Tag: I Ching

Today: Be frugal and measured in your dealings – from the I Ching

Be frugal and measured in your dealings with wild intractable people.  Holding to your inner truth will win the day.  If you stand for what is right, nothing can oppose your efforts.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad. Increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretence. If a time of scanty resources brings out an inner truth, one must not feel ashamed of simplicity. For simplicity is then the very thing needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings. Indeed, there need be no concern if the outward beauty of the civilisation, even the elaboration of religious forms, should have to suffer because of simplicity. One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to compensate for what is lacking in externals; then the power of the content makes up for the simplicity of form. There is no need of presenting false appearances to God. Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed.
If someone is marked out by fate for good fortune, it comes without fail. All oracles – as for instance those that are read from the shells of tortoises – are bound to concur in giving him favourable signs. He need fear nothing, because his luck is ordained from on high.
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.  ”

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Today: Be a champion against evil – from the I Ching

Be a champion against evil.  Under no circumstances must evil in any way be normalized.  It is your noble responsibility to nip its advance in the bud and neutralize evil before it gains a foothold.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“By growing used to what is dangerous, a man can easily allow it to become part of him. He is familiar with it and grows used to evil. With this he has lost the right way, and misfortune is the natural result.
If we meet evil before it becomes reality- before it has even begun to stir-we can master it.  ”

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Today: Wait, hold your inner strength, and peace is assured – from the I Ching

Wait, hold your inner strength, and peace is assured.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Even in the midst of danger there come intervals of peace when things go relatively well. If we possess enough inner strength, we shall take advantage of these intervals to fortify ourselves for renewed struggle. We must know how to enjoy the moment without being deflected from the goal, for perseverance is needed to remain victorious.
This is true in public life as well; it is not possible to achieve everything all at once. The height of wisdom is to allow people enough recreation to quicken pleasure in their work till the task is completed. ”

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Today: Use your creativity as you gather support – from the I Ching

Use your creativity all day long.  Never forget your purpose even in rest.  As people join in your vision, do not be swept away.  Hold to your  intentions.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“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. ”

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Today: Invite people to participate in your vision – from the I Ching

Follow your vision.  Invite people to participate in your vision.  Help them.  Serve them.  In this way your path will be strewn with blessings. Those who hear the calling will come together, mounting a thunderous roar that will shake and transform the culture.  Those who do not will be fearful to oppose.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“In order to obtain a following one must first know how to adapt oneself. If a man would rule he must first learn to serve, for only in this way does he secure from those below him the joyous assent that is necessary if they are to follow him. If he has to obtain a following by force or cunning, by conspiracy or by creating factions, he invariably arouses resistance, which obstructs willing adherence.
Every man must have something he follows – something that serves him as a lodestar. He who follows with conviction the beautiful and the good may feel himself strengthened by this saying.
The shock of continuing thunder brings fear and trembling. The superior man is always filled with reverence at the manifestation of God; he sets his life in order and searches his heart, lest it harbour any secret opposition to the will of God. Thus reverence is the foundation of true culture. ”

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Today: Right now there is an opportunity to initiate profound change – from the I Ching

Right now there is an opportunity to initiate profound change.  One only has to recognize it.  Failing that, one will be at odds with the prevailing currents of the time and any actions would be contrary to the cosmic flow.  Missing this opportunity would cause a lot of damage (reverse prosperity) and take years to recover from such neglect.  Speak up and tell those in charge to give up their foolish obstinacy and set things right.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“After a time of decay comes the turning point. The powerful light that has been banished returns. There is movement, but it is not brought about by force. The upper trigram Kun is characterised by devotion; thus the movement is natural, arising spontaneously. For this reason the transformation of the old becomes easy. The old is discarded and the new is introduced. Both measures accord with the time; therefore no harm results. Societies of people sharing the same views are formed. But since these groups come together in full public knowledge and are in harmony with the time, all selfish separatist tendencies are excluded, and no mistake is made. The idea of RETURN is based on the course of nature. The movement is cyclic, and the course completes itself. Therefore it is not necessary to hasten anything artificially. Everything comes of itself at the appointed time. This is the meaning of heaven and earth.
If a man misses the right time for return, he meets with misfortune. The misfortune has its inner cause in a wrong attitude toward the world. The misfortune coming upon him from without results from this wrong attitude. What is pictured here is blind obstinacy and the judgement that is visited upon it. ”

