The original impulses of the heart are always good, so that we may follow them confidently, assured of good fortune and achievement of our aims.  Remain innocent.

See Tao Te Ching – Verse 7 – The Tao is infinite, eternal.

See Today: “What is greatness? Greatness is when you have found that you are not great, but everything else is.” – Yogi Bhajan

See previous reading:  Today: “In your intentions and actions give attention to what can be expanded in the world to bring peace.  Forego what would distract you from your inner peace.  Purify your internal space then share it.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading: Today: “The choice is yours as to how you relate with the world.  Sooner or later, your good deeds will be recognized and your efforts will come to fruition.  There is no need to seek anything new.  Everything you need comes from  within you.  Keep up the good works.  Do not give up.” – from the I Ching

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25 – Twenty-Five.  Wu Wang / Remaining Blameless

Thunder rolls beneath Heaven, as is its nature and place:
Sage rulers aligned themselves with the changing seasons, nurturing and guiding their subjects to do the same.

Exceptional Progress if you are mindful to keep out of the way of the natural Flow.
It would be a fatal error to try to alter its course.
This is a time of Being, not Doing.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

This is thoroughly a matter of the heart.
If everything you attempt, no matter how carefully planned, ends in disarray, then examine your motives.
They are the cause of your predicament.
It isn’t that your motives aren’t pure — even the best intentions will fail under these circumstances.
What stymies you in this situation is that you have a motive at all.
Free yourself of all expectations, release any tenuous grip you may have, and roll with it.
This is totally out of your control.
There are higher powers and more elements affecting the outcome of this situation than you can imagine.
Get out of their way.

12 – Twelve.  P’i / Stagnation

Heaven and Earth move away from each other.
In the ensuing void, the small invade where the great have departed.
There is no common meeting ground, so the Superior Person must fall back on his inner worth and decline the rewards offered by the inferior invaders.

Difficult trials as you hold to your course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

It is natural to assume that, if Earth above Heaven forms the hexagram for Peace and Paradise, then the opposite configuration, with Heaven over Earth would represent the antithesis of Paradise, Hell.
Not so.
This hexagram is actually the Dark side of Peace, its unsavory byproduct, Stagnation.
In a time when most of our wants are provided, there is little need for the heroes, the artists, the great thinkers and innovators.
As they recede into the shadows, Idleness, Apathy, and Lassitude come to the forefront.
Peace has become boring, bland, unchallenging — Stagnant.
Now our attention turns to the quick fix, the instant celebrity, the fad, the one-nighter, the current buzz.
There is no room for depth.
If you are a passionate soul, you must wait for a better time to find kindred spirits.
In these times, they are only curious legends, bas-relief, dead poets.

In your intentions and actions give attention to what can be expanded in the world to bring peace.  Forego what would distract you from your inner peace.  Purify your internal space then share it.

See Tao Te Ching – Verse 5 – The Tao doesn’t take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil.

See Today: “You are true now, you were true then, and you shall ever be true—that is all you have to know, and you will be free.” – Yogi Bhajan

See previous reading: Today: “The choice is yours as to how you relate with the world.  Sooner or later, your good deeds will be recognized and your efforts will come to fruition.  There is no need to seek anything new.  Everything you need comes from  within you.  Keep up the good works.  Do not give up.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading:  Today: “Be vigilant with your success and rise to prominence.  Do not let fame and fortune go to your head.  Remember who you are and where you came from.  Remember who helped you and remained by your side.” – from the I Ching

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33 – Thirty-Three.  Tun / Retreat

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.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

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.

Nine in the fifth place means: He makes a dignified retreat and retains control of the situation. Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune. ‘The Beginning of a Perfect Day’ – Thomas Kinkade

It is the business of the superior man to recognize in time that the moment for retreat has come. If the right moment is chosen, the retreat can be carried out within the forms of perfect friendliness, without the necessity of disagreeable discussions. Yet, for all the observance of amenities, absolute firmness of decision is necessary if one is not to be led astray by irrelevant considerations.

52 – Fifty-Two.  Kên / The Mountain

Above this Mountain’s summit another more majestic rises:
The Superior Person is mindful to keep his thoughts in the here and now.

