Guanyin Fortune Stick 35 (Middle Lot)

"Straighten hat and robe again and keep the old custom's ways..." So opens lot 35 in our translation. Below are the Chinese original, the full English, the story behind the poem, the traditional counsel and what it means in plain English.

The poem

In English (our translation):

Straighten hat and robe again and keep the old custom's ways;
what seems to have no merit will bring merit in its days.
Sweep the thorns and brambles off the road you have to tread;
three people talk it over and agree on what's ahead.

The story: Xuanzang, the Tang monk of "Journey to the West," traveled to India for Buddhist scriptures with three disciples who each had their own troubles.

The other version

Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「衣冠重整舊家風，道是無穹卻有功，掃卻當途荊棘刺，三人約議再和同」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.

Shiyi and jieyue

The shiyi (詩意, "meaning of the poem") names the image in one line; the jieyue (解曰, "the reading") is a short four-character commentary.

Sacred counsel, item by item

The sacred counsel (聖意) gives a short verdict for each kind of question. Find the row that matches what you asked.

The traditional counsel also has an "Illness" item, which we do not list. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.

What it means in plain English

Straighten yourself up and set out again. What looks like wasted effort does count; the thorns on the road get cleared, and the people involved come to agree.

A tip: Regroup, then talk it over with everyone, and things will go smoothly.

This is our reading of the words on the page. For how it applies to your own question, go by the temple where you drew the lot.

How to draw a Guanyin lot

1. Light incense and tell Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, your name, birth date and address, then state one question clearly.
2. Ask permission by casting the two crescent-shaped moon blocks (筊, jiao). One flat side up and one round side up is a "yes." Then shake the bamboo cylinder until a single numbered stick falls out.
3. Confirm the stick with the blocks. A common custom is to ask for three "yes" throws in a row; if you do not get them, draw again.
4. Collect the poem slip with the same number. Read the whole poem first, then look up the counsel item that matches your question. If it is unclear, the temple staff can interpret it for you.

Ask about one thing at a time. The more specific the question, the easier the poem is to apply.

Common misunderstandings

Previous lot: Lot 34. Next lot: Lot 36.