Guan Yin lot 17 of 100
A painted cake
Even (中平). Grade from the related Goodfate edition. Grades differ between temples, and many Taiwanese temples print none.
莫聽閑言與是非
晨昏只好念阿彌
若將妄語為真實
畫餅如何療得飢
Do not listen to idle talk and quarrels.
Morning and evening, just recite Amitabha's name.
If you take wild words for the truth,
How can a painted cake cure your hunger?
What this lot says
The verse warns against gossip and arguments about who is right. It ends with a famous image: a picture of a cake cannot fill an empty stomach.
Its advice is to turn away from talk and keep a steady daily practice. The verse names reciting the Buddha's name. For you it might be prayer, a walk or a quiet hour.
If you are weighing a rumor at work, or a promise that sounds too good, ask what is actually on the table. Check the facts, ignore the chatter and make decisions only on what you can verify.
A lot is a prompt for reflection. It cannot promise a result, and it is no substitute for medical, legal or financial advice.
The story behind it
A painted cake to ease hunger (畫餅充饑)
Named for this lot in the related Goodfate edition.
Where this text comes from
This verse is a traditional temple text with no known author. No single original edition is known and wording differs between temples, so we compare named witnesses and record where they differ.
Míguāng (覓光) (the text shown above)
莫聽閑言與是非 / 晨昏只好念阿彌 / 若將妄語為真實 / 畫餅如何療得飢
Retrieved 2026-11-08
Jiěqiān Gé (解籤閣)
莫聽閑言與是非 / 晨昏只好念阿彌 / 若將妄語為真實 / 畫餅如何療得飢
Retrieved 2026-11-08
Goodfate (今日運勢), a related edition
莫聽閑言說是非 / 晨昏隻好念阿彌 / 若将狂話為真實 / 書餅如何止得饑
Retrieved 2026-11-08
Where the sources differ
- Line 1 reads 莫聽閑言說是非 in the related Goodfate edition.
- Line 2 reads 晨昏隻好念阿彌 in the related Goodfate edition.
- Line 3 reads 若将狂話為真實 in the related Goodfate edition.
- Line 4 reads 書餅如何止得饑 in the related Goodfate edition.
English translation and commentary are by Cast & Chart.