Stilling the sensations of the Ego, he roams his courtyard without moving a muscle, unencumbered by the fears and desires of his fellows.
This is no mistake.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There is a higher vantage point available to you, but it is obscured by the visible peak of personal ambition.
To climb to this higher plane, you must shake off the desires and fears of the conscious, visible world around you.
To make this journey you must quiet the Ego, empty your mind of past and future, and dwell totally in the moment at hand.
Thorough mindfulness of what is before you is the only tranquility.
Be. Here. Now.

In your intentions and actions give attention to what can be expanded in the world to bring peace.  Forego what would distract you from your inner peace.  Purify your internal space then share it.

See Tao Te Ching – Verse 5 – The Tao doesn’t take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil.

See Today: “You are true now, you were true then, and you shall ever be true—that is all you have to know, and you will be free.” – Yogi Bhajan

See previous reading: Today: “The choice is yours as to how you relate with the world.  Sooner or later, your good deeds will be recognized and your efforts will come to fruition.  There is no need to seek anything new.  Everything you need comes from  within you.  Keep up the good works.  Do not give up.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading:  Today: “Be vigilant with your success and rise to prominence.  Do not let fame and fortune go to your head.  Remember who you are and where you came from.  Remember who helped you and remained by your side.” – from the I Ching

See Related posts

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33 – Thirty-Three.  Tun / Retreat

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.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

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.

Nine in the fifth place means: He makes a dignified retreat and retains control of the situation. Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune. ‘The Beginning of a Perfect Day’ – Thomas Kinkade

It is the business of the superior man to recognize in time that the moment for retreat has come. If the right moment is chosen, the retreat can be carried out within the forms of perfect friendliness, without the necessity of disagreeable discussions. Yet, for all the observance of amenities, absolute firmness of decision is necessary if one is not to be led astray by irrelevant considerations.

52 – Fifty-Two.  Kên / The Mountain

Above this Mountain’s summit another more majestic rises:
The Superior Person is mindful to keep his thoughts in the here and now.

Stilling the sensations of the Ego, he roams his courtyard without moving a muscle, unencumbered by the fears and desires of his fellows.
This is no mistake.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There is a higher vantage point available to you, but it is obscured by the visible peak of personal ambition.
To climb to this higher plane, you must shake off the desires and fears of the conscious, visible world around you.
To make this journey you must quiet the Ego, empty your mind of past and future, and dwell totally in the moment at hand.
Thorough mindfulness of what is before you is the only tranquility.
Be. Here. Now.

The choice is yours as to how you relate with the world.  Sooner or later, your good deeds will be recognized and your efforts will come to fruition.  There is no need to seek anything new.  Everything you need comes from  within you.  Keep up the good works.  Do not give up.

See Tao Te Ching – Verse 4 – The Tao is like a well: used but never used up.

See Today: “Live as royal saints. Nobody shall walk over you, but nobody who needs you shall be deprived of your strength.” – Yogi Bhajan

See previous reading:  Today: “Be vigilant with your success and rise to prominence.  Do not let fame and fortune go to your head.  Remember who you are and where you came from.  Remember who helped you and remained by your side.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading: Today: “Give close attention to the natural development of your enterprise.  Pushing forward recklessly will lead to disaster.  Contemplating every move brings great success.” – from the I Ching

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50 – Fifty.  Ting / The Caldron

Fire rises hot and bright from the Wood beneath the sacrificial caldron:
The Superior Person positions himself correctly within the flow of Cosmic forces.

Supreme Accomplishment.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

Your needs are coming into harmony with the requirements of the Cosmos.
Blending brilliantly with the Dance of Life, you are becoming an actual element of Cosmic Law.
Your goals will now be realized because you no longer cut against the Cosmic grain; you are no longer swimming against the flow of the Tao.
You are acquiring an intuitive sense of what can and cannot be, and aligning your efforts accordingly.

54 – Fifty-Four.  Kuei Mei / A Loveless Marriage

The Thunderstorm inseminates the swelling Lake, then moves on where the Lake cannot follow:
The Superior Person views passing trials in the light of Eternal Truths.
Any action will prove unfortunate.
Nothing furthers.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

This is at best a Marriage of Convenience.
You have found yourself in desperate straits, a position of weakness, and you are tempted to pay dearly for a remedy.
A drowning man isn’t picky about who throws him a rope.
The rescue offered to you now is undesirable.
It may pull you out of this sticky situation, but it will cause even greater predicaments down the road.
Don’t obligate yourself in this way.
You are selling your future for a quick fix today.

