隨suí處chù作zuò主zhǔ,，立lì處chù皆jiē真zhēn

What does 隨處作主，立處皆真 (suí chù zuò zhǔ, lì chù jiē zhēn) mean?

隨處作主，立處皆真 (suí chù zuò zhǔ, lì chù jiē zhēn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Wherever you go, be the master; wherever you stand, all is truth." In use it means: Authentic presence does not depend on favorable circumstances. Wherever you find yourself, meet the moment fully and own it as real. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dog.

Literally: "Wherever you go, be the master; wherever you stand, all is truth."

The reading

Linji's instruction cuts through every excuse about waiting for the right moment or the right place. The monastery, the marketplace, and the muddy road all offer the same opportunity. Mastery here does not mean domination but means refusing to hand your center of gravity to the situation. A person who can stand in a noisy crowd and remain rooted has already found what most people travel a thousand miles to seek.

What kind of proverb it is

• Typeyànyǔ 諺語
• FocusPresent-minded
• Element火 Fire
• Zodiac tie狗 Year of the Dog

Source Linji Yixuan (臨濟義玄), Linji Lu (Record of Linji), Tang Dynasty

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 Courage & Decisive Action, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.