Divination and Guidance
Must you give a friend a divination reading if they do not seriously want to ask?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Not necessarily. If the person does not seriously want to ask, I remind students of Chinese chess divination not to rush into giving a reading. Divination aims to help someone understand a problem and find what they can do. If only the teacher keeps talking while the person has no wish to understand, a reading may not help.
In my early years, I enthusiastically helped a friend, spending considerable time talking, doing readings, and looking for solutions together. I felt that this friend came to talk in search of some strength and would express thanks, yet did not really take some advice to heart. I felt sad then. It also taught me that my wish to help still depends on whether the other person genuinely wants to face their own affairs. Enthusiasm from only one side is not enough.
Nevertheless, I still hope to help people who truly need it. Questions and problems someone wants to resolve can be brought forward for discussion. Where something is unclear, they can listen to my view and consider whether it makes sense. The key is whether the person currently intends to understand and address the issue. Whether to provide divination still depends on whether they genuinely want to ask.