Be vigilant with your success and rise to prominence.  Do not let fame and fortune go to your head.  Remember who you are and where you came from.  Remember who helped you and remained by your side.

See Tao Te Ching – Verse 3 – The Master leads by emptying people’s minds and filling their cores

See Today: “The mind is not subject to time and place. The mind cannot be subject to time and place, but there is a relationship of mind and body.” – Yogi Bhajan

See previous reading: Today: “Give close attention to the natural development of your enterprise.  Pushing forward recklessly will lead to disaster.  Contemplating every move brings great success.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading:  Today: “If you have separated from your righteous path, you are lost.  Aligning with the wisdom of your ancestors will bring good fortune and prosperity.” – from the I Ching

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1 – One. Ch’ien / Creative Activity

Heaven above and Heaven below:
Heaven in constant motion.
With the strength of the dragon, the Superior Person steels himself for ceaseless activity.

Productive Activity.
Potent Influence.
Sublime Success if you keep to your course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

The time for action has come.
You now have the focus and the stamina necessary for accomplishing great tasks.

Nine in the third place means:
All day long the superior man is creatively active.
At nightfall his mind is still beset with cares.
Danger. No blame.

‘Nightfall Montmartre’ – Daniel Wall

A sphere of influence opens up for the great man. His fame begins to spread. The masses flock to him. His inner power is adequate to the increased outer activity.¹ There are all sorts of things to be done, and when others are at rest in the evening, plans and anxieties press in upon him. But danger lurks here at the place of transition from lowliness to the heights. Many a great man has been ruined because the masses flocked to him and swept him into their course. Ambition has destroyed his integrity. However, true greatness is not impaired by temptations. He who remains in touch with the time that is dawning, and with its demands, is prudent enough to avoid all pitfalls, and remains blameless.

1. [The upper trigram is considered to be “outside,” the lower “inside”. This distinction underlies the constant juxtaposition of inner, mental states and external actions or events, of subjective and objective experiences. From this also arise the frequent comparisons between ability and position, form and content, outer adornment and inner worth.]

10 – Ten.  Lü / Worrying the Tiger

Heaven shines down on the Marsh which reflects it back imperfectly:
Though the Superior Man carefully discriminates between high and low, and acts in accord with the flow of the Tao, there are still situations where a risk must be taken.

You tread upon the tail of the tiger.
Not perceiving you as a threat, the startled tiger does not bite.
Success.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

You have reached a perilous point in your journey.
This is a real gamble — not a maneuver, not a calculated risk.
The outcome is uncertain.
If it goes as you hope, you will gain — but if it turns against you it will cause serious injury, at least to your plans.
The best tack is extreme caution and a healthy respect for the danger involved.

Forms of convention have been exploited beyond their usefulness.  Look inside yourself for truth in your relations with yourself, the world and all that exists.  Then form your own expression.

See Today: “A woman who is capable of giving birth must give birth to a saint, a hero, or a giver.” – Yogi Bhajan

See If you have separated from your righteous path, you are lost.  Aligning with the wisdom of your ancestors will bring good fortune and prosperity.

See previous reading:  Today: “If you have separated from your righteous path, you are lost.  Aligning with the wisdom of your ancestors will bring good fortune and prosperity.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading: Today: “Give close attention to the natural development of your enterprise.  Pushing forward recklessly will lead to disaster.  Contemplating every move brings great success.” – from the I Ching

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29 – Twenty-Nine.  K’an / Dangerously Deep

Water follows Water, spilling over any cliff, flowing past all obstacles, no matter the depth or distance, to the Sea.
The Superior Person learns flexibility from the mistakes he has made, and grows strong from the obstacles he has overcome, pressing on to show others the Way.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

You are facing a crucial trial along your Journey.
The danger of this challenge is very real.
It is a test of your mettle.
If you can maintain your integrity and stay true to your convictions, you will overcome.
That’s not as easy as it seems when you are faced with the sacrifice of other things you’ve come to depend upon or hold dear.

40 – Forty.  Hsieh / Liberation

A Thunderous Cloudburst shatters the oppressive humidity:
The Superior Person knows the release in forgiveness, pardoning the faults of others and dealing gently with those who sin against him.

