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A question my Japanese teacher told me she couldn't answer - TheTrueBlue - 2009-07-08
She's a small business owner who commutes daily to NYC from New Jersey who came to the US from Japan a few years back.
At the end of class, I asked if I could please be enlightened as to the meaning of 明鏡止水 meikyoushisui。As a personality trait, I not exactly sure what "clear and serene as a polished/clear mirror 明鏡 or still/stagnant water 止水" means in terms of how a person would act in everyday situations. And are there 木、 火、or 金 equivalents?
Thanks 皆さん。
A question my Japanese teacher told me she couldn't answer - Mcjon01 - 2009-07-08
Well, my dictionary supplies "a mind undisturbed [unsullied] by evil thoughts; a serene state of mind" as a definition, if that helps. I'm afraid I can't speak with any authority on your other questions, though.
A question my Japanese teacher told me she couldn't answer - thermal - 2009-07-08
My dictionary states:
曇りのない鏡と静かな水。なんのわだかまりもなく、澄みきって静かな心の状態をいう。「—の心境」
Looks similar to "tranquil". "A tranquil state of mind"
A question my Japanese teacher told me she couldn't answer - yukamina - 2009-07-08
Yahoo gives this sentence example.
明鏡止水の心境といったところです
My mind [mental state] is as serene as a polished mirror (and still water).
A question my Japanese teacher told me she couldn't answer - Aijin - 2009-07-08
Ah, nothing like an arcane word to spice the day
明鏡止水 is a beautiful term, but you won't see that one too often. Sadly I've probably heard it more in reference to the alcoholic beverage.
I would say "placid" is a better English translation than just "tranquil" though. 明鏡止水 is very meditative, a calm originating from lack of internal and external stimuli. Peace of mind birthed from silence of thought is how I would put it.
A question my Japanese teacher told me she couldn't answer - TheTrueBlue - 2009-07-08
どもありがとう皆さん
Yes thank you thermal3 for this description, its exactly what I was looking for.
曇りのない鏡と静かな水。なんのわだかまりもなく、澄みきって静かな心の状態をいう。「—の心境」
Initiate 馬鹿外人 translation skills!
As with a mirror that's not cloudy... As with a peaceful lake... Without anxieties or reserve... A clear and composed heart and spirit is the state of 明鏡止水さん。
So can 明鏡止水 be a temporary state of mind? Or is it more a general descriptor of a kind of person?
Does it mean the ability to stay focused? Or can it be construed as apathy to one's environment? I hope to be able to learn to properly use to use this term and also appreciate its nuances.
And there's a 明鏡止水 beverage？Wow... sounds deep...
A question my Japanese teacher told me she couldn't answer - bodhisamaya - 2009-07-09
The Buddha is usually painted sitting with a mirror behind him in meditative absorbtion into the clear light nature of mind. All phenomena are realized as illusionary like the moon's reflection on still water.