39 Chien / Obstruction & 40 Hsieh / Deliverance

39 - Water over Mountain

40 - Thunder over Water

Theme:  Obstacles Present : Obstacles Removed

Aspect	#39 Chien (Jian) Obstruction (Difficulty)	#40 Hsieh (Jie) Deliverance (Relief)
Situation
Symbolically	Flowing water (K’an) meets an obstacle in the form of a mountain (Kên).  It did not suddenly appear, but is inherent to the water’s path.	From thunderclouds (Chên) pours down rain (K’an) to relieve atmospheric tension.
Socially	In times of hardship, an organization needs a great leader, loyal officials, and unified people.	Now is the time to resolve or bypass complications of adverse social conditions.
Individually	An obstacle that we’re incapable of overcoming alone appears in our path.	It is time to clear the air of personal emotional turmoil and adversity.
Response
Symbolically	If the time is not right, keep still like the mountain till the time is right.	Difficulty in the lower trigram (K’an) stimulates the upper trigram (Chên) to action.
Socially	Do not turn and run from the challenge.  Join forces with friends of like mind to overcome it together.	The superior person forgives misdeeds that lead to difficulties, washes everything clean, and moves on.
Individually	Build up strength and align yourself with a strong leader - don’t blame others for obstructions, look within and seek to enrich and educate yourself.	Don’t overdo in the triumph over obstacles.  Return one’s affairs to the regular and intended pattern as soon as possible.
Outcome
Symbolically	After a pause, water increases in volume and strength, eventually overcoming the obstacle.	The ground is cleared for new growth
Socially	If we pause and gather our comrades, obstacles will be overcome.	You may now successfully resolve complications caused by adverse social arrangements.  Solutions to political problems are no longer elusive
Individually	An obstacle that is overcome is good for self-development.  Overcoming inner conflicts often alleviates exterior troubles.	Anxiety and strife give way if one takes firm action.  One has a fresh start – past difficulties should resolve themselves.  Once one dispenses with the emotional ruts of past difficulties, one has an excellent opportunity for personal advancement
Lines
Bottom Line	Wait for an opportune time to face the challenge.	Difficulties begin to lessen.  Relax.
2nd	Duty calls – raise the sword!	Having focused inner strength on deliverance, one is fortified against evil.
3rd	Hold back for now and stay with those under your care	If once needy and now flush but one retains a needy attitude, disgrace.
4th	Hold back for now and gather helpers for later	Stay distant from fools so true allies can come close.
5th	When one is called in an emergency, friends will rally to help one succeed	Demonstrate earnestness by making a clean break from negative influences.
Top Line	Having overcome one’s own obstacles, one returns to rescue others	Forcibly remove negative influences.
Recap
Summary	This hexagram contains guidance for overcoming obstacles that are inherent in the path we have chosen.  Unless compelled by duty or emergency, one does well to not push forward into danger nor idly sitting by, but instead yield, acquire aid, understand the inner conflicts that strengthen this obstacle.	After hardship, relief follows.  In this situation, movement is necessary to surmount obstacles.  After a difficulty has been removed, return to a place of rest lest one’s indulgence creates new hardships.
Image

I’d be interested to hear if you like this table format or if you prefer the prior narrative approach or the earlier dialogues.  Thanks for any feedback.

Happy 257^th birthday (J. C.) Wolfgang (T. G. A.) Mozart!

Rush Limbaugh Mocks Frightened Children

Ranting isn’t my thing.  I tend to focus on the positives in life rather than the negatives, but at times that can be a cop out.  “Always looking on the bright side of life,” as Eric Idle joked may enable us to cope with difficult aspects of life, but at times it is necessary to shine the harsh light of day upon the negatives and give them a close look.

Sure, I get as irritated as anyone by aggressive and inconsiderate drivers, disinterested store clerks, faceless call center attendants, and unfairness in the workplace.  My usual response to such behaviors is to grimace and bear it like most sane citizens, unless of course it’s a situation that I feel I have some ability to influence.  I’m not going to hop out of my car to confront a disrespectful fellow commuter (that could get you shot in this country) nor am I likely to enlighten an intractable clerk about the finer points of customer service (an important aspect of my job for nearly 27 years).  I have, however, talked with friends and loved ones about many vexing and troublesome aspects of life in 21^st century America, voiced my dissatisfaction about situations in the workplace through effective channels, written to the editor of my local paper, and shared numerous points of constructive criticism via email with television networks.  The degree to which these actions have any bearing on subsequent behaviors is often difficult or impossible to gauge, but doing something feels good even when it’s uncertain that I’ve actually made a difference.

