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. |
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  41. Diminishing (sǔn). DecreaseAdvise
Do not mourn the losses; look at them as a holy sacrifice. But do not sacrifice beyond measure. Too big gift is a product of pride.
Inital text of I ChingThe Judgement
Decrease combined with sincerity brings about supreme good fortune without blame. One may be persevering in this. It furthers one to undertake something. How is this to be carried out? One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice.
The Image
At the foot of the mountain, the lake: The image of Decrease. Thus the superior man controls his anger and restrains his instincts.
- Going quickly when one's tasks are finished is without blame. But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others.
- Perseverance furthers. To undertake something brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is able to bring increase to others.
- When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, he finds a companion.
- If a man decreases his faults, it makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame.
- Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune.
- If one is increased without depriving others, there is no blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something. One obtains servants but no longer has a separate home.
Prediction
Much depends on you. Inner freedom is great - self-restraint is necessary, otherwise chaos will prevail, exhaustion. The inner truth is the basis of everything. You can act, but quickly and prudently. Success is in small matters, it is not the time for great things. Work moderately; do not spend a lot of energy. If you start a great thing – you have no enough energy and everything will turn into losses. Do not sacrifice a lot - just a small sacrifice made with pure thoughts.
This hexagram represents a decrease of the lower trigram in favor of the
upper, because the third line, originally strong, has moved up to the top, and
the top line, originally weak, has replaced it. What is below is decreased to
the benefit of what is above. This is out-and-out decrease. If the foundations
of a building are decreased in strength and the upper walls are strengthened,
the whole structure loves its stability. Likewise, a decrease in the prosperity of
the people in favor of the government is out-and-out decrease. And the
entire theme of the hexagram is directed to showing how this shift of wealth
can take place without causing the sources of wealth can take place without
causing the sources of wealth in the nation and its lower classes to fail.
THE JUDGMENT
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 pretense. 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 by no concern if the
outward beauty of the civilization, 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.
THE IMAGE
The lake at the foot of the mountain evaporates. In this way it decreases to
the benefit of the mountain, which is enriched by its moisture. The
mountain stands as the symbol of stubborn strength that can harden into
anger. The lake is the symbol of unchecked gaiety that can develop into
passionate drives at the expense of the life forces. Therefore decrease is
necessary; anger must be decreased by keeping still, the instincts must be
curbed by restriction. By this decrease of the lower powers of the psyche, the
higher aspects of the soul are enriched/
1
It is unselfish and good when a man, after completing his own urgent tasks,
uses his strength in the service of others, and without bragging or making
much of it, helps quickly where help is needed. But the man in a superior
position who is thus aided must weigh carefully how much he can accept
without doing the helpful servant or friend real harm. Only where such
delicacy of feeling exists can one give oneself unconditionally and without
hesitation.
2
A high-minded self-awareness and a consistent seriousness with no forfeit of
dignity are necessary if a man wants to be of service to others. He who throw
himself away in order to do the bidding of a superior diminishes his own
position without thereby giving lasting benefit to the other. This is wrong.
To render true service of lasting value to another, one must serve him
without relinquishing oneself.
3
When there are three people together, jealousy arises. One of them will have
to go. Avery close bond is possible only between two people. But when one
man is lonely, he is certain to find a companion who complements him.
4
A man's faults often prevent even well-disposed people from coming closer
to him. His faults are sometimes reinforced by the environment in which he
lives. But if in humility he can bring himself to the point of giving them up,
he frees his well-disposed friends from an inner pressure and causes them to
approach the more quickly, and there is mutual joy.
5
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 favorable signs. He need fear nothing,
because his luck is ordained from on high.
6
There are people who dispense blessings to the whole world. Every increase
in power that comes to them benefits the whole of mankind and therefore
does not bring decrease to others. Through perseverance and zealous work a
man wins success and finds helpers as they are needed. But what he
accomplishes is not a limited private advantage; it is a public good and
available to everyone.
Barbara Hejslip interpretationBe generous to people; in fact that you today give them, tomorrow the destiny will return to you with percent{interests}. Perhaps, now it seems to you, that you are unduly prodigal; do not think of this, do not fall up to commercialism, and you will generously rewarded. Time favours to considering of plans and intellectual activity. The majority of your desires will be executed, and you will collect much more, than sowed.
  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.
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Richard Wilhelm's commentary