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. |
 |
→ |
 |
  50. Holding (dǐng). The CauldronAdvise
Burning the old in the name of holy sacrifice, they acquire new - the fire leads to creation. But, throwing into the fire for fun, they risk losing and burning everything.
Inital text of I ChingThe Judgement
The Caldron. Supreme good fortune. Success.
The Image
Fire over wood: The image of the Caldron. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate by making his position correct.
- A ting with legs upturned. Furthers removal of stagnating stuff. One takes a concubine for the sake of her son. No blame.
- There is food in the ting. My comrades are envious, but they cannot harm me. Good fortune.
- The handle of the ting is altered. One is impeded in his way of life. The fat of the pheasant is not eaten. Once rain falls, remorse is spent. Good fortune comes in the end.
- The legs of the ting are broken. The prince's meal is spilled and his person is soiled. Misfortune.
- The ting has yellow handles, golden carrying rings. Perseverance furthers.
- The ting has rings of jade. Great good fortune. Nothing that would not act to further.
Prediction
The direction is correct.The main work is done inside: knowledge turns into understanding, wisdom grows, and talents develop of abilities. For the sake of acquiring new forget old - the victim will not be vain. But do not sacrifice for the sake of self-interest - it does not bring goodness. Things are going well. But do not forget to share with others the fruits of your labor. If you have an illness, wait for recovery.
The six lines construct the image of Ting, THE CALDRON; at the bottom are
the legs, over them the belly, then come the ears (handles), and at the top the
carrying rings. At the same time, the image suggests the idea of nourishment.
The ting, cast of bronze, was the vessel that held the cooked viands in the
temple of the ancestors and at banquets. The heads of the family served the
food from the ting into the bowls of the guests.
THE WELL (48) likewise has the secondary meaning of giving nourishment,
but rather more in relation to the people. The ting, as a utensil pertaining to
a refined civilization, suggests the fostering and nourishing of able men,
which redounded to the benefit of the state.
This hexagram and THE WELL are the only two in the Book of Changes that
represent concrete, men-made objects. Yet here too the thought has its
abstract connotation.
Sun, below, is wood and wind; Li, above, is flame. Thus together they stand
for the flame kindled by wood and wind, which likewise suggests the idea of
preparing food.
THE JUDGMENT
While THE WELL relates to the social foundation of our life, and this
foundation is likened to the water that serves to nourish growing wood, the
present hexagram refers to the cultural superstructure of society. Here it is
the wood that serves as nourishment for the flame, the spirit. All that is
visible must grow beyond itself, extend into the realm of the invisible.
Thereby it receives its true consecration and clarity and takes firm root in the
cosmic order.
Here we see civilization as it reaches its culmination in religion. The ting
serves in offering sacrifice to God. The highest earthly values must be
sacrificed to the divine. But the truly divine does not manifest itself apart
from man. The supreme revelation of God appears in prophets and holy
men. To venerate them is true veneration of God. The will of God, as
revealed through them, should be accepted in humility; this brings inner
enlightenment and true understanding of the world, and this leads to great
good fortune and success.
THE IMAGE
The fate of fire depends on wood; as long as there is wood below, the fire
burns above. It is the same in human life; there is in man likewise a fate that
lends power to his life. And if he succeeds in assigning the right place to life
and to fate, thus bringing the two into harmony, he puts his fate on a firm
footing. These words contain hints about fostering of life as handed on by
oral tradition in the secret teachings of Chinese yoga.
1
If a ting is turned upside down before being used, no harm is done-on the
contrary, this clears it of refuse. A concubine's position is lowly, but because
she has a son she comes to be honored.
These two metaphors express the idea that in a highly developed
civilization, such as that indicated by this hexagram, every person of good
will can in some way or other succeed. No matter how lowly he may be,
provided he is ready to purify himself, he is accepted. He attains a station in
which he can prove himself fruitful in accomplishment, and as a result he
gains recognition.
