諺語 · a single proverb
放下屠刀，立地成佛
What does 放下屠刀，立地成佛 (fàng xià tú dāo, lì dì chéng fó) mean?
放下屠刀，立地成佛 (fàng xià tú dāo, lì dì chéng fó) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot." In use it means: Redemption is available at any moment; a genuine change of heart transforms a person instantly. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Pig.
Literally: "lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot."
The reading
The knife was heavy. Not in weight, but in what it represented. And then it was on the ground, and the hands were empty, and something changed. Not gradually, but immediately. The past does not disappear, but the direction does reverse. And direction, not history, is what defines you from this moment forward.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Buddhist saying; widely used in Chan/Zen tradition
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 放下屠刀，立地成佛 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 放下屠刀，立地成佛 (fàng xià tú dāo, lì dì chéng fó) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Buddhist saying; widely used in Chan/Zen tradition. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 放下屠刀，立地成佛?
In Mandarin it is fàng xià tú dāo, lì dì chéng fó. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 放下屠刀，立地成佛 aloud in Mandarin.