Guanyin Fortune Stick 42 (Upper Lot)

"Your lord pours down his favor, boundless, rich and wide..." So opens lot 42 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):

Your lord pours down his favor, boundless, rich and wide;
prayers and offerings are heard with no favored side.
All beings with feeling gain the use of what is given,
and all partake of joy and gain, complete as under heaven.

The story: The Buddhist disciple Mulian (Maudgalyayana) went down into the underworld to save his mother from suffering; the story is behind the Ghost Festival offerings.

The other version

Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「君皇聖后終為恩，復待祈禳無損增，一切有情皆受用，人間天上得期亨」. 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

Heaven's grace shines on everyone without favor. Everyone benefits, and things turn out complete and whole.

A tip: Keep a grateful heart, and good luck will stay with you.

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 41. Next lot: Lot 43.