These hints are more-or-less in chronological order. If you're trying to solve a puzzle without first dealing with the problem addressed BEFORE it in this list, the hint will not work.

Those guys keep shooting me!

Okay, I'm stuck in a room with a swinging bag and no exit. Huh?

Can I do anything with that bag?

Okay, I'm stuck in the room with the Buddha. Now what?

I'm outside again; what do I do about the soldiers?

How do I get the bridge down?

The bridge is down. How do I get past the gate?