It pays to accept things as they are for now.
If there is nothing else to be gained, a return brings good fortune.
If there is something yet to be gained, act on it at once.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

The relief you experience here is not your own personal pardon, but the release of others from your rigid expectations.
Like a hot air balloon, you will rise to new heights as you cast the heavy sandbags of resentments and restrictions away from you.
Feel the lightness of being that results from forgiving others and accepting them as they are.
Free yourself of the endless vigil of policing the behavior of others.
See them for who they are, not what they can or can’t do for you.

If you have separated from your righteous path, you are lost.  Aligning with the wisdom of your ancestors will bring good fortune and prosperity.

See Today: “The mind has to be focused in creativity to generate adaptability to total universe. That is what we mean by creative meditation.” – Yogi Bhajan

See If you have separated from your righteous path, you are lost.  Aligning with the wisdom of your ancestors will bring good fortune and prosperity.

See previous reading: Today: “Give close attention to the natural development of your enterprise.  Pushing forward recklessly will lead to disaster.  Contemplating every move brings great success.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading:  Today: “With your great creativity, try not to become too smug or ambitious.  It could be your downfall.” – from the I Ching

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47 – Forty-Seven.  K’un / Exhaustion

A Dead Sea, its Waters spent eons ago, more deadly than the desert surrounding it:
The Superior Person will stake his life and fortune on what he deeply believes.

Triumph belongs to those who endure.
Trial and tribulation can hone exceptional character to a razor edge that slices deftly through every challenge.
Action prevails where words will fail.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

This is the realm of the Shaman.
You have exhausted every alternative, spent yourself completely, taxed body and mind beyond your former limits.
Survival and salvation lie beyond your reach now.
Only transcendence to a new existence — a higher plane of being — will see you through.
The Old You is just a dry husk.
You can’t return to it.
Metamorphosis is the only grace offered.
You can only return to your homeland as a New You.

Six in the third place means:

Hemmed in by stone, with nothing to climb but thorns: a trap of his own making.
Struggling home, he cannot find his wife.
Misfortune.

A man permits himself to be oppressed by stone,
And leans on thorns and thistles.
He enters the house and does not see his wife.
Misfortune.

This shows a man who is restless and indecisive in times of adversity. At first he wants to push ahead, then he encounters obstructions that, it is true, mean oppression only when recklessly dealt with. He butts his head against a wall and in consequence feels himself oppressed by the wall. Then he leans on things that have in themselves no stability and that are merely a hazard for him who leans on them. Thereupon he turns back irresolutely and retires into his house, only to find, as a fresh disappointment, that his wife is not there. Kongfu (Confucius) says about this line:

If a man permits himself to be oppressed by something that ought not to oppress him, his name will certainly be disgraced. If he leans on things upon which one cannot lean, his life will certainly be endangered. For him who is in disgrace and danger, the hour of death draws near; how can he then still see his wife?

‘Baboon in thistles’ – Stichting AAP – Almere Holland 2011
photo Lex van den Bos

Hemmed in by stone, with nothing to climb but thorns: a trap of his own making.
Struggling home, he cannot find his wife.
Misfortune.

31 – Thirty-One.  Hsien / Attraction

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.

Supreme success.
This course leads to marriage.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There is no greater natural law in the Cosmos than Attraction.
From the magnetic pull of an atom’s nucleus to the centripetal force that spirals a galaxy, the face of the universe is shaped by Attraction.
On a human scale, it is Attraction that fuels procreation and furthers our species.
Yet it is also Attraction that spawns greed and covetousness, threatening our extinction.
Attraction is the underlying force of the situation in question.
You are refined or debased by the objects of your desire.
What gravitational pull are you now under?
Around what sphere of influence do you circle?
Can you use your own ability to attract?

Give close attention to the natural development of your enterprise.  Pushing forward recklessly will lead to disaster.  Contemplating every move brings great success.

See Today: “You are what you think. Your mental projection is the highest projection in existence in the human body.” – Yogi Bhajan

See Tao Te Ching – Verse 81 – True words aren’t eloquent; eloquent words aren’t true.

See previous reading:  Today: “With your great creativity, try not to become too smug or ambitious.  It could be your downfall.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading: “If you want to know the truth about anything and everything, you can find it within you.”

