Lot 60 of 100
Carrying firewood to put out a fire only makes more smoke
The poem
抱薪救火火增烟燒卻三千及大千若問營謀併出入不如收拾莫憂燃
In English
Carrying firewood to put out a fire only makes more smoke.It burns the three thousand and the great thousand worlds.If you ask about schemes and comings and goings,it is better to put things away and not fret.
What it says
Carrying firewood to put out a fire only feeds it, a picture of using the wrong method on a problem. The 'three thousand and great thousand' worlds is Buddhist language for vastness, hinting the consequences may spread. The poem suggests pausing your schemes and not fretting.
A thought to take with you
If the method is wrong, more force makes it worse; stop and rethink.