan said to his students: “Keichu, the first wheel-maker of China, made two wheels of fifty spokes each. Now, suppose you removed the nave uniting the spokes. What would become of the wheel? And had Keichu done this, could he be called the master wheel-maker?”
MUMON’S COMMENT:
If anyone can answer this question instantly, his eyes will be like a comet and his mind like a flash of lightning.
When the hubless wheel turns,
Master or no master can stop it.
It turns above heaven and below earth,
South, north, east, and west.
Remix
Case 8: The Master Makes a Wheel
A Master asked a Monk, "If a Master Cartwright made a hundred carts, and he took off the wheels and axles, what would that make clear about the cart?"
Mumon's Comments
If you can understand directly, your eye will be like a shooting star, and your mind like flash of lightning.
Verse
Where the hubless wheel turns,
Even a master can't stop it.
The four directions, up and down,
South, north, east, west.
HT Commentary: There's some pretty interesting differences in the translations above. I took them all and remixed it for fun. I highlighted the key differences by making them italic. I'm not the best at formatting on reddit, but I tried to space, bold, and italicize things. If you have any questions, just ask. If you like this post and would like another in the future, let me know.
Submitted September 19, 2020 at 01:17AM by Hansa_Teutonica https://ift.tt/2RD6Qwu
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