平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚 - Never burning incense when all is well, but clasping Buddha’s feet in an emergency
平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚
píng shí bù shāo xiāng, lín shí bào fó jiǎo
Never burning incense when all is well, but clasping Buddha’s feet in an emergency
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Explanation
Last-minute efforts are useless if no preparatory work has been done. This proverb warns us to take precautions against all emergencies, and not wait for disaster to strike.
The Story
【出 处】 烧香礼佛是佛门的早晚常课，是平时积德修行的具体表现之一。如果平时恣意妄为，一旦到生死关头或大难临头，匆忙求佛，自然难以解脱了。据宋·张世南《游宦纪闻》载：“云南之南一番国专尚释教，有犯罪应诛者，捕之急，趋往寺中，抱佛脚悔过，便贳（赦）其罪。”佛教以大慈大悲、普渡众生为怀，虽是有罪而平时不烧香的人，只要他虔诚忏悔，止恶修善，还是可赦其罪，获得安慰和解脱。又据宋·刘敞《中山诗话》载：王安古曾与沙门道因戏对云：“投老欲依僧。”道因对云：“急来抱佛脚。”王曰：“投老欲依僧是古诗一句”，道因云：“急来抱佛脚是俗谚全语”。后来比喻平时没有准备，事到临头才想办法补救。如唐·孟郊《读经》诗：“垂老抱佛脚，教妻读《黄庭》。”又如《水浒传》第十六回：“正是急来抱佛脚，闲时不烧香。”
Usage Sample
He never burning incense when all is well, but clasping Buddha’s feet in an emergency
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Translate Chinese Proverbs 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚 into English 英文翻译 English Translation, Never burning incense when all is well, but clasping Buddha’s feet in an emergency 中文翻译 Chinese Translation píng shí bù shāo xiāng, lín shí bào fó jiǎo