So, it’s with the understanding that several hundred words tossed into the seemingly infinite universe of the worldwide web are unlikely to find purchase in the minds of enough people to change anything that I humbly comment on the dreadful state of the gun laws in the United States of America.  If you seek an authoritative commentary on 221 years of Constitutional history tracing back to the origins of the Second Amendment, you won’t find it here (but here’s a link to get you started: Second-Amendment-History.  If you seek statistics to quote with friends and family about the rates of gun violence in the U.S. compared to other nations, details about America’s high gun ownership and homicide rates are just keystrokes away through your trusted browser (like this one:  US Gun Ownership Facts).  However, if you’re looking for another voice of outrage against conservative zealot Rush Limbaugh’s recent disgusting mockery of school children being frightened of getting shot, then I’m happy to oblige.

I can’t recall when I last observed something a callous, misguided, and pathetic.  During his January 15, 2013 show, he accused President Obama of using children as human shields and then went on to say: 

“He brings these kids, supposedly who wrote letters to the White House after Newtown… It’s going to be very difficult, very difficult to oppose it.  They got these little kids there, [and while pretending to cry and sob says,] they don’t want to die…( “How can you, how can you not listen to them? You’ve got to do something!”

If you haven’t heard it in context and you can stand the sight of him, here’s a link (scroll down to the Hardball interview):

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/01/17/gun-control-debate-how-both-sides-use-children/

For more criticism of Rush Limbaugh on this topic and many others, you may find this link to the Daily Kos and an entry by contributor Joan Mar of interest:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/16/1179542/-The-Filthy-Cowardly-Repugnant-Limbaugh-Mocks-Children

CBS New’s Bob Schieffer rightly described Sandy Hook as “probably the worst day in this country’s history since 9/11.”  Surely, even someone as apparently heartless as Limbaugh recognizes in hindsight that he crossed the line.  But, then again, he acknowledges that he always crosses the line of propriety, if he didn’t would he have an audience?  Would his many sponsors from AT&T to McDonalds to Wal-Mart continue to buy time if he wasn’t so controversial? 

Perhaps Mr. Limbaugh has done American’s a service.  Perhaps by crossing a line farther from our definition of civility than anything in recent shock jock history, he has helped to mobilize and galvanize the previously silent majority of caring, compassionate, cooperative who will now actually express their concerns, their wishes, and their demands for change.  Our society is full of cases where rules and regulations have been developed and implemented in response to accidents and catastrophes.  This will be different though.  Bob Schieffer believes that the impending battle with the gun lobby that has been reactivated by this event will be more formidable than defeating the Nazis (admittedly a rather extremist statement as well).  Mr. Schieffer’s full comments can be heard here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/17/bob-shieffer-tom-brokaw-gun-control-civil-rights-movement_n_2497028.html

While I don't agree with that comparison, I do agree that this is another turning point in our country's history.  I also agree with his statement that:  “Unless we figure out a way to make sure that something like Newtown never happens again, we’re not the country that we once were…”

So, what will you do?  You might start by finding out what radio stations broadcast his rants in your area:  http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/stations/all_stations/

Then you can find out who the local sponsors are here:  http://stoprush.net/rush_limbaugh_sponsor_list.php#current_a

Finally, you can contact them and ask them not to support him.

You might also contact your elected officials and encourage them to support President Obama’s efforts to rein in this crisis.  I suspect we will hear specific remarks aimed at this problem in his inaugural address on January 21, 2013.  Hopefully he will dare us solve this problem as JFK put it, “…not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”

With his leadership and the will of the people of this nation, I’m willing to look on the bright side that we can indeed be the country we once were.

What about you?

6th 8 Recap

I Ching explorations – Interlude 3

Each pair in this set of 8 hexagrams contains hexagrams that are inversions of one another.  As I observed in the discussion of the 7^th 8 (October 23, 2012) inversions don’t necessarily have inverted meanings, but in this set of 4 pairs, the meanings can be distilled to fairly clear complements, as discussed below.

The Decrease (41) of what is below supports what is above, and in turn, the Increase (42) of what is below follows from sacrifices made by those who are above.

41 - Decrease

42 - Increase

 We Break Through (43) by resolutely eradicating negative energies but when yin and yang Couple (44) a delicate balance must be reached.

43 - Break Through

44 - Coming to Meet (Couple)

Energies are Gathered Together (45) like the waters of a lake brimming with potential, while Pushing Upward (46) requires concentrated, slow, and steady effort.

45 - Gathering Together

46 - -Pushing Upward

Exhaustion (47) results from oppressive circumstances, while an inexhaustible supply of  replenishment awaits at The Well (48).

