Mazu Poem17 |

Old grudges remain unchanged.The past's overlapping mistakes and the harm brought by difficulties still remain in the heart and have not disappeared; the crux of the problem has yet to be resolved.Disasters do not come to one's home.Just like a disaster at home may not happen to oneself, one should generally be on guard against bad things happening to oneself.You must be cautious and do good deeds.To do more good deeds for your own benefit, as this can help prevent disasters from occurring.The translation of the quoted text is: "The dragon and the snake meet and achieve harmony."When the dragon and the snake meet, the things that are confusing will have a result.

This poem reminds the person involved to improve past mistakes. Although these mistakes have not yet caused any impact on themselves, they should also do more good deeds and earnestly fulfill their responsibilities. The truth will be revealed, or the situation will reach a conclusion when the dragon and snake meet.The term "the meeting of the dragon and the snake" refers to the moment when things become clear and results emerge. The near reference is to the months, with the dragon (Chen) representing March and the snake (Si) representing April. The distant reference pertains to the transition between the Year of the Dragon and the Year of the Snake.If the zodiac sign of the person seeking the divination is either a dragon or a snake, it may be worth considering whether the dragon and snake refer to the person involved, the matter being sought, or a benefactor with a different zodiac sign.