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53 – Fifty-Three.  Chien / Gradual Progress

The gnarled Pine grows tenaciously off the Cliff face:
The Superior Person clings faithfully to dignity and integrity, thus elevating the Collective Spirit of Man in his own small way.
Development.
The maiden is given in marriage.
Good fortune if you stay on course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

Adaptability mixed with integrity will bring a calm, steady progress.
Move from your center, always faithful to your principles, yet with the flexibility to weather any tempest.
Yours is not a meteoric rise to the top, but the solid, confident footing of one who has a clear vision of what can be, and who is willing to climb the distance to reach it.
The oracle foresees companionship along the way — a Divine comfort on any journey.

Nine in the third place means:

The wild geese nest in the open prairie.
The male leaves to forage; he will not return.
The brooding female will not hatch her young.
Predators close in.

The wild goose gradually draws near the plateau.
The man goes forth and does not return.
The woman carries a child but does not bring it forth.
Misfortune.
It furthers one to fight off robbers.

The high plateau is dry and unsuitable for the wild goose. If it goes there, it has lost its way and gone too far. This is contrary to the law of development.
It is the same in human life. If we do not let things develop quietly but plunge of our own choice too rashly into a struggle, misfortune results. A man jeopardises his own life, and his family perishes thereby. However, this is not at all necessary; it is only the result of transgressing the law of natural development. If one does not willfully provoke a conflict, but confines himself to vigorously maintaining his own position and to warding off unjustified attacks, all goes well.

20 – Twenty.  Kuan / Contemplation

The gentle Wind roams the Earth:
The Superior Person expands his sphere of influence as he expands his awareness.
Deeply devoted to his pursuit of clarity and wisdom, he is unconscious of the inspiring, positive example he is setting for others to emulate.

You have cleansed yourself; now stand ready to make your humble, devout offering.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

The situation marks a rising to new heights.
As you climb for a better view of the panorama, you make yourself more conspicuous to those below.
This hexagram is also known as the Watchtower, because the shape formed by its lines resembles the ancient guardposts manned by Chinese soldiers.
These towers were placed on mountainsides to give a better vantage point.
To those below, the watchtowers served as landmarks to help them find their way.
The quality of your search for clarity in this situation serves as such a guidepost for others along the Way.

With your great creativity, try not to become too smug or ambitious.  It could be your downfall.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for the day

See today’s verse from the Tao Te Ching

See previous reading:  “If you want to know the truth about anything and everything, you can find it within you.”

See previous previous reading:  Today: “You have the necessary knowledge, will and means to eradicate the evil that has plagued  your country for too long.  Now you must summon the courage.” – from the I Ching

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1 – One.  Ch’ien / Creative Activity

Heaven above and Heaven below:
Heaven in constant motion.
With the strength of the dragon, the Superior Person steels himself for ceaseless activity.

Productive Activity.
Potent Influence.
Sublime Success if you keep to your course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

The time for action has come.
You now have the focus and the stamina necessary for accomplishing great tasks.
The path before you is being cleared and reward lies ahead.

4 – Four   Mêng / Inexperience

A fresh Spring at the foot of the Mountain:
The Superior Person refines his character by being thorough in every activity.
The Sage does not recruit students; the students seek him.
He asks nothing but a sincere desire to learn.
If the student doubts or challenges his authority, the Sage regretfully cuts his losses.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

This is a time of interchange between a mentor and pupil.
Whether you are the teacher or the student, it is a time of companionship along a mutual path.
This hexagram also emphasizes the eternal, cyclical nature of the mentor/student relationship — a mentor is merely a more seasoned pupil, further along on the journey.
A pupil holds within himself the seed of a future Master.

If you want to know the truth about anything and everything, you can find it within you.

Renounce all of your preconceptions about everything.  Choose what you would like to know about something or even someone.   With that intention, feel the effects of that choice from within you. Allow your viewpoint to dissolve and merge with the subject.

You can use as many iterations of this process as required until your perceptions, feelings and thoughts stabilize.

What you can then witness within you from this merged perspective will be infallible.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for the day

See previous reading:  Today: “You have the necessary knowledge, will and means to eradicate the evil that has plagued  your country for too long.  Now you must summon the courage.” – from the I Ching

See previous previous reading:  “A reckoning is at hand. Justice will have its due. Prepare for a challenging time.”

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61 – Sixty-One.  Chung Fu / Inner Truth

The gentle Wind ripples the Lake’s surface:
The Superior Person finds common ground between points of contention, wearing away rigid perspectives that would lead to fatal error.

