Why, why has the World changed so much?
Who should we ask?
Let’s ask Heaven.
Oh, Heaven! Why? Why are so many disasters happening?
And Heaven answers: tian bu tian, tian wu gui.
Let’s ask the Earth,
Oh, Earth! Why? Why do so many disasters happen?
And the Earth answers:
di bu di, di wu lü.
Let’s ask God.
Oh, God! Why? Why do so many disasters happen?
And God answers:
shen bu shen, shen wu shen.
Let’s ask the Immortals.
Oh, Immortals! Why? Why do so many disasters happen?
And the Immortals answer: xian bu xian, kan bu jian.
Let’s ask Buddha.
Oh, Buddha! Why? Why do so many disasters happen?
And Buddha answers: fo bu fo, fo mo fa.
Let’s ask the Saints.
Oh, Saints! Why? Why do so many disasters happen?
And the Saints answer: sheng bu sheng, sheng wu xin.
Let’s ask the High Spirits.
Oh, High Spirit Beings! Why? Why do so many disasters happen?
And the High Spirits answer: ling bu ling, xin ze ling.
Let’s ask the Master.
Oh, Master! Why? Why do so many disasters happen?
And the Master answers: shi bu shi, shi wu wo.
And with a sigh, we ask:
What does „shi bu shi, shi wu wo“ mean?
What exactly does it mean?
July 23, 2020
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