Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind

Japanese translation: 「随処作主」（ずいしょにしゅとなる）

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind
Japanese translation:	「随処作主」（ずいしょにしゅとなる）
Entered by:	Juan L. Mera F.

17:59 Oct 4, 2009

English to Japanese translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Religion / Japanese Zen Proverb

English term or phrase: Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind

Dear Colleagues:

Although I´m an English Spanish translator, I have a very unusual requirement, I need to translate this Zen Proverb into Japanese, it will be painted as a mural painting in a Karate school. I have no knowledge of Japanese, but I understand that this proverb can be written in Kanji symbols.

It is very important that this proverb is properly written, since this school will receive several Japanese visitors during the following months.

I will be very grateful for your suggestions about this unusual requirement.

Thanks a lot,

Juan Mera

Juan L. Mera F. KudoZ activity Questions: 200 (none open) (6 closed without grading) Answers: 7 Ecuador
Local time: 21:19

「随処作主」（ずいしょにしゅとなる）

Explanation:
When your question is literally translation, 心を支配せよ、心に支配されるな (Rule your mind, not be ruled by it) would do.
But I wish to choose actual Zen teaching and I found this here.

http://www.manpukuji.net/zenkotoba.html

Since you do not read Japanese, let me explain what this means --- "Be master of your own mind always. Then you may find the truth."

HTH

Selected response from:

humbird

Grading comment

Thanks a lot!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +5

「随処作主」（ずいしょにしゅとなる）

humbird

Answers

6 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

be master of mind rather than mastered by mind

「随処作主」（ずいしょにしゅとなる）

humbird
Native speaker of:

Japanese,

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Thanks a lot!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Yumico Tanaka (X): Yes! To Juan:I hope you don't need（ずいしょにしゅとなる）because its ending needs to be modified if you put, る-->れ

22 mins

-> Thank you Yumico-san!

agree

Yasutomo Kanazawa

3 hrs

-> Thank you Kanazawa-san!

agree

ayami: I agree but 随処作主 is difficult to understand even for Japanese unless you have zen knowledge. Your other translation 心を支配せよ、心に支配されるな is a good one and easy to understand.

13 hrs

-> Appreciate your comment!

agree

Tomo Fuji: I agree with atchristian. 随処作主 is impressive, but not many Japanese might know this expression/phrase (I didn't!). I think your other translation is excellent.

1 day 4 hrs

agree

Minoru Kuwahara: in my view the answered translation itself is excellent. Just imagine there is a karate dojo where they uplift a wall scroll with a proverb written in grass character. -

4 days

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind

Japanese translation: 「随処作主」（ずいしょにしゅとなる）

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind

Japanese translation: 「随処作主」（ずいしょにしゅとなる）

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language