45 The More One Brags of Being Straight, The More Deeply Crooked One Ends Up-final

The More One Brags Of Being Straight, The More Deeply Crooked One Ends Up

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

The straighter you try to be, the more deeply crooked
Turns out a hidden, secret enemy surprisingly nasty.
Wanting to be straight, to show off and succeed —
How straight is it really? Come on, be honest.

One brags “straight” according to what they praise
Too straight one sinks into the strict mess created
Wanting to be straight so that somebody will accept us
So that this little kid will grow up for once.

A mind clear enough to let it all go,
Not seeing a problem between straight and bent.
Beyond crooked & straight not deceived by “me” or “it”
So purely at peace, freed of the world, unburdened.

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