47 - Exhaustion

48 - The Well

To compress the ideas even further:

What Decreases (41) must inevitably Increase (42).

When Increasing (42) continues to excess there must be a Break Through (43).

After Breaking Through (43), one is bound to have an Encounter (44).

When we Encounter (44) others we Gather Together (45).

When we Gather Together (45) we eventually Push Upward (46).

If one Pushes Upward (46) without stopping, one will become Exhausted (47).

When one is Exhausted (47) by ascending, one returns to below to be Replenished (48).

41 – Sun / Decrease

I Ching explorations – Part 41 of 64

Kên (Keeping Still, Mountain) over Tui (The Joyous, Lake)

Mt. Moran and Lake Moran - The Grand Tetons, Wyoming

Situation

Symbolism

Water evaporates from the lake, precipitates on the mountain, and the mountain vegetation is nourished.  This illustrates a time when the lowly are diminished for the benefit of those above.

Socially

The prosperity of the people is diminished for the benefit of those in control.  This results in an unstable situation unless the leaders act accordingly.

Individually

This is a time of material loss, sacrifice, and diminished communications that one is unable to change.  It shouldn’t be construed to be a “bad” thing – just another phase to experience that one should approach with the right attitude.

Response

Symbolically

The lower trigram has been formed from Ch’ien.

Ch’ien

has been decreased to form Tui.

At the same time, the decrease of the lower trigram is accompanied by an increase of the upper line in the upper trigram from K'un: 

to Kên:

The upper trigram (Mountain) is stubborn strength that can harden into anger.  The Lake is unchecked gaiety that can develop into uncontrolled passion.  To find balance, anger must be decreased by keeping still and passionate instincts must be curbed, as the lake prevents waters from overflowing.  The weight and gravity of the mountain holds the joyousness of the lake in check.  The result is a decreasing of the lower emotions (passions) and an enrichment of the higher aspects of the soul.

Socially

The hexagram is directed at showing how is it possible for this shift of wealth from below to above to occur without causing the source of wealth (e.g., the productivity of the people) to be permanently diminished.  A proper response from those in power would be to aid those who have been diminished in means to manage more frugally.  And, a proper response of those below would be to recognize that at times there is the need to make sacrifices.  In this situation, society should embrace frugality and work together to fulfill needs without being obsessed with elaborate and unnecessary consumption.  And, those above should use what has been received to ultimately benefit the people.

Individually

An individual in this situation is advised to accept the decline in circumstances and simplify one’s life accordingly:  curb passionate desires, economize, limit indulgences, and quell the anger that may accompany this change lifestyle.  One should not continue the pretense of more opulent times lest one lose touch with the lessons to be learned during this transitory stage.  Instead, scale personal relationships down to simpler issues and don’t feel ashamed.  Simplicity is what’s needed to provide inner strength for future undertakings.

Outcome

Symbolically

Kên and Tui have been formed from the interaction of Ch’ien below being decreased to the benefit of K’un above.  Kên and Tui represent the youngest son and youngest daughter.  Combined, the two trigrams symbolize passions aroused but held in check   

Socially

The trust of the people will be increased if those above use what has been received from them for the benefit of the whole.  In this way, stability in trying times can be maintained.

Individually

Simplifying one’s life has benefits to one’s higher nature.  Success will be achieved through devotion and simplicity.  Having achieved a certain economy in the intensity of one’s emotions one will be prepared for the inevitable increase that follows.

Lines

1. Moderately help those above in need so as to maintain personal balance.

2. While humbled, maintain your dignity to provide true service of lasting value.

3. One finds a comrade but three will splinter.  Two achieve the proper balance.

4. Humbly diminish your shortcomings and friends will appear to help.

5. Modestly accept good fortune.

6. If one’s increase benefits others, supporters are attracted and increase furthers.  

Recap

This situation is in accordance with cosmic forces and is therefore unavoidable.  What is insufficient will be increased and what is excessive will inevitably be diminished, that is the natural order of things.  One should not be concerned about external appearances in times of decrease, but rather it is appropriate to decrease one’s passions and enrich the higher aspects of the soul.

42 - I / Increase

I Ching explorations – Part 42 of 64

Sun (The Gentle, Wind/Wood) over Chên (The Arousing, Thunder)

Situation

Symbolism

The ancients observed that when winds increased, thunder often developed.  And, when thunder could be heard far off, winds were likely to increase.  In the I Ching, wind and thunder are understood to “generate and reinforce each other” (Wilhelm/Baynes, p. 598).

