There were "old" features in your gua (hexagram). It means that you have two hexagrams. The first one — is something that the Book tells you at the moment, the second is something it warns you about. |
 |
→ |
 |
  10. Treading (lǚ). Treading (Conduct)Advise
Take action when you have clear thoughts and intentions.
Inital text of I ChingThe Judgement
Treading. Treading upon the tail of the tiger. It does not bite the man. Success.
The Image
Heaven above, the lake below: the image of Treading. Thus the superior man discriminates between high and low, and thereby fortifies the thinking of the people.
- Simple conduct. Progress without blame.
- Treading a smooth, level course. The perseverance of a dark man brings good fortune.
- A one-eyed man is able to see, a lame man is able to tread. He treads on the tail of the tiger. The tiger bites the man. Misfortune. Thus does a warrior act on behalf of his great prince.
- He treads on the tail of the tiger. Caution and circumspection lead ultimately to good fortune.
- Resolute conduct. Perseverance with awareness of danger.
- Look to your conduct and weigh the favorable signs.
When everything is fulfilled, supreme good fortune comes. Prediction
The new idea is ready to come true. Act firmly but with care, consistency and clarity. Do not go groping. Do not forget customs and traditions. Keep commandments and precepts. Reflection and meditation are useful. Internal agreement with you is necessary. If you achieve harmony - the outcome will be successful.
The name of the hexagram means on the one hand the right way of
conducting oneself. Heaven, the father, is above, and the lake, the youngest
daughter, is below. This shows the difference between high and low, upon
which composure correct social conduct, depends. On the other hand the
word for the name of the hexagram, TREADING, means literally treading
upon something. The small and cheerful [Tui] treads upon the large and
strong [Ch'ien]. The direction of movement of the two primary trigrams is
upward. The fact that the strong treads on the weak is not mentioned in the
Book of Changes, because it is taken for granted. For the weak to take a stand
against the strong is not dangerous here, because it happened in good humor
[Tui] and without presumption, so that the strong man is not irritated but
takes it all in good part.
THE JUDGMENT
The situation is really difficult. That which is strongest and that which is
weakest are close together. The weak follows behind the strong and worries
it. The strong, however, acquiesces and does not hurt the weak, because the
contact is in goof humor and harmless.
In terms of a human situation, one is handling wild, intractable people. In
such a case one's purpose will be achieved if one behaves with decorum.
Pleasant manners succeed even with irritable people.
THE IMAGE
Heaven and the lake show a difference of elevation that inheres in the
natures of the two, hence no envy arises. Among mankind also there are
necessarily differences of elevation; it is impossible to bring about universal
equality. But it is important that differences in social rank should not be
arbitrary and unjust, for if this occurs, envy and class struggle are the
inevitable consequences. If, on the other hand, external differences in rank
correspond with differences in inner worth, and if inner worth forms the
criterion of external rank, people acquiesce and order reigns in society.
1
The situation is one in which we are still not bound by any obligations of
social intercourse. If our conduct is simple, we remain free of them We can
quietly follow our predilections as long as we are content and make not
demands on people.
The meaning of the hexagram is not standstill but progress. A man finds
himself in an altogether inferior position at the start. However, he has the
inner strength that guarantees progress. If he can be content with simplicity,
he can make progress without blame. When a man is dissatisfied with
modest circumstances, he is restless and ambitious and tries to advance, not
for the sake of accomplishing anything worth while, but merely in order to
escape from lowliness and poverty by dint of his conduct. Once his purpose is
achieved, he is certain to become arrogant and luxury-loving. Therefore
blame attaches to his progress. On the other hand, a man who is good at his
work is content to behave simply. He wishes to make progress in order to
accomplish something. When he attains his goal, he does something worth
while, an all is well.
2
The situation of a lonely sage is indicated here. He remains withdrawn from
the bustle of life, seeks nothing, asks nothing of anyone, and travels through
life unassailed, on a level road. Since he is content and does not challenge
fate, he remains free of entanglements.
3
A one-eyed man can indeed see, but not enough for clear vision. A lame
man can indeed treat, but not enough to make progress. If in spite of such
defects a man considers himself strong and consequently exposes himself to
danger, he is inviting disaster, for he is undertaking something beyond his
strength. This reckless way of plunging ahead, regardless of the adequacy of
one's powers, can be justified only in the case of a warrior battling for his
prince.
4
This text refers to a dangerous enterprise. The inner power to carry it through
is there, but this inner power is combined with hesitating caution in one's
external attitude. This line contrasts with the preceding line, which is weak
within but outwardly presses forward. Here one is sure of ultimate success,
which consists in achieving one's purpose, that is, in overcoming danger by
going forward.
5
This refers to the ruler of the hexagram as a whole. One sees that one has to
be resolute in conduct. But at the same time one must remain conscious of
the danger connected with such resoluteness, especially if it is to be
persevered in. Only awareness of the danger makes success possible.
6
The work is ended. If we want to know whether good fortune will follow, we
must look back upon our conduct and its consequences. If the effects are good,
then good fortune is certain. No one knows himself. It is only by the
consequences of his actions, by the fruit of his labors, that a man can judge
what he is to expect.
