How to Read “Taking offerings without reading the sutras”
きょうもよまずにふせをとる
Meaning of “Taking offerings without reading the sutras”
This proverb criticizes people who try to gain rewards or benefits without fulfilling their actual duties or responsibilities.
It comes from the image of a monk who neglects his main duty of reading sutras but still accepts offerings.
The saying points out the dishonesty of seeking rewards without doing what you’re supposed to do, regardless of your job or position.
Today, we use this proverb for various situations. It applies to people who want their salary without producing results at work.
It also describes those who want qualifications or titles without actually learning anything.
This proverb is more powerful than simply saying someone is lazy. It clearly highlights the relationship between duty and reward, and sharply points out the imbalance.
The saying teaches us an important lesson. Pursuing profit without effort or responsibility might work temporarily, but it won’t last.
In the end, this approach leads to losing people’s trust.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb comes from the relationship between a Buddhist monk’s duties and their compensation.
In Buddhism, “sutras” are scriptures that record Buddha’s teachings. Reading sutras and explaining these teachings to people has always been the monk’s most important role.
“Offerings” refers to money or goods that believers give to monks as expressions of gratitude.
Originally, monks would read sutras, conduct religious ceremonies, and support people spiritually. In return for these services, they received offerings.
However, some monks apparently neglected studying scriptures and practicing their faith. They simply used their position as monks to collect offerings without doing the work.
We don’t have clear records of exactly when people started using this proverb. However, it likely emerged after the Heian period, when Buddhism took root in Japan.
During this time, temples and monks became widespread throughout society. People interacted with monks regularly and developed a critical eye for those who sought payment without fulfilling their duties.
This proverb became established as a concise way to express that criticism.
Usage Examples
- That salesman doesn’t even visit clients but uses up all his expense account—he’s really taking offerings without reading the sutras
- Demanding a raise without attending training or joining projects is like taking offerings without reading the sutras
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down through generations because it touches on fundamental human desires and society’s need for fairness.
Everyone has the urge to gain benefits with as little effort as possible. Effort is painful, and responsibility is heavy. But we still want rewards.
This contradictory psychology is an unchanging part of human nature, from ancient times to today.
At the same time, society needs the principle of “work that matches compensation” to function. If everyone sought rewards without fulfilling duties, society would collapse.
This proverb reflects the eternal tension between individual desires and social necessity.
What’s interesting is that this saying doesn’t just criticize—it functions as a warning. Our ancestors knew from experience that taking shortcuts to gain benefits temporarily doesn’t last.
Trust is built through accumulation, and once lost, it’s difficult to recover. Those who don’t fulfill their proper duties eventually find that no one will deal with them.
This proverb conveys this harsh reality concisely.
In human society, the balance between effort and reward is constantly questioned. This proverb continues to live on because this question represents a universal theme that never becomes outdated.
When AI Hears This
In markets with information asymmetry, low-quality services can drive out high-quality ones.
Economist George Akerlof proved this theory with the used car market. Interestingly, it also applies to the world of sutra reading.
Clients cannot verify whether a monk can actually read sutras. They can’t judge whether the monk understands the meaning of the scriptures or chants with correct pronunciation.
If someone exploits this information gap, even a fake monk who can’t read sutras can earn compensation.
What’s even more interesting is this: real monks spend years and significant costs on training, but fakes can reduce that cost to zero.
This means fakes have an advantage in price competition and can accept lower fees.
However, this strategy has a fatal flaw. From a game theory perspective of “repeated games,” a reputation mechanism comes into play.
You might fool people once or twice, but funerals and memorial services repeat within local communities. Monks who can’t read sutras make small mistakes that accumulate.
Eventually, information spreads: “That monk is suspicious.” The “consistency of accuracy” that real monks possess is actually the strongest signal that cannot be faked.
This proverb brilliantly captures the tradeoff between short-term profit and long-term trust.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is that true value lies in the accumulation of invisible parts.
In an era where only flashy results on social media get attention, we need to remember the importance of steady effort.
This lesson is crucial for building your career. Don’t just chase “offerings” like qualifications and titles.
Instead, value the process of “reading sutras”—building real ability. This is how you earn genuine trust.
Not cutting corners even when no one is watching becomes your reputation over time. That reputation brings new opportunities.
This proverb also serves as a tool for self-examination. Am I fulfilling my proper duties? Am I providing value that matches my compensation?
Asking yourself these questions gives you a chance to reconsider how you approach your work.
You don’t need to be perfect. What matters is maintaining an attitude of sincere, continuous effort.
That accumulation shapes your trustworthiness as a person. Ultimately, it leads to a richer life.
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