Mazu Poem23 |

To leave the Yangtze River, the water is vast and boundless.I want to go to the wide surface of the Yangtze River.The translation of the quoted text is: "The future is uncertain and fortune has not yet arrived."The future is not smooth, and luck has not yet arrived.Silk is often in hand today.I often have a fishing line in my hand now.I only fear that the fish and water will not meet.It’s just like a fish that cannot find water; it’s all in vain.

The current prospects and fortune are not good, just like wanting to go to the vast Yangtze River but being unable to reach it. Since one cannot get to the Yangtze, even if one has a fishing rod in hand, it is likely that no fish can be caught. Therefore, the matters inquired of the deities are not opportunities that one can take advantage of oneself."Like a fish in water" refers to Liu Bei expressing his feelings of being able to pursue his ambitions when he gained Zhuge Liang as his military advisor, explaining this to his sworn brothers Guan and Zhang. The phrase "fish and water do not meet" indicates that even if one has talent or the desire to develop, they have not yet reached the opportunity to fully utilize it and can only patiently wait for the right moment to arrive.Inquiring about relationships indicates that the current person is not the right match for oneself.