How to Read “When humans ripen they face upward, when bodhisattvas ripen they bow down”
Ningen wa mi ga ireba aomuku, bosatsu wa mi ga ireba utsumuku
Meaning of “When humans ripen they face upward, when bodhisattvas ripen they bow down”
This proverb contrasts human nature with the ideal character. It shows that ordinary people tend to become arrogant when they succeed, while truly virtuous people become more humble as they achieve more.
When ordinary people gain status, fame, or wealth, they often try to show off their importance. They act superior and look down on others.
This is what “face upward” means. Success doesn’t fill their hearts with contentment. Instead, it fills them with the emptiness of arrogance.
On the other hand, truly virtuous people and those with strong character act differently. The more they succeed, the more they recognize their own shortcomings.
They feel deeper gratitude toward those around them. They become more humble in their attitude. This is what “bodhisattvas bow down” means.
People use this proverb to evaluate how successful people behave. They also use it as a warning to themselves when they achieve something.
It contains a deep insight: true success isn’t just about external results. It must come with internal growth as well.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, the structure of the phrase reveals an interesting background.
First, notice the expression “ripen.” This refers to rice heads becoming heavy with grain. When rice ripens fully, it naturally bows down from the weight.
This natural phenomenon has become deeply rooted in Japanese culture as a symbol of humility.
The contrasting words “face upward” and “bow down” are also important. Facing upward means looking up, which shows an arrogant attitude.
Bowing down means looking down, which represents a humble posture.
The use of the word “bodhisattva” suggests Buddhist influence. A bodhisattva is someone who has achieved enlightenment but continues practicing to save others.
The Buddhist ideal that accumulating virtue leads to greater humility is embedded in this proverb.
What’s interesting is how it overlaps the natural form of rice plants with human spirituality. Just as fruitful rice heads bow down, truly mature people should be humble.
This teaching is emphasized through the contrasting expression. It represents Japanese wisdom that expresses human nature and the ideal form through plant growth and Buddhist teachings.
Usage Examples
- That company president remains humble despite great success. It’s exactly “When humans ripen they face upward, when bodhisattvas ripen they bow down.”
- Watching him act superior after his promotion reminds me of “When humans ripen they face upward, when bodhisattvas ripen they bow down.”
Universal Wisdom
The deepest truth this proverb reveals is that success becomes a touchstone that tests human nature. Success isn’t just a result.
It’s a mirror that reveals a person’s true character.
Why do people become arrogant when they succeed? Because success creates the illusion that they achieved everything through their own power alone.
Humans naturally carry anxiety and feelings of inferiority. Success temporarily covers up that anxiety.
But at the same time, it stimulates the desire to make oneself appear bigger than reality. By facing upward and puffing out their chest, people try to confirm their own worth.
In contrast, truly mature people see more as they succeed more. They see the people who supported them, the importance of luck and timing, and the fact that they’re still immature.
Just as rice heads bow lower as they ripen more, there’s wisdom here that connects to Socrates’ words: the more you know, the more you know your own ignorance.
This proverb has been passed down for so long because it clearly shows both the trap people easily fall into at success and the ideal they should aim for.
Success isn’t a destination. It’s an entrance to deeper humanity. This timeless truth is contained here.
When AI Hears This
From an information theory perspective, humans showing off success is “information diffusion.” This increases entropy in the entire system.
For example, when someone gains knowledge and posts about it on social media or brags about it, that information spreads to others.
In information theory, the more widely information is diffused, the lower its scarcity becomes. The entire system approaches a disordered state.
In other words, as more people have the knowledge, the value of that knowledge relatively decreases.
On the other hand, acting humbly like a bodhisattva means selectively retaining acquired information and sharing it only with necessary recipients.
This can be called “negative entropy generation” that maintains information quality. According to Shannon’s information theory, information quantity is measured by the reduction of uncertainty.
Information that everyone knows has no value. But properly managed information continues to hold high value.
What’s interesting is that human showing-off behavior attracts attention in the short term but dilutes information value in the long term.
Meanwhile, humility preserves information scarcity and consequently sustains greater influence. This is the same principle as maintaining local order in an open system.
It’s the mechanism by which life maintains a low-entropy state.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches you today is that the moment of success is the perfect opportunity to examine yourself.
In modern society where you can easily share achievements on social media and receive recognition, temptations to make yourself look bigger are everywhere.
But real growth begins when you pause at the moment of success and think about the people who supported you.
Specifically, when you achieve something, first put your gratitude into words. It can be toward your boss, colleagues, family, or even your past self.
Then write down what you learned from this success and what you still lack.
What’s important is not using success as proof of your worth. Instead, see it as a stepping stone to your next growth.
Like rice heads that bow down, people who become more humble as they ripen more gain trust from those around them. The path to further success opens for them.
May your success cultivate humility rather than arrogance. That is the path to a truly rich life.
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