The Sleepy Immortal

Chinese fortune poems, one page each

Mazu's Fortune Poems

Mazu Fortune Poem No. 22: Fortune and favor have never been easy to win.

Mazu Fortune Poem No. 22 is paired with the Ding · The Cauldron hexagram. In plain words: Good fortune is hard to chase, so don't wear yourself out scheming for it. Loosen your grip; a healthy body and a calm mind matter most.

Ding · The Cauldron
Fortune and favor have never been easy to win.Scheming only wears you out for nothing.In the end it brings no gain, only laughter behind your back.When obsession takes hold, everything comes to a stop.

Original Chinese

福祿從來未易求枉勞心力費鑽謀到頭無益徒貽笑痴病相侵萬事休

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Questions people ask

Is Mazu Fortune Poem No. 22 a good fortune?

This set is not ranked from good to bad here. What matters is the reminder: Good fortune is hard to chase, so don't wear yourself out scheming for it. Loosen your grip; a healthy body and a calm mind matter most. The choice is yours.

What does Mazu Fortune Poem No. 22 say in English?

Fortune and favor have never been easy to win. / Scheming only wears you out for nothing. / In the end it brings no gain, only laughter behind your back. / When obsession takes hold, everything comes to a stop.

Different temples may use slightly different versions.

A fortune poem is a reminder, not an order. The choice is yours.

Chinese poem font: Wang Han-zong Li Shu (GPL v2), with a few added glyphs