Month: March 2019

#31, line 2, #43
The joyous Lake is cradled by the tranquil Mountain:  The Superior Person takes great satisfaction in encouraging others along their journey.
He draws them to him with his welcoming nature and genuine interest.
Attraction is the underlying force of the situation in question.
Nervously shaking his leg shows his irresistible urge to advance.
Misfortune if he does.  Good fortune if he doesn’t.
Your iron will must come to the forefront now.
It will take great personal determination to resolve the situation in question.
Your adversary would love to force you into an angry display.
That would legitimize his opposition to you.
Such a berserker rage would drag you down to his level.
You must resolutely take a public stand against what he represents, but refuse to engage him.
Without compromise, you show others the way to higher ground.

#61
Pigs and fishes are the least intelligent of all animals and therefore the most difficult to influence. The force of inner truth must grow great indeed before its influence can extend to such creatures. In dealing with persons as intractable and as difficult to influence as a pig or a fish, the whole secret of success depends on finding the right way of approach. One must first rid oneself of all prejudice and, so to speak, let the psyche of the other person act on one without restraint. Then one will establish contact with him, understand and gain power over him. When a door has thus been opened, the force of one’s personality will influence him. If in this way one finds no obstacles insurmountable, one can undertake even the most dangerous things, such as crossing the great water, and succeed.
But it is important to understand on what the force inner truth depends. This force is not identical with simple intimacy or a secret bond. Close ties may exist also among thieves; it is true that such a bond acts as a force but, since it is not invincible, it does not bring good fortune. All association on the basis of common interests holds only up to a certain point. Where the community of interest ceases, the holding together ceases also, and the closest friendship often changes into hate. Only when the bond is based on what is right, on steadfastness, will it remain so firm that it triumphs over everything. Wind over lake: the image of INNER TRUTH.
Thus the superior man discusses criminal cases in order to delay executions.

Wind stirs water by penetrating it. Thus the superior man, when obliged to judge the mistakes of men, tries to penetrate their minds with understanding, in order to gain a sympathetic appreciation of the circumstances. In ancient China, the entire administration of justice was guided by this principle. A deep understanding that knows how to pardon was considered the highest form of justice. This system was not without success, for its aim was to make so strong a moral impression that there was no reason to fear abuse of such mildness. For it sprang not from weakness but from a superior clarity.

#3
Thunder from the Deep:The Superior Person carefully weaves order out of confusion.
Supreme Success if you keep to your course.  Carefully consider the first move.  Seek help.
New ventures always pack along their inherent chaos.  Though this is an annoyance at best, and can even imperil or downright doom an endeavor, it is also the friction needed to polish your project to jewel brilliance.
Learn from these early obstacles.

#11, line 4, #59
Heaven and Earth embrace, giving birth to Peace.  The Superior Person serves as midwife, presenting the newborn gift to the people.
The small depart; the great approach. Success.  Good fortune.
It doesn’t get any better than this.  Everything is in harmony, all obstacles are cleared from your Path, anything you could ask for is right at hand.
This is the Elysian Fields, the Garden of Eden.  The only thing wrong with Peace is that it, too, must change.  Whether you are in this state of harmony now or it is predicted for your future, recognize it as your greatest opportunity to build your resources against less harmonious times.
Instead of stretching to grasp the wealth that may rise out of reach, he stoops to help his companions climb to his level.
They expect his resentment but receive only his faith and love; they no longer fear his power.
Wind carries the Mists aloft:  Sage rulers dedicated their lives to serving a Higher Power and built temples that still endure.
The King approaches his temple.  Success if you stay on course.  You may cross to the far shore.
Walls meant to protect have instead separated and isolated.  Your defenses have kept you apart from those whom you most need to touch.  Whatever the reason for discord between you, it is time to lay down your arms.  Dispel the inflexible demands and fears of the Mind so that you may reunite in the Heart.  
If you have begrudged, forgive.
If you have torn down, repair.
If you have injured, heal.
If you have judged, pardon.
If you have grasped, let go.

