Mazu Poem55 |

You should know that both advancement and retreat are ultimately empty.To know that the plans we want to make now are all unrealistic.Looking at the dark may not be entirely true.The future looks bleak, and success is not guaranteed in our endeavors.The translation of the quoted text is: "The pearls and jades are still hidden and have not changed."Even if there are still hidden gems and jade on the body, it hasn't changed.In my heart, I can only feel futile emptiness.But the jewels are only hidden in one's heart and have not been discovered; this is a useless thing.

Just like a precious jade hidden within a stone needs to be polished to reveal its most beautiful value, you are currently in a period of honing yourself. You should enrich yourself and correct your shortcomings; otherwise, small flaws may overshadow your strengths and talents, preventing you from realizing your wishes and leading your efforts to be in vain. This oracle signifies unrecognized talent and being out of sync with the times, so it is better to quietly wait for the opportunity to showcase your abilities."Looking at things in the dark may not be complete" also implies that one is in a dark place themselves or does not fully understand the truth of the matter. Because of this lack of understanding (the situation is not as you think), trying to achieve something based on a plan that is not aligned with the reality of the situation is likely just a waste of effort.