Pigs and fishes.
You may cross to the far shore.
Great fortune if you stay on course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

The subject of this hexagram discovers a key to Tranquility by first gaining insight into his own nature, then turning that vision outward.
By resolving inner conflicts and being at peace with himself, he learns to gain insight into others.
In effect, he enters another, sees with the other’s eyes, listens with the other’s ears, feels with the other’s heart.
He then returns to his own center, with new perspective and understanding.

		above: Sun / The Gentle, Wind
		below: Tui / The Joyous, Lake

 

The wind blows over the lake and stirs the surface of the water. Thus visible effects of the invisible manifest themselves. The hexagram consists of firm lines above and below, while it is open in the centre. This indicates a heart free of prejudices and therefore open to truth. On the other hand, each of the two trigrams has a firm line in the middle; this indicates the force of inner truth in the influences they represent. The attributes of the two trigrams are: above, gentleness, forbearance toward inferiors; below, joyousness in obeying superiors. Such conditions create the basis of a mutual confidence that makes achievements possible. The character of fu (“truth”) is actually the picture of a bird’s foot over a fledgling. It suggests the idea of brooding. An egg is hollow. The light-giving power must work to quicken it from outside, but there must be a germ of life within, if life is to be awakened. Far- reaching speculations can be linked with these ideas. THE JUDGEMENT INNER TRUTH. Pigs and fishes. Good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water. Perseverance furthers. 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.

You have the necessary knowledge, will and means to eradicate the evil that has plagued  your country for too long.  Now you must summon the courage.

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.

Even if only one inferior man is occupying a ruling position in a city, he is able to oppress superior men. Even a single passion still lurking in the heart has power to obscure reason. Passion and reason cannot exist side by side- therefore fight without quarter is necessary if the good is to prevail.
In a resolute struggle of the good against evil, there are, however, definite rules that must not be disregarded, if it is to succeed. First, resolution must be based on a union of strength and friendliness. Second, a compromise with evil is not possible; evil must under all circumstances be openly discredited. Nor must our own passions and shortcomings be glossed over. Third, the struggle must not be carried on directly by force. If evil is branded, it thinks of weapons, and if we do it the favor of fighting against it blow for blow, we lose in the end because thus we ourselves get entangled in hatred and passion. Therefore it is important to begin at home, to be on guard in our own persons against the faults we have branded. In this way, finding no opponent, the sharp edges of the weapons of evil become dulled. For the same reasons we should not combat our own faults directly. As long as we wrestle with them, they continue victorious. Finally, the best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for the day

Tao Te Ching – Verse 76 – Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry.

See previous reading:  “A reckoning is at hand. Justice will have its due. Prepare for a challenging time.”

See previous previous reading: “In this time, as danger approaches, it is important not to take premature action, especially hostile ones. Wait in contemplation to see more clearly more viable and less costly alternatives.”

Share The Magical Story of Mushkil Gusha with friends over a meal today.

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43 – Forty-Three.  Kuai / Breakthrough

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.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

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.

		above: Tui / The Joyous, Lake
		below: Ch’ien / The Creative, Heaven

 

This hexagram signifies on the one hand a break-through after a long accumulation of tension, as a swollen river breaks through its dikes, or in the manner of a cloudburst. On the other hand, applied to human conditions, it refers to the time when inferior people gradually begin to disappear. Their influence is on the wane; as a result of resolute action, a change in conditions occurs, a break-through. The hexagram is linked with the third month [April-May]. THE JUDGEMENT BREAK-THROUGH. One must resolutely make the matter known At the court of the king. It must be announced truthfully. Danger. It is necessary to notify one’s own city. It does not further to resort to arms. It furthers one to undertake something. Even if only one inferior man is occupying a ruling position in a city, he is able to oppress superior men. Even a single passion still lurking in the heart has power to obscure reason. Passion and reason cannot exist side by side- therefore fight without quarter is necessary if the good is to prevail. In a resolute struggle of the good against evil, there are, however, definite rules that must not be disregarded, if it is to succeed. First, resolution must be based on a union of strength and friendliness. Second, a compromise with evil is not possible; evil must under all circumstances be openly discredited. Nor must our own passions and shortcomings be glossed over. Third, the struggle must not be carried on directly by force. If evil is branded, it thinks of weapons, and if we do it the favor of fighting against it blow for blow, we lose in the end because thus we ourselves get entangled in hatred and passion. Therefore it is important to begin at home, to be on guard in our own persons against the faults we have branded. In this way, finding no opponent, the sharp edges of the weapons of evil become dulled. For the same reasons we should not combat our own faults directly. As long as we wrestle with them, they continue victorious. Finally, the best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.