Barbara Hejslip interpretationYou should now to try leave in yourselves, to retire and think of yourselves, about the position. Your behaviour let will be underlined polite, is constrained-friendly. Very trite to you on advantage if in any way you show the respect for the heads. The greater pleasure will be delivered to you with unexpected event which soon will happen. For love affairs time not absolutely suitable. Women, be circumspect in a choice of new friends! Try to not show now big requirements by a life.
  58. Open (duì). The JoyousAdvise
Learn to be happy with an easy mind, not fearing the time when there will be fewer reasons for joy and it will be time to be sad.
Inital text of I ChingThe Judgement
The Joyous. Success. Perseverance is favorable.
The Image
Lakes resting one on the other: The image of the Joyous. Thus the superior man joins with his friends for discussion and practice.
- Contented joyousness. Good fortune.
- Sincere joyousness. Good fortune. Remorse disappears.
- Coming joyousness. Misfortune.
- Joyousness that is weighed is not at peace. After ridding himself of mistakes a man has joy.
- Sincerity toward disintegrating influences is dangerous.
- Seductive joyousness.
Prediction
Success in many areas related to social activities is possible: a successful and rapid completion of urgent tasks, achievements in creative work, recognition of merit, pleasant meetings. Achieved goal gives a feeling of great joy. Do not miss this feeling; try to enjoy it as much as possible. But beware of euphoria, admiring yourself, loss of self-control. Do not lose your head. Be prepared for the fact that the good times will end soon.
This hexagram, like sun, is one of the eight formed by doubling of a trigram.
The trigram Tui denotes the youngest daughter; it is symbolized by the
smiling lake, and its attribute is joyousness. Contrary to appearances, it is not
the yielding quality of the top line that accounts for joy here. The attribute of
the yielding or dark principle is not joy but melancholy. However, joy is
indicated by the fact that there are two strong lines within, expressing
themselves through the medium of gentleness.
True joy, therefore, rests on firmness and strength within, manifesting itself
outwardly as yielding and gentle.
THE JUDGMENT
The joyous mood is infectious and therefore brings success. But joy must be
based on steadfastness if it is not to degenerate into uncontrolled mirth.
Truth and strength must dwell in the heart, while gentleness reveals itself in
social intercourse. In this way one assumes the right attitude toward God and
man and achieves something. Under certain conditions, intimidation
without gentleness may achieve something momentarily, but not for all
time. When, on the other hand, the hearts of men are won by friendliness,
they are led to take all hardships upon themselves willingly, and if need be
will not shun death itself, so great is the power of joy over men.
THE IMAGE
A lake evaporates upward and thus gradually dries up; but when two lakes
are joined they do not dry up so readily, for one replenishes the other. It is
the same in the field of knowledge. Knowledge should be a refreshing and
vitalizing force. It becomes so only through stimulating intercourse with
congenial friends with whom one holds discussion and practices application
of the truths of life. In this way learning becomes many-sided and takes on a
cheerful lightness, whereas there is always something ponderous and one-
sided about the learning of the self-taught.
1
A quiet, wordless, self-contained joy, desiring nothing from without and
resting content with everything, remains free of all egotistic likes and dislikes.
In this freedom lies good fortune, because it harbors the quiet security of a
heart fortified within itself.
2
We often find ourselves associating with inferior people in whose company
we are tempted by pleasures that are inappropriate for the superior man. To
participate in such pleasures would certainly bring remorse, for a superior
man can find no real satisfaction in low pleasures. When, recognizing this, a
man does not permit his will to swerve, so that he does not find such ways
agreeable, not even dubious companions will venture to proffer any base
pleasures, because he would not enjoy them. Thus every cause for regret is
removed.
3
True joy must spring from within. But if one is empty within and wholly
given over to the world, idle pleasures come streaming in from without.
This is what many people welcome as diversion. Those who lack inner
stability and therefore need amusement, will always find opportunity of
indulgence. They attract external pleasures by the emptiness of their natures.
Thus they lose themselves more and more, which of course has bad results.
4
Often a man finds himself weighing the choice between various kinds of
pleasures, and so long as he has not decided which kind he will choose, the
higher or the lower, he has no inner peace. Only when he clearly recognizes
that passion brings suffering, can he make up his mind to turn away from the
lower pleasures and to strive for the higher. Once this decision is sealed, he
finds true joy and peace, and inner conflict is overcome.
5
Dangerous elements approach even the far best of men. If a man permits
himself to have anything to do with them, their disintegrating influence acts
slowly but surely, and inevitable brings dangers in its train. But if he
recognizes the situation and can comprehend the danger, he knows how to
protect himself and remains unharmed.
6
A vain nature invites diverting pleasures and must suffer accordingly (cf. the
six in the third place). If a man is unstable within, the pleasures of the world
that he does not shun have so powerful an influence that he is swept along by
them. Here it is no longer a question of danger, of good fortune or
misfortune. He has given up direction of his own life, and what becomes of
him depends upon chance and external influences.
Barbara Hejslip interpretationAlready success hurries to you; and your suppressed mood will disappear without a trace. This hexagram concerns everything, that is connected with bodies of speech. Be careful badly to respond about associates, and do not disregard kind advice of the friend. Now very favorable period for everything, as to singing and trade. It is not necessary to be nervous in occasion of that you not in forces to change and correct. Keep calmness; happiness, success already on the approach.
|
Richard Wilhelm's commentary