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Today: The Seeds of Revolt – from the I Ching

When oppression from usurpers of power becomes intolerable, sometimes the only recourse is to mount an outright revolution.  This must be done carefully, and planned for the greatest effect and best outcome.  Seeds are being planted.  People must be informed and the leaders must not hold selfish agendas, which have already led to the current situation.  Remember that it is a struggle between light and dark forces.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Political revolutions are extremely grave matters. They should be undertaken only under stress of direst necessity, when there is no other way out. Not everyone is called to this task, but only the man who has the confidence of the people, and even he only when the time is ripe. He must then proceed in the right way, so that he gladdens the people and, by enlightening them, prevents excesses. Furthermore, he must be quite free of selfish aims and must really relieve the need of the people. Only then does he have nothing to regret.
Times change, and with them their demands. Thus the seasons change in the course of the year. In the world cycle also there are spring and autumn in the life of peoples and nations, and these call for social transformations. ”
“

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Today: Keep you inner light- from the I Ching

When people of dark nature are in control, keep you inner light.  It will manifest subtly through your intentions and your works.  Do not be too obvious so as to attract attention and become a target for nefarious attacks.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“One must not unresistingly let himself be swept along by unfavourable circumstances, nor permit his steadfastness to be shaken. He can avoid this by maintaining his inner light, while remaining outwardly yielding and tractable. With this attitude he can overcome even the greatest adversities.
In some situations indeed a man must hide his light, in order to make his will prevail in spite of difficulties in his immediate environment. Perseverance must dwell in inmost consciousness and should not be discernible from without. Only thus is a man able to maintain his will in the face of difficulties. ”
“

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Today: Don’t let inferior elements of your personality gain a foothold – from the I Ching

Do not let inferior elements of your personality gain a foothold through seduction or compulsion.  Do not surrender your dignity.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“The inferior man rises only because the superior man does not regard him as dangerous and so lends him power. If he were resisted from the first, he could never gain influence.
Although as a general rule the weak should not come to meet the strong, there are times when this has great significance. When heaven and earth come to meet each other, all creatures prosper; when a prince and his official come to meet each other, the world is put in order. It is necessary for elements predestined to be joined and mutually dependent to come to meet one another halfway. But the coming together must be free of dishonest ulterior motives, otherwise harm will result.”
“

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Today: Remain innocent – from the I Ching

Remain innocent.  Do not struggle with the flow.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Man has received from heaven a nature innately good, to guide him in all his movements. By devotion to this divine spirit within himself, he attains an unsullied innocence that leads him to do right with instinctive sureness and without any ulterior thought of reward and personal advantage. This instinctive certainty brings about supreme success and “furthers through perseverance”. However, not everything instinctive is nature in this higher sense of the word, but only that which is right and in accord with the will of heaven. Without this quality of rightness, an unreflecting, instinctive way of acting brings only misfortune. Confucius says about this:
“He who departs from innocence, what does he come to? Heaven’s will and blessing do not go with his deeds.”
“

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Today: Contemplate – from the I Ching

Contemplate.  Within you lie the answers to direction, advance and retreat.  Forget the naive forms that come from the world that always presuppose a viewpoint and offer inherently limited options.  In this paradigm shift, realize a state of grace.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“This is the place of transition. We no longer look outward to receive pictures that are more or less limited and confused, but direct our contemplation upon ourselves in order to find a guideline for our decisions. This self-contemplation means the overcoming of naïve egotism in the person who sees everything solely form his own standpoint. He begins to reflect and in this way acquires objectivity. However, self-knowledge does not mean preoccupation with one’s own thoughts; rather, it means concern about the effects one creates. It is only the effects our lives produce that give us the right to judge whether what we have done means progress or regression.
By contemplating the forms existing in the heavens we come to understand time and its changing demands. Through contemplation of the forms existing in human society it becomes possible to shape the world.
“