A reckoning is at hand.  Justice will have its due.  Prepare for a challenging time.

Tao Te Ching – Verse 75 – When taxes are too high, people go hungry. When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit

 Today: “Host those who have been your enemies, respect those who have slandered you, and communicate with those who have been all your life angry with you.” – Yogi Bhajan

Previous reading: “In this time, as danger approaches, it is important not to take premature action, especially hostile ones. Wait in contemplation to see more clearly more viable and less costly alternatives.”

Previous previous reading: “Running headlong into a quagmire, despite your formidable power, stop and contemplate the situation. Do not proceed until a viable solution has emerged. This will allow you to merge with the cosmic flow, resolving all resistance.”

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

21 – Twenty-One.  Shih Ho / Biting Through

The merciless, searing judgement of Lightning fulfills the warning prophecies of distant Thunder.
Sage rulers preserved Justice by clearly defining the laws, and by delivering the penalties decreed.

Though unpleasant, it is best to let justice have its due.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

A terrible reckoning is due.
A wrong will be righted — and even if it has been you who has been wronged, you will tremble at the terrible power of Justice untempered by Mercy.
Pray for your oppressor, that his punishment will fit his crime.

		above: Li / The Clinging, Fire
		below: Chên / The Arousing, Thunder

This hexagram represents an open mouth (cf. hexagram 27) with an obstruction (in the fourth place) between the teeth. As a result the lips cannot meet. To bring them together one must bite energetically through the obstacle. Since the hexagram is made up of the trigrams for thunder and for lightning, it indicates how obstacles are forcibly removed in nature. Energetic biting through overcomes the obstacle that prevents joining of the lips; the storm with its thunder and lightning overcomes the disturbing tension in nature. Recourse to law and penalties overcomes the disturbances of harmonious social life caused by criminals and slanderers. The theme of this hexagram is a criminal lawsuit, in contradistinction to that of Sung, CONFLICT (6), which refers to civil suits. Squirrel – Ede Holland 2009 – photo Lex van den Bos

THE JUDGEMENT BITING THROUGH has success. It is favorable to let justice be administered. When an obstacle to union arises, energetic biting through brings success. This is true in all situations. Whenever unity cannot be established, the obstruction is due to a talebearer and traitor who is interfering and blocking the way. To prevent permanent injury, vigorous measures must be taken at once. Deliberate obstruction of this sort does not vanish of its own accord. Judgement and punishment are required to deter or obviate it. However, it is important to proceed in the right way. The hexagram combines Li, clarity, and Chên, excitement. Li is yielding, Chên is hard. Unqualified hardness and excitement would be too violent in meting out punishment; unqualified clarity and gentleness would be too weak. The two together create the just measure. It is of moment that the man who makes the decisions (represented by the fifth line) is gentle by nature, while he commands respect by his conduct in his position.

THE IMAGE Thunder and lightning: The image of BITING THROUGH. Thus the kings of former times made firm the laws Through clearly defined penalties. Penalties are the individual applications of the law. The laws specify the penalties. Clarity prevails when mild and severe penalties are clearly differentiated, according to the nature of the crimes. This is symbolized by the clarity of lightning. The law is strengthened by a just application of penalties. This is symbolized by the terror of thunder. This clarity and severity have the effect of instilling respect; it is not that the penalties are ends in themselves. The obstructions in the social life of man increase when there is lack of clarity in the penal codes and slackness in executing them. The only way to strengthen the law is to make it clear and to make penalties certain and swift.

In this time, as danger approaches, it is important not to take premature action, especially hostile ones.  Wait in contemplation to see more clearly more viable and less costly alternatives.  

You’ll be glad you did.  

Tao Te Ching – Verse 74 – If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.

 Today: “There is no doubt that we are all very wise.” – Yogi Bhajan

Previous reading: “Running headlong into a quagmire, despite your formidable power, stop and contemplate the situation. Do not proceed until a viable solution has emerged. This will allow you to merge with the cosmic flow, resolving all resistance.”

