Using Buddhist tenets in daily conversation

Ancient religion is deeply ingrained in chinese language, culture

Even if you do not follow in the ways of the Siddhartha, there is a lot people can learn from the tenets, language, and culture of Buddhism. Imported into China almost 2,000 years ago, there are 185 million Buddhists in China, and Buddhist vocabulary is deeply ingrained in the Chinese language.

Many words can make you sound more like a Buddhist. When you want to say "stupid", instead of 愚蠢 (yúchǔn), you should say 愚痴 (yúchī), which makes the word sounds more sympathetic, as if the Buddha's eyes are casting empathy on the stupidity of humanity. For those on a diet who want to say "I'm determined to lose 10 kilos", say "我发愿减十磅" (Wǒ fāyuàn jiǎn shíbàng), giving the action a solemn tone. But if there is one Buddhist word you need to learn, it is 无常 (wúcháng), essential to all Buddhist beliefs. It literally means unpredictable, but in a Buddhist context it means everything will die and nothing is permanent.

My house is going to be torn down.

Wǒ de fángzi yào bèi chāiqiān le.

我的房子要被拆迁了.

That is how this world is; everything passes away.

Shìshì jiùshìzhème wúcháng a.

世事就是这么无常啊.

I was fired.

Wǒ bèi chǎo le.

我被炒了.

Let it go. It's just a job. If you feel attached to anything in this ever-changing world, you are fated to suffer.

Fàngxià bà! Zhè zhǐshì gè gōngzuò. Rúguǒ nǐ zhízhuó yú zhègè wúcháng de shìjiè shàng de rènhé dōngxi, jiù zhùdìng yào shòukǔ.

放下吧！这只是个工作.如果你执着于这个无常的世界上的任何东西，就注定要受苦.

The word 因果 (yīnguǒ, karma) is frequently used to explain everything that is good and horrible in the world. 因果 literally means causes and results, but when it is used in a Buddhist context it indicates a resigned attitude that puts everything in the hands of fate. It is often used together with 报应 (bàoyìng), which means basically the same thing.

Did you see the hit-and-run news? The police have no leads.

Nǐ kànle nà tiáo zhàoshì táoyìde xīnwén ma? Jǐngchá gēnběn zhuābùdào tā.

你看了那条肇事逃逸的新闻吗？警察根本抓不到他.

We are all creatures of our own karma. They will come face to face with their deeds one day.

Wǒmen dōu bēifùzhe zìjǐ de yīnguǒ. Tāmen chízǎo huìzāodào bàoyìng de.

我们都背负着自己的因果.他们迟早会遭到报应的.

I won the lottery.

Wǒ zhòngjiǎng le.

我中奖了.

It must be karma. You must have done many good things in your last life.

Yīnguǒ a! Nǐ zhè shì shàngbèizi xiū lái de fúfèn.

因果啊！你这是上辈子修来的福分.

You should also show how, armed with the wisdom of Buddha, you cannot be seduced by the vanity of the material world. In Buddhist terms, the exterior of things is called 色 (sè), the visible form, while the innate nature of all things is 空 (kōng), emptiness. Memorizing this passage from the Heart Sutra will make you look really insightful:

Form does not differ from emptiness,

Emptiness does not differ from form.

Form is emptiness,

And emptiness is form.

Sè bù yì kōng, kōng bù yì sè. Sè jì shì kōng, kōng jì shì sè.

色不异空，空不异色.色即是空，空即是色.

In this example, "form is emptiness" is widely used.

I'm so jealous of the Porsche owner who painted his car gold.

Wǒ zhēn xiànmù nàge kāi jīnsè Bǎoshíjié de rén.

我真羡慕那个开金色保时捷的人.

But remember, all forms are emptiness.

Dàn nǐ bié wàng le, sè jì shì kōng a.

但你别忘了，色即是空啊.

To return a greeting, say "阿弥陀佛" (ēmítuófó, Amitabha) on all occasions and you will almost never go wrong; it shows humility. Amitabha was a bodhisattva's name, but in daily conversations, it just means "Buddha bless you" and indicates politeness. It can also be used as an exclamation, similar to "Oh my god!"

Amitabha! I've used the sugar instead of salt.

ēmítuófó! Wǒ bǎ táng dāngzuò yán le.

阿弥陀佛！我把糖当做盐了.

If you visit a temple and want to offer incense or get a string of beads, never say "buy" but rather "invite" (请 qǐng).

May I "invite" a string of Buddhist beads?

Wǒ xiǎng qǐng yí chuàn fózhū.

我想请一串佛珠.

Amitabha. Our Buddhist beads are all blessed by the abbot. May you come to know infinite righteousness.

ēmítuófó. Wǒmen zhèlǐ de fózhū dōushì zhùchí kāiguò guāng de, shīzhǔ zhēnshì jiéle shànyuán le.

阿弥陀佛.我们这里的佛珠都是住持开过光的，施主真是结了善缘了.

In more touristy temples, you may want to tactfully reject what the monks want you to "invite".

Patron, "invite" a Buddha statue to your house. His blessings will keep your whole family from illness and disaster.

Shīzhǔ, qǐng zūn fóxiàng huíqù ba, bǎoyòu nǐmen quánjiā wúbìng wú zāi.

施主，请尊佛像回去吧，保佑你们全家无病无灾.

Should anyone, looking at an image or likeness of the Buddha, claim to know the Buddha and worship him, that person would be mistaken and not knowing the true Buddha.

Ruò yǐ sè jiàn wǒ, yǐ shēngyīn qiú wǒ, shì rén xíng xiédào, bùnéng jiàn Rúlái.

若以色见我，以声音求我，是人行邪道，不能见如来.

Courtesy of The World of Chinese, www.theworldofchinese.com

The World of Chinese

(China Daily European Weekly 03/14/2014 page27)