Guanyin Oracle · Lot 54

Cautionary

What it means

A lot of waking from a dream. What you hope for may be only a pleasant dream, and more effort is wasted; rather than cling, find another way. Lü Dongbin saw through glory in a millet dream and found his true path. This is not despair but a call to wake up and put your strength into something real.

By matter

Line by line

1. 夢中得寶醒來無
   Treasure found in a dream is gone on waking.
2. 應說巫山只是虛
   Like the legend of Mount Wu's clouds, only illusion.
3. 若問婚姻幷病訟
   If you ask about marriage, illness or lawsuits,
4. 別尋生路得相宜
   better to seek another way.

Classic commentary

此卦夢中得寶之象。凡事枉費心力也。

物在水中。形影長短。皆有分定。不用商量。

The image: treasure found in a dream; effort is wasted. The verdict: like reflections in water, their shape and length are already set; no need to bargain over it.

The story · Lü Dongbin's Yellow Millet Dream

The scholar Lü Yan, later the immortal Lü Dongbin, failed the exams and met Zhongli Quan at an inn, where he dozed on a pillow. He dreamt of becoming top scholar, high minister and rich beyond measure, then forty years later of disgrace and pursuit, and woke in terror, while the innkeeper's millet was still not cooked. Enlightened, he followed Zhongli to study the Way.

Reference: Lot 54 of the Guanyin Oracle at Mengjia Longshan Temple, Taipei, with its traditional image, verdict, guidance and story. Story summaries are our own.