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Thursday, July 29, 2010
No. 12, Standstill / Stagnation, Line 4:
"He who acts at the command of the highest Remains without blame. Those of like mind partake of the
blessing."
You may have identified the "inferior
element" (Line 3), which is a step in the right direction. But Line 4 says you are going to have to
take some decisive action to end the Standstill caused by its influence.
Whether
or not you succeed will depend on your motives. If you try to change the situation solely out of concern for your own
welfare, you will remain stuck.
If, however, you act on behalf of the common good
- "the will of Heaven - " you will succeed, and those around you will benefit, too.
The future holds the promise of Development, as we will see tomorrow.
9:42 am edt
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
No. 12, Stagnation / Standstill, Line 3:
"They bear shame."
Taoist Master Alfred Huang translates
this line as "Embrace the shame."
The inferior forces that have caused the Stagnation
in your society - or in yourself - must be recognized before they can be overcome.
Unfortunately,
we are often stuck in denial. "Oh, he didn't mean it." "She's just under too much pressure."
"One more drink won't hurt me, I've had a rough day."
Realizing that you
have allowed the inferior elements of yourself or others to take control is the first important step toward improvement.
"In their hearts they begin to be ashamed, although at first they do not show it outwardly.
This marks a turn for the better." [Wilhelm]
Tomorrow: ".
. . at the command of the highest."
9:45 am edt
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
No. 12, Stagnation / Standstill:
"Standstill. Evil people do not further The perseverance of the superior
man. The great departs; the small approaches."
Do
you feel your progress is coming to a Standstill?
This is probably the result of influences
that are beyond your control. As Brian Browne Walker explains this hexagram, "It is an inescapable fact of life
that inferior influences sometimes prevail."
Be alert for the signs that "the
great" is departing and "the small" is approaching - and adjust your efforts accordingly. Don't waste
energy fighting this trend.
The Image advises, "Thus
the superior man falls back upon his inner worth in order to escape the difficulties." Focus on a purely
personal interest, or perhaps a spiritual practice. This will be a time to "hide [your] worth and
withdraw into seclusion." [Wilhelm]
The Yi charts the way through this Standstill
with changing lines 3 and 4. Tomorrow: The uses of shame.
10:13 am edt
Monday, July 26, 2010
No. 39, Obstruction:
"Obstruction.
The southwest furthers. The northeast does not further. It furthers one to see the great man. Perseverance
brings good fortune."
The future holds an Obstruction.
"All obstructions
are caused by a person's failure to heed warnings given by his commonsense against problematical elements present in a given
situation." [Anthony and Moog]
The main message of The Family/The Clan
and the two changing lines was that you need to deal with your family, company,
nation, or world community by strengthening yourself first.
The Yi advises that
you distance yourself from the pressure to fit into a predetermined structure: the southwest is the region
of retreat.
The last lines of The Image confirm
this: "Thus the superior man turns attention to himself, and molds his character." Move your focus away from winning
the approval of others, and toward who you are and what you want.
In this way, even an
Obstruction can result in good fortune.
9:39 am edt
Sunday, July 25, 2010
No. 37, The Family
/ The Clan, Line 6:
“His
work commands respect.In the end
good fortune comes.”
“If
he cultivates his personality so that it works impressively through the force of inner truth, all goes well with
the family.” [Wilhelm]
Once again,
the Yi tells us that we must improve ourselves first, before we can influence others. When others see that you truly believe in what
you are doing, cooperation and good fortune will follow.
9:05 pm edt
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What is the I Ching?
The symbol you see above is the bagua, the symbol of the I Ching for 5,000 years
before it was "adopted" as the octagonal logo of the Dharma Iniative in the television series "Lost."
The I Ching, also known as the Yi Jing, or (in English) Book of Changes, is an
oracle; a divination device that forms a pattern reflecting the forces at work
in the Universe at a particular point in time.
This pattern,
when viewed in the context of a concern or question, sends a message of timeless advice and insight.
Richard Wilhelm explained it this way in a footnote to his translation of Ta Chaun - The Great Treatise: "The way in which the
Book of Changes works can best be compared to an electrical circuit reaching into all situations. "The circuit only affords the potentiality
of lighting: it does not give light. "But
when contact with a definite situation is established, the 'current' is activated, and the given situation is illumined." Plug yourself in. -------------------------------
The great Swiss pyschiatrist C.G.
Jung, who was a serious student of the I Ching, said:
"The
I Ching does not offer itself with proofs and results; it does not vaunt itself, nor is it easy to approach. Like a part of
nature, it waits until it is discovered.
"It offers neither
facts nor power, but for lovers of self-knowledge, of wisdom - if there be such - it seems to be the right book. . .
.
"He who
is not pleased by it does not have to use it, and he who is against it is not obliged to find it true. "Let it go forth into the world for the benefit
of those who can discern its meaning." -------------------------------------------
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