“What is the value of old age? Grace. Any old man who is graceful will be loved and respected. What is the value of childhood? Sharpness.” Yogi Bhajan
Tao Te Ching – Verse 9 – Better to stop in time than to fill to the brim
Tao Te Ching – Verse 9
Better to stop in time than to fill to the brim.
Hone a blade to the sharpest point, and it will soon be blunt.
Fill your house with gold and jade, and no one can protect it.
Be prideful about wealth and position, and you bring disasters upon yourself. Retire when the work is done.
This is the way of heaven.
from the Tao Te Ching
Translation by Tolbert McCarroll Comments and layout by Thomas Knierim
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from I Ching Online
Today: “Finally, after much time and great effort, success is at hand. Leave it there. Do not grasp for more. The energy and the will to press on is no longer there. Be grateful for the accomplishment.”- from the I Ching
Finally, after much time and great effort, success is at hand. Leave it there. Do not grasp for more. The energy and the will to press on is no longer there. Be grateful for the accomplishment.
See previous 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 Related posts
9 – Nine. Hsiao Ch’u / Gentle Restraint
Winds of change high in the Heavens:
Air currents carry the weather.
Dense clouds blow in from the West, but still no rain.
The Superior Person fine tunes the image he presents to the world.
Small successes.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
No matter what you do, the fruit of your labors never seems to ripen.
Your reward remains just out of reach.
Men have gone mad from such anticipation.
Don’t lose your balance lunging for the brass ring.
While the Fates continue to restrain you, go them one better and display a self-generated restraint and grace.
Look for the humor in the situation.
Nine at the top means:
The needed rain finally pours down, bringing a well-earned time of rest.
It is Nature’s time to enrich the crops, so leave it to her.
To work the fields in the rain and mud would only undo all good effort.
Do not seek more; the gibbous moon seeks to be full, but once full can do nothing but wane.
The rain comes, there is rest.
This is due to the lasting effect of character.
Perseverance brings the woman into danger.
The moon is nearly full.
If the superior man persists,
Misfortune comes.
Success is at hand. The wind has driven up the rain. A fixed standpoint has been reached. This has come about through the cumulation of small effects produced by reverence for a superior character. But a success thus secured bit by bit calls for great caution. It would be a dangerous illusion for anyone to think he could presume upon it. The female principle, the weak element that has won the victory, should never persist in vaunting it – that would lead to danger. The dark power in the moon is strongest when the moon is almost full. When it is full and directly opposite the sun, its waning is inevitable. Under such circumstances one must be content with what has been achieved. To advance any further, before the appropriate time has come, would lead to misfortune.
23 – Twenty-Three Po / Splitting Apart
The weight of the Mountain presses down upon a weak foundation of Earth:
The Superior Person will use this time of oppression to attend to the needs of those less fortunate.
Any action would be ill-timed.
Stand fast.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
This is a situation easily mistaken for Stagnation (Hexagram 12) or Revolution (Hexagram 49).
It just depends on which side you’re on.
During a time of Stagnation, human worms invade to feed on the decay.
During a time of Revolution, oppression is being overthrown.
But in this situation, oppressors are violently seizing power.
Pay special heed when you receive this hexagram, because the oracle is often warning you of a situation of which you are totally unaware.
You are about to be blindsided.
Today: “There are two levels of communication: one, when the unit talks to Infinity, and two, when Infinity talks to the unit.” – Yogi Bhajan
“There are two levels of communication: one, when the unit talks to Infinity, and two, when Infinity talks to the unit.” Yogi Bhajan
Meditation: LA010 – 19780210 – Gobinda – Project to the Infinite
Tao Te Ching – Verse 33 – Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 8 – The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 8
The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.
Today: “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.” – from the I Ching
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 Related posts
Meditation: LA860-960131-Increase the Flow of Earth Within You
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.
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Nine at the beginning [yang at bottom] means: A guileless nature reaps good fortune.
Puppy with marsh marigold (kingcup) Innocent behavior brings good fortune.
“L’Innocence” – Guillaume Seignac |
| 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. |
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.
Today: “What is greatness? Greatness is when you have found that you are not great, but everything else is.” – Yogi Bhajan
“What is greatness? Greatness is when you have found that you are not great, but everything else is. When everything else is great and you have experienced that, then everything else holds you in its esteem.” Yogi Bhajan
Meditation: NM371 – Enjoy the Creativity of God
Tao Te Ching – Verse 31 – Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 7 – The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 7
The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born;
thus it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desires for itself;
thus it is present for all beings. Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 7 – The Tao is infinite, eternal.”
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
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 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
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.
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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 |
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| 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.
Today: “Behave constantly and strive on the path of righteousness, giving your total self unto the fire of purity and maintaining the flame of light to the end” – Yogi Bhajan
Behave constantly and strive on the path of righteousness, giving your total self unto the fire of purity and maintaining the flame of light to the end; your karma will be done, giving will be complete, blessings will exist, awareness will be thy gift. That is the rightful right of every man. That is the truth in you.“ Yogi Bhajan
Meditation: NM0383-20010213 – Culturing the Self
Tao Te Ching – Verse 29 – Do you want to improve the world? I don’t think it can be done.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 6 – The Tao is called the Great Mother: empty yet inexhaustible, it gives birth to infinite worlds.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 6
The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.
It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.
Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 6 – The Tao is called the Great Mother: empty yet inexhaustible, it gives birth to infinite worlds.”
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
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 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
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.
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
“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
Meditation: NM0420-20011015 – The Power of Memories – Remember the Saint Within
Tao Te Ching – Verse 5 – The Tao doesn’t take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 5
The Tao doesn’t take sides;
it gives birth to both good and evil.
The Master doesn’t take sides;
she welcomes both saints and sinners.
The Tao is like a bellows:
it is empty yet infinitely capable.
The more you use it, the more it produces;
the more you talk of it, the less you understand.
Hold on to the center. Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 5 – The Tao doesn’t take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil.”
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
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 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
See Related posts
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.
Nine in the third place means:You cooked a perfect meal in a caldron you can’t lift from the fire. The handle of the ting is altered.
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| The handle is the means for lifting up the ting. If the handle is altered, the ting cannot be lifted up and used, and, sad to say, the delicious food in it, such as pheasant fat, cannot be eaten by anyone. This describes a man who, in a highly evolved civilisation, finds himself in a place where no one notices or recognizes him. This is a severe block to his effectiveness. All of his good qualities and gifts of mind thus needlessly go to waste. But if he will only see to it that he is possessed of something truly spiritual, the time is bound to come, sooner or later, when the difficulties will be resolved and all will go well. The fall of rain symbolizes here, as in other instances, release of tension. |
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.
Today: “Live as royal saints. Nobody shall walk over you, but nobody who needs you shall be deprived of your strength.” – Yogi Bhajan
“Live as royal saints. Nobody shall walk over you, but nobody who needs you shall be deprived of your strength.” Yogi Bhajan
Meditation: NM0420-20011015 – The Power of Memories – Remember the Saint Within
Today: The Tao Te Ching