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Today: Great power comes from your inner worth – from the I Ching

Great power comes from your inner worth.  Use it for righteous causes and for justice.  Apply it from within without grand external gestures.  Your greatness with then go unchallenged.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“The hexagram points to a time when inner worth mounts with great force and comes to power.  For that is truly great power which does not degenerate into mere force but remains inwardly united with the fundamental principles of right and of justice. When we understand this point – namely, that greatness and justice must be indissolubly united – we understand the true meaning of all that happens in heaven and on earth.
If a man goes on quietly and perseveringly working at the removal of resistances, success comes in the end. The obstructions give way and all occasion for remorse arising from excessive use of power disappears.
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. “

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Today: Be flexible – from the I Ching

Be flexible.  You can overcome any obstacle.  You can go around, you can go through it, you can merge.  No need for struggle.  Teach others the same.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Water reaches its goal by flowing continually. It fills up every depression before it flows on. The superior man follows its example; he is concerned that goodness should be an established attribute of character rather than an accidental and isolated occurrence. So likewise in teaching others everything depends on consistency, for it is only through repetition that the pupil makes the material his own.  “

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Today: Hold your course – from the I Ching

Hold your course.  You can expect ultimate success.  There is no need for precipitous action now.  The promised rain will come.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“The situation is not unfavourable; there is a prospect of ultimate success, but there are still obstacles in the way, and we can merely take preparatory measures. Only through the small means of friendly persuasion can we exert any influence. The time has not yet come for sweeping measures. However, we may be able, to a limited extent, to act as a restraining and subduing influence. To carry out our purpose we need firm determination within and gentleness and adaptability in external relations.  “

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Today: Embrace simplicity – from the I Ching

Embrace simplicity.  Be frugal.  Draw on the strength of your inner attitude to balance what is lacking in externals.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad. Increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretence. If a time of scanty resources brings out an inner truth, one must not feel ashamed of simplicity. For simplicity is then the very thing needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings. Indeed, there need be no concern if the outward beauty of the civilisation, even the elaboration of religious forms, should have to suffer because of simplicity. One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to compensate for what is lacking in externals; then the power of the content makes up for the simplicity of form. There is no need of presenting false appearances to God. Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed. “

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Today: Look for success in small things – from the I Ching

Examine the nature of current conflict. Reflect on your position in it.  Be sure that you are aligned with what is right, and not merely exploiting someone in a weaker position.  Look also at what you can reasonably expect to accomplish.  In this time, do not go after lofty goals.  Look for success in small things.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“CONFLICT DEVELOPS when one feels himself to be in the right and runs into opposition. If one is not convinced of being in the right, opposition leads to craftiness or high-handed encroachment but not to open conflict.
If a man is entangled in a conflict, his only salvation lies in being so clear- headed and inwardly strong that he is always ready to come to terms by meeting the opponent halfway. To carry on the conflict to the bitter end has evil effects even when one is the right, because the enmity is then perpetuated.
This refers to a person whose inner attitude at first lacks peace. He does not feel content with his situation and would like to improve it through conflict.  He is dealing with a weaker opponent and might therefore succeed. But he cannot carry on the fight, because, since right is not on his side, he cannot justify the conflict to his conscience. Therefore he turns back and accepts his fate. He changes his mind and finds lasting peace in being at one with eternal law. This brings good fortune.
Exceptional modesty and conscientiousness are sure to be rewarded with success; however, if a man is not to throw himself away, it is important that they should not become empty form and subservience but be combined always with a correct dignity in personal behaviour. We must understand the demands of the time in order to find the necessary offset for its deficiencies and damages. In any event we must not count on great success, since the requisite strength is lacking. In this lies the importance of the message that one should not strive after lofty things but hold to lowly things.

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