Today: “When the situation is serious, it is OK to be zealous in your efforts to fix things.  In this case, the caution is for being overly moderate.” – from the I Ching

When the situation is serious, it is OK to be zealous in your efforts to fix things.  In this case, the caution is for being overly moderate.  This can lead to half-hearted attempts at correcting the course, or weak solutions to countering vicious attacks by the opposition.  Passion and some force are required.

Meditation: LA692-781102 – Experience Tremendous Strength

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Today: I Ching – Previous Readings

Personal I Ching readings

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's and subsequent translations of the I Ching

#18, line 3, #19

What has been spoiled through man’s fault can be made good again through man’s work. It is not immutable fate, as in the time of STANDSTILL, that has caused the state of corruption, but rather the abuse of human freedom. Work toward improving conditions promises well, because it accords the possibilities of the time. We must not recoil from work and danger- symbolised by crossing of the great water-but must take hold energetically. Success depends, however, on proper deliberation. This is expressed by the lines, “Before the starting point, three days. After the starting point, three days.”
We must first know the causes of corruption before we can do away with them; hence it is necessary to be cautious during the time before the start. Then we must see to it that the new way is safely entered on, so that a relapse may be avoided; therefore we must pay attention to the time after the start. Decisiveness and energy must take the place of inertia and indifference that have led to decay, in order that the ending may be followed by a new beginning.

The wind blows low on the mountain:
The image of DECAY.
Thus the superior man stirs up the people
And strengthens their spirit.

When the wind blows low on the mountain, it is thrown back and spoils the vegetation. This contains a challenge to improvement. It is the same with debasing attitudes and fashions; they corrupt human society. To do away with this corruption, the superior man must regenerate society. His methods likewise must be derived from the two trigrams, but in such a way that their effects unfold in orderly sequence. The superior man must first remove stagnation by stirring up public opinion, as the wind stirs up everything, and must strengthen and tranquillise the character of the people, as the mountain gives tranquillity and nourishment to all that grows in its vicinity.

This describes a man who proceeds a little too energetically in righting the mistakes of the past. Now and then, as a result, minor discords and annoyances will surely develop. But too much energy is better than too little. Therefore, although he may at times have some slight cause for regret, he remains free of any serious blame.

The hexagram as a whole points to a time of joyous, hopeful progress. Spring is approaching. Joy and forbearance bring high and low nearer together. Success is certain. But we must work with determination and perseverance to make full use of the propitiousness of the time. And one thing more: spring does not last forever. In the eighth month the aspects are reversed. Then only two strong, light lines are left; these do not advance but are in retreat [see next hexagram (20)]. We must take heed of this change in good time. If we meet evil before it becomes reality- before it has even begun to stir-we can master it.

The earth above the lake:
The image of APPROACH.
Thus the superior man is inexhaustible
In his will to teach,
And without limits
In his tolerance and protection of the people.

The earth borders upon the lake from above. This symbolises the approach and condescension of the man of higher position to those beneath him. The two parts of the image indicate what his attitude toward these people will be. Just as the lake is inexhaustible in depth, so the sage is inexhaustible in his readiness to teach mankind, and just as the earth is boundlessly wide, sustaining and caring for all creatures on it, so the sage sustains and cares for all people and excludes no part of humanity. ..

Today: “Love means giving. Self-sacrifice means that you accomplish for someone at the expense of yourself.” Yogi Bhajan

“Love means giving. Self-sacrifice means that you accomplish for someone at the expense of yourself.” Yogi Bhajan

Sat Nam!
Ram Anand

Meditation: LA049 780901 Homeh Bandana Kriya: takes away self-pride and vanity

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What else Yogi Bhajan said

Meditation:  LA049 780901 Homeh Bandana Kriya: takes away self-pride and vanity 

 Taught by Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji
LA049 780901 HOMEH BANDANA KRIYA: takes away self-pride and vanity 

Sit in easy pose with a straight spine.

Sit with the legs crossed or in a chair with the weight of both feet equally distributed on the ground. 

Relax the arms down with the elbows bent. Hake fists of the hands with the thumbs extended out from the fists. Raise the forearms up and in toward each other until the thumbs touch each other. No fingers of the opposite hands touch each other at any time. Apply 25 pounds of pressure per square inch on the thumbs. Hold the hand position in front of the chest at the heart level. 

Deeply inhale and completely exhale as the mantra is chanted. Upon completion of the meditation deeply inhale and completely exhale for about 1 minute. 

Close the eyes all the way. 

Chant the following mantra in a monotone voice 4 times as the breath is completely exhaled: 

WAAHAY WAAHKY WAAHAY GUROO (Wahe wahe wahe Guru) 

This is the starting number of repetitions of the mantra. It may be increased to 8 repetitions. 

Focus on the chanted mantra. 

Continue the meditation for a maximum time of 31 minutes. 

Comments: 

This is a very sacred, very simple, but very powerful meditation. It takes away a person’s self-pride and vanity. If the number of repetitions of the mantra is increased to the maximum another person should be present with the meditator. The meditator may be rocketed to far into the ethers that he may find it hard to come back down.