#8, line 2, #7
Deep Waters on the face of the Earth: Surface waters flow together.
The Superior Person recognizes the situation calls for joining together.
Thus he cultivates friendly relations with all.
Good fortune is possible.  Then there will be no error.
Those uncertain will gradually join.  Those who join too late will meet with misfortune.
This is a time of connection with another or others — not just an alliance, but a melding of parts into a new whole.  Such a connection may be too close, too intense for some.  Consult the oracle again to see if you have the qualities needed to strengthen and withstand such an intense synthesis.
Devotion comes from deep inside you.  Good fortune if you keep to your course.  
Deep Water beneath the Earth’s surface: Untapped resources are available.
The Superior Person nourishes and instructs the people, building a loyal, disciplined following.  Good fortune. No mistakes if you follow a course led by experience.
You must gain support from others.  Find a way to make others want to see your objectives met as badly as you want it.  How can they profit from the attainment of this goal?  Can you command confidence that you are just the person that can bring this plan to fruition?

#33, line 2, #43
The tranquil Mountain towers overhead, yet remains this side of Heaven:
The Superior Person avoids the petty and superficial by keeping shallow men at a distance, not in anger but with dignity.
Such a retreat sweeps the path clear to Success.
Occupy yourself with minute detail.  Retreat in this instance is not a desperate flight in disarray, but a conscious choice to distance yourself from forces that would rob you of your peace.  It is not a surrender, but a regrouping.  Retreat from this conflict is actually an advance toward your own center.  You move toward balance, and thus a much stronger position.
Yellow is the color of the middle. It indicates that which is correct and in line with duty. Oxhide is strong and not to be torn.
While the superior men retreat and the inferior press after them, the inferior man represented here holds on so firmly and tightly to the superior men that the latter cannot shake him off. And because he is in quest of what is right and so strong in purpose, he reaches his goal. Thus the line confirms what is said in the Judgement:
“In what is small” – here equivalent to “in the inferior man” – “perseverance furthers.”
A Deluge from Heaven:  The Superior Person rains fortune upon those in need, then moves on with no thought of the good he does.
The issue must be raised before an impartial authority.  Be sincere and earnest, despite the danger.  Do not try to force the outcome, but seek support where needed.  Set a clear goal.  
Your iron will must come to the forefront now.  It will take great personal determination to resolve the situation in question.  Your adversary would love to force you into an angry display.  That would legitimize his pposition to you.  Such a berserker rage would drag you down to his level.  You must resolutely take a public stand against what he represents, but refuse to engage him.  Without compromise, you show others the way to higher ground.

#18, line 4, #64
The Superior Person sweeps away corruption and stagnation by stirring up the people and strengthening their spirit.
Supreme success.
Before crossing to the far shore, consider the move for three days.
After crossing, devote three days of hard labor to damage control.
You are blessed with an opportunity to resuscitate that which others have abandoned as beyond repair.  This ruin wasn’t caused by evil intention, but by indifference to decay.  Just by addressing yourself to the problem, you exhibit a new awareness, a fresh perspective.  This is a time of recovery, renewal, regeneration.
Tolerating the malpractices of the father will lead the son to ruin.
The Superior Person examines the nature of things and keeps each in its proper place.  
Too anxious the young fox gets his tail wet, just as he completes his crossing.  To attain success, be like the man and not like the fox.  Resist the rush to completion.  Anticipation of fulfillment may callous you before you have fully absorbed the lessons of the journey.
The endpoint of this Quest will only prove to be the threshold for another.
You are short steps from Mastery on this plane, yet you stride toward Ignorance of the challenges lying beyond.
Savor this accomplishment.
Fully Become.
Take full possession of your world before embarking to discover the next one.
That voyage begins soon enough, and you will reminisce about this one.
These are the Good Old Days.