Today: “In this challenging situation, do not pander, engage, nor otherwise give power to the oppressors.  They will eventually fade into irrelevance.” – from the I Ching

In this challenging situation, do not pander, engage, nor otherwise give power to the oppressors.  They will eventually fade into irrelevance. Then worthy actors will be empowered.

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Meditation: LA918 970908 Internal Effectiveness

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Today: I Ching – Previous Readings

Personal I Ching readings

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's, Thomas Cleary's, Brian Arnold's and other translations of the I Ching

#12, line 2, #58

Heaven is above, drawing farther and farther away, while the earth below sinks farther into the depths. The creative powers are not in relation. It is a time of standstill and decline. This hexagram is linked with the seventh month (August – September), when the year has passed its zenith and autumnal decay is setting in.

STANDSTILL. Evil people do not further
The perseverance of the superior man.
The great departs; the small approaches.

Heaven and earth are out of communion and all things are benumbed. What is above has no relation to what is below, and on earth confusion and disorder prevail. The dark power is within, the light power is without. Weakness is within, harshness without. Within are the inferior, and without are the superior. The way of inferior people is in ascent; the way of superior people is on the decline. But the superior people do not allow themselves to be turned from their principles. If the possibility of exerting influence is closed to them, they nevertheless remain faithful to their principles and withdraw into seclusion.

Heaven and earth do not unite:
The image of STANDSTILL.
Thus the superior man falls back upon his inner worth
In order to escape the difficulties.
He does not permit himself to be honored with revenue.

When, owing to the influence of inferior men, mutual mistrust prevails in public life, fruitful activity is rendered impossible, because the fundaments are wrong. Therefore the superior man knows what he must do under such circumstances; he does not allow himself to be tempted by dazzling offers to take part in public activities. This would only expose him to danger, since he cannot assent to the meanness of the others. He therefore hides his worth and withdraws into seclusion.

Inferior people are ready to flatter their superiors in a servile way. They would also endure the superior man if he would put an end to their confusion. This is fortunate for them. But the great man calmly bears the consequences of the standstill. He does not mingle with the crowd of the inferior; that is not his place. By his willingness to suffer personally he insures the success of his fundamental principles.

THE JOYOUS. Success.
Perseverance is favorable.

The joyous mood is infectious and therefore brings success. But joy must be based on steadfastness if it is not to degenerate into uncontrolled mirth. Truth and strength must dwell in the heart, while gentleness reveals itself in social intercourse. In this way one assumes the right attitude toward God and man and achieves something. Under certain conditions, intimidation without gentleness may achieve something momentarily, but not for all time. When, on the other hand, the hearts of men are won by friendliness, they are led to take all hardships upon themselves willingly, and if need be will not shun death itself, so great is the power of joy over men.

Lakes resting one on the other:
The image of THE JOYOUS.
Thus the superior man joins with his friends
For discussion and practice.

A lake evaporates upward and thus gradually dries up; but when two lakes are joined they do not dry up so readily, for one replenishes the other. It is the same in the field of knowledge. Knowledge should be a refreshing and vitalising force. It becomes so only through stimulating intercourse with congenial friends with whom one holds discussion and practices application of the truths of life. In this way learning becomes many-sided and takes on a cheerful lightness, whereas there is always something ponderous and one-sided about the learning of the self-taught.

Today:”Twenty seconds inhale, twenty seconds hold, twenty seconds exhale. It is called praana path.” Yogi Bhajan

“Twenty seconds inhale, twenty seconds hold, twenty seconds exhale. It is called praana path. Moment you achieve that status, your intuition will open up. You’ll know everything. And when you know everything, you don’t have to worry about anything. When you don’t worry, you are clear.” Yogi Bhajan

Sat Nam!
Ram Anand

Meditation:  One Minute Breath

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What else Yogi Bhajan said

Meditation:  One Minute Breath

Source: I am a Woman – Creative, Sacred, Invincible
  1. Sit in Easy Pose with Neck Lock.
  2. Inhale very slowly for 20 seconds.
  3. Hold for 20 seconds, pull the spine up, drop the shoulders.
  4. Exhale very slowly for 20 seconds.
  5. Continue in that pattern.

3 min – 31 min

Comments: This is a very effective, advanced pranayam. “If you can breathe one breath a minute, you can overcome everything and anything you have to face in life. The One Minute Breath builds endurance, strengthens your lungs and diaphragm for birthing. You say you are depressed? What is “depressed”? Depressed is you have impressed yourself that God is not with you—that’s depressed. What is “sad”? You are sad because you have not found the depth of your breath. When you are most sad, start breathing one breath a minute. If you are still sad on the fourth breath, call me!”—Yogi Bhajan – Begin the practice with 3 minutes. Increase gradually up to 31 minutes. A further extension to 62 minutes gives a mastery over breath, expanding one’s own pranic destiny across time to extend the lifespan.

The quantity, quality, and circulation of the breath creates the foundation of a vital and creative life. It is a barometer of how much energy we normally run on, and how much reserve capacity we have created for emergencies. The breath is both gross and subtle. The gross aspect is the blend of oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements that constitute air. The subtle aspect is the prana or vital force that energizes the mind, body, and consciousness. Most people do not breathe correctly. Breath signatures that create shallow, erratic, upper-chest breathing are common. The lack of relaxation and well-being on a personal as well as collective level, along with other factors, inhibits proper breathing. Yet, of all the positive changes a person can make, learning to breathe deeply, and completely is probably the most effective for developing higher consciousness, and for increasing health, vitality, and connectedness in one’s life.