The outer (upper) trigram, Wood, represents penetration – as in a root or sprout penetrating the soil (as discussed in #57).  The inner (lower) trigram, Thunder, represents movement.  W/B (p. 596) recounts the story of Pao Hsi and the clan of the “Divine Husbandman” who made a wooden plow and commenced to penetrate the earth for the purpose of bringing forth crops.  Thus, does W/B include the observation that:  “Movement combined with penetration has brought the greatest increase to the world” (p. 597). 

As illustrated by Alfred Huang (p. 340), the ideograph for I (Yi) is the symbol for water (the trigram K’an) over the image of a container.  In this case, water filling a container represents the idea of increasing.

(From A. Huang, 2010, p. 340)

Socially

This is an auspicious time for leaders, employers, supervisors, and others in positions of influence and power to be generous to their subordinates and followers. 

Individually

From the perspective of the individual, this is a fortuitous time to work on one’s self improvement.  An individual achieves lasting benefit by being receptive to the good. 

Response

Symbolically

This hexagram illustrates the action of the light energy diminishing itself with the intent of increasing the dark energy.  This idea comes from the transformation of the upper and lower trigrams.  The upper trigram, Sun, comes from Ch’ien.  Ch’ien (Heaven) has been decreased by the transformation of the lower yang line to yin to form Sun (Wind/Wood).

Ch'ien

is decreased to:

Sun

In turn, the decrease of the upper element is accompanied by an increase of the lowest line in the bottom trigram as it is transformed from K’un (Earth) to Chên (Thunder).

K'un

is increased to:

Chen

Observe too that the first line of the upper trigram (Heaven) has moved to a position that is subordinate to Earth (K’un) in the lower trigram thus forming Thunder (Chên).  According to the I Ching, “increase of what is below at the cost of what is above is out-and-out increase, because it benefits the whole people.” (W/B, p. 597).In addition to increasing each other, these forces (Wind/Wood and Thunder) independently contribute to “increase” in the moral realm. 

In the moral realm of the I Ching, furthering of the light or positive principle signifies increase which is good.  Chên (Thunder) corresponds with the light principle and what is “light” is associated with what is “good.”  Sun (Wind/Wood) is connected with earthy principles which connote “evil” but through its nature, Wind helps to disperse and dissipate such energies which is also good.  Both energies contribute to attaining or enhancing the good and therefore both contribute to “increase.”

Socially

One may be called upon to make a sacrifice of one’s personal resources for the benefit of one’s supporters.  Thus the saying, “To rule, truly is to serve” a statement that W/B contends is “the fundamental idea on which the Book of Changes is based” (W/B, p. 162).

Individually

When we see good in another, we are encouraged to imitate it.  When one finds bad within, release it.  According to the I Ching, this ethical change represents the most important increase of personality.

Outcome

Symbolically

A classic interpretation is that the movement of wind and wood signify a ship which indicates that in this situation, it is advisable to venture “to cross the great water.”

One might also observe that the W/B quote: “Movement combined with penetration has brought the greatest increase to the world” (p. 597) could correspond to the act of procreation.  It would be hard to argue that any other single act has brought more of an increase to the world.

As W/B (p. 162) explains:

            “This time resembles that of the marriage of heaven and earth, when the earth partakes of the creative power of heave, forming and bringing forth living beings.”

Socially

When a leader makes a personal sacrifice for the benefit of the whole, people thus become devoted to their leaders which in turn makes communal undertakings possible.  Generous actions on the part of a leader enhance interpersonal relationships and the overall well-being of human organizations. 

Individually

When one strives to increase for such noble reasons, one is in harmony with the “the highest laws of the universe, it cannot be prevented by any constellation of accidents” (W/B, p. 163).  By emulating the useful traits in others, one can break bad habits and develop beneficial disciplines.  Through such efforts, one can regain a sense of direction and well-being.

Lines

1.  Selflessly achieve something great with assistance currently available from above.

2.  It’s inevitable that receptiveness to and love of the good brings about increase.

3.  If unfortunate events turn to your advantage, there is no harm if you are sincere.

4.  An intermediary should not reduce what is transferred from above to those below.

5.  A truly kind heart seeks no gratitude and finds reward in increasing those below.

6.  One aloofly helps no one and not being in harmony with the times remains alone.   

Recap

Just as the act of increasing water in a cup cannot continue for long, be forewarned that the conditions expressing themselves at this time will not endure.  One must begin now and maintain consistent positive action toward others and oneself while the conditions last.  The sacrifice of a higher element that produces an increase of the lower represents the spirit that has power to help the world.  “The superior person follows the good when he sees it, and corrects his fault when he finds it” (Confucius).