Previous previous reading: “When a seemingly insurmountable obstacle arises, you must look inward. See within you what must give. That is, literally, compassion.”

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Running headlong into a quagmire, despite your formidable power, stop and contemplate the situation.  Do not proceed until a viable solution has emerged.  This will allow you to merge with the cosmic flow, resolving all resistance.

Tao Te Ching – Verse 73 – The Tao is always at ease.

 Today: “Life is an unsolved mystery. Those who solve it don’t talk about it. Those who don’t solve it talk a lot.” – Yogi Bhajan

Previous reading: “When a seemingly insurmountable obstacle arises, you must look inward. See within you what must give. That is, literally, compassion.”

Previous previous reading: “You are done when the universe says you are done. Where there is need, se

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When a seemingly insurmountable obstacle arises, you must look inward.  See within you what must give.  That is, literally, compassion.  In this case, what must be given is simply what incapable of being given by external agents to resolve the impasse.

Tao Te Ching – Verse 72 – When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion. When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend upon authority.

 Today: “Your deeds shall decide whether God is near to you or away from you.” – Yogi Bhajan

Previous reading: “You are done when the universe says you are done. Where there is need, serve in your best capacity. Share your good fortune.”

Previous reading: “You are done when the universe says you are done. Where there is need, serve in your best capacity. Share your good fortune.”

Previous reading: “If you have veered from your life path and the new direction is not working for you, return to your old life. You are assured good fortune.”

Previous previous reading: “You are done when the universe says you are done. Where there is need, serve in your best capacity. Share your good fortune.”

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

39 – Thirty-Nine.  Chien / Obstacle

Ominous roiling in the Crater Lake atop the Volcano:
When meeting an impasse, the Superior Person turns his gaze within, and views the obstacle from a new perspective.

Offer your opponent nothing to resist.
Let a sage guide you in this.
Good fortune lies along this course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

The Obstacle lies in obstinance.
An insistence on only one way of proceeding has brought things to an impasse.
You may either continue banging your head with irresistible force against this immovable object, or you might step back and survey this situation from a fresh perspective.
Which is immobile here — the obstruction or your attitude?

Chien – Obstruction

Click on any hexagram line below to read the original Richard Wilhelm translation for that line…

		above: K’an / The Abysmal, Water
		below: Kên / Keeping Still, Mountain

 

The hexagram pictures a dangerous abyss lying before us and a steep, inaccessible mountain rising behind us. We are surrounded by obstacles; at the same time, since the mountain has the attribute of keeping still, there is implicit a hint as to how we can extricate ourselves. The hexagram represents obstructions that appear in the course of time but that can and should be overcome. Therefore all the instruction given is directed to overcoming them. THE JUDGEMENT OBSTRUCTION. The southwest furthers. The northeast does not further. It furthers one to see the great man. Perseverance brings good fortune. The southwest is the region of retreat, the northeast that of advance. Here an individual is confronted by obstacles that cannot be overcome directly. In such a situation it is wise to pause in view of the danger and to retreat. However, this is merely a preparation for overcoming the obstructions. One must join forces with friends of like mind and put himself under the leadership of a man equal to the situation: then one will succeed in removing the obstacles. This requires the will to persevere just when one apparently must do something that leads away from his goal. This unswerving inner purpose brings good fortune in the end. An obstruction that lasts only for a time is useful for self-development. This is the value of adversity. THE IMAGE Water on the mountain: The image of OBSTRUCTION. Thus the superior man turns his attention to himself And molds his character.

Heaven Lake, Baekdu Mountain – a crater lake on the border separating China and North Korea

Difficulties and obstructions throw a man back upon himself. While the inferior man seeks to put the blame on other persons, bewailing his fate, the superior man seeks the error within himself, and through this introspection the external obstacle becomes for him an occasion for inner enrichment and education.

If you have veered from your life path and the new direction is not working for you, return to your old life.  You are assured good fortune.

Tao Te Ching – Verse 71 – Not-knowing is true knowledge. Presuming to know is a disease.

 Today: “You have to be you, but you can only be you when you understand that you are a part of infinity.” – Yogi Bhajan

Previous reading: “Though rejected for your brilliant efforts, stay with it. Your good works will be recognized.”

Previous previous reading: “You are done when the universe says you are done. Where there is need, serve in your best capacity. Share your good fortune.”

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