43 – Kuai / Break-through (Resoluteness) aka Eliminating (as in Evil)

I Ching explorations - Part 43 of 64

Tui (Lake – The Joyous) over Ch’ien (Heaven – The Creative)

Flooded Pittsburgh:  9/18/2004

Unflooded Pittsburgh

Situation

Symbolically

A swollen river or, in the case of Pittsburgh on 9/18/2004, three rivers (the Allegheny [seen entering the photo from the top], the Monongahela [entering from the right] and the Ohio [formed at the confluence and exiting stage left]) overflow their banks.  Similarly, water from the Lake has risen above the Heavens and bursts forth with precipitation.  Both situations represent a release of accumulated energy or tension.

Socially

This hexagram corresponds to a time when the righteous eliminate the evil through resolute action.  The virtuous have been held in check up till now by the unethical and have banded together to resolutely push upwards and force them from their position of power. 

Individually

The I Ching counsels that, “Even a single passion still lurking in the heart has the power to obscure reason” (p. 166, Wilhelm/Baynes).  “Passion” is represented by the dark yin line at the top (that same passionate, earthy, feminine force that is entering the situation from below in #44).  The passionate and earthy yin has the power to distract the rational and intellectual yang lines below.   

Response

Symbolically

The river bursts over its banks and the cloudburst releases a downpour.  Making a resolution is like dispensing with hesitation by taking a confident step beyond the existing barriers or letting the bow-string fly from one’s fingers.

Socially

The proper response at this time is to force out the weak/dark energy but only with the proper attitude and spirit.  There’s no doubt about what must happen, so it should be accomplished with calm and cheerful resoluteness.

This attitude of joyous (friendliness) on the outside (from Tui) and strength within (from Ch’ien) is the fundamental advice on how to deal with this situation (p. 167 W/B).  Although a compromise with evil is not possible, we are advised not to struggle directly by force because that simply entangles us in hatred and strengthens the opposition.  Instead, the I Ching tells us to address our own weaknesses and strive to fight evil by doing good.

This advice seems to have some similarity to the practice of shunning where an individual or group is consciously removed from association with their peers.  Rather than physically combat or retaliate, the response is one of avoidance and isolation.  Perhaps there’s an element of “turning the other cheek” as well.  As we strive to be better people ourselves, we focus not upon the evil deeds of others, but upon doing good in our own lives and trusting that the evil among us will not find purchase upon which to perpetrate further misdeeds if we simply refuse to associate with them.

Individually

In this situation, one must push the passions, worries, misgivings, and uncertainties aside and allow reason to guide your decisive action.  Expose the evil nature publicly to gain support from others.  Be courageous, resourceful, and determined.

Personally, avoid excessive selfish accumulation because eventually the pile will collapse:  gathering (#58) is followed by dispersion (#59).  Instead, begin to distribute while accumulating.  Similarly, to develop character the superior person does not build up rigid ways of acting and thinking but remains open to self-examination and the ideas of others.

Outcome

Symbolically

The levee breaks and the cloud bursts.  The tension has been released and will now swing back toward equilibration and normality.

Socially

The negative entity that has limited the ability of the virtuous to push upwards is forced out through gentle and non-violent means.  The virtuous are not entangled in the negative energy that has kept them confined but rather causes the negative energy to dissipate by being exposed to the harsh light of public awareness.  By alerting others to the situation, it is possible to harness the power of peer pressure to isolate and negate the harmful tendencies.

Individually

Through self-analysis we recognize weaknesses in our personality and gain control over their influences on our thinking and behavior.  It is easy to allow emotions to control our behavior.  It is harder to see clearly to the heart of the matter and make rational decisions, especially when one is challenged by negative influences.

Lines

1.  Your spirit is willing but your body is weak.  The time is not right time.  Chill.

2.  Remain vigilant and raise an alarm if needed.

3.  Avoid participating with evil but go along so to as hide your intent to thwart it.   

4.  Don’t be obstinate – listen to reason and seek the support of others.

5.  Like weeds, negative forces in powerful positions must be dealt with firmly.

6.  This evil must be rooted out.  Do it thoroughly so as to leave no seeds.

Recap

Negative energy must be banished.  Remain joyous outside and strong within.  Be resolute in the knowledge of what must be purged and go about the task with clear purpose of mind.  Don’t be swayed by emotions.  Indeed, be cheerful in your disposition because you know your purpose is just and right.  Whether you seek to purge a weakness in your character or a negative influence in a place of power, you must shine the harsh light of day upon the subject and openly acknowledge its evil.  Do not become entangled in its choice of weapons, however, for that simply gives it strength.  Remain serene but dispassionate.  Resolutely eradicate the negative influence.