2
In a period of advanced culture, it is of the greatest importance that one
should achieve something significant. If a man concentrates on such real
undertakings, he may indeed experience envy and disfavor, but that is not
dangerous. The more he limits himself to his actual achievements, the less
harm the envious inflict on him.
3
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 civilization, 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.
4
A man has a difficult and responsible task to which he is not adequate.
Moreover, he does not devote himself to it with all his strength but goes
about with inferior people; therefore the execution of the work fails. In this
way he also incurs personal opprobrium.
Confucius says about this line: "Weak character coupled with honored
place, meager knowledge with large plans, limited powers with heavy
responsibility, will seldom escape disaster."
5
Here we have, in a ruling position, a man who is approachable and modest in
nature. As a result of this attitude he succeeds in finding strong and able
helpers who complement and aid him in his work. Having achieved this
attitude, which requires constant self-abnegation, it is important for him to
hold to it and not to let himself be led astray.
6
In the preceding line the carrying rings are described as golden, to denote their
strength; here they are said to be of jade. Jade is notable for its combination of
hardness with soft luster. This counsel, in relation to the man who is open to
it, works greatly t his advantage. Here the counsel is described in relation to
the sage who imparts it. In imparting it, he will be mild and pure, like
precious jade. Thus the work finds favor in the eyes of the Deity, who
dispenses great good fortune, and becomes pleasing to men, wherefore all
goes well.
Barbara Hejslip interpretationThis hexagram specifies that now there is all preconditions resolutely to incur a role of the leader to achieve positive results. There will be people who will envy your successes; do not pay attention to these people. Do not incur more, than can give, and do not promise it is more, than in a condition to execute. Strong influence on you and on your relations with associates the figure renders "three". Business to which you were accepted, together with two adherents, will lead you to success. Your desire will be executed, though and not absolutely how you initially conceived. Pay attention that you spend for entertainments and on a hobby too much.
  34. Great Invigorating (dà zhuàng). Great PowerAdvise
Efforts are not enough to move forward, you must select the correct direction and illuminate the way with intelligence.
Inital text of I ChingThe Judgement
The Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers.
The Image
Thunder in heaven above: The image of the Power of the Great. Thus the superior man does not tread upon paths that do not accord with established order.
- Power in the toes. Continuing brings misfortune. This is certainly true.
- Perseverance brings good fortune.
- The inferior man works through power. The superior man does not act thus. To continue is dangerous. A goat butts against a hedge and gets its horns entangled.
- Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. The hedge opens; there is no entanglement. Power depends upon the axle of a big cart.
- Loses the goat with ease. No remorse.
- A goat butts against a hedge. It cannot go backward, it cannot go forward. Nothing serves to further. If one notes the difficulty, this brings good fortune.
Prediction
The potential is great; a lot of energy is accumulated. Learn how to properly send and distribute them. Excessive use of force and power is fraught with bad consequences, gradually increase your efforts. The use of force for other purposes - is dangerous. If you curb power - you will benefit. Before you start on the job, assess your capabilities - do not shoulder the burden unbearable. Rely not only on yourself, act together with others. To maintain relationships with like-minded be firm.
The great lines, that is, the light, strong lines, are powerful. Four light lines
have entered the hexagram from below and are about to ascend higher. The
upper trigram is Chên, the Arousing; the lower is ch'ien, the Creative.
Ch'ien is strong, Chên produces movement. The union of movement and
strength gives the meaning of THE POWER OF THE GREAT. The hexagram
is linked with the second month (March-April).
THE JUDGMENT
The hexagram points to a time when inner worth mounts with great force
and comes to power. But its strength has already passed beyond the median
line, hence there is danger that one may rely entirely on one's own power
and forget to ask what is right. There is danger too that, being intent on
movement, we may not wait for the right time. Therefore the added
statement that perseverance furthers. 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.
THE IMAGE
Thunder--electrical energy--mounts upward in the spring. The direction of
this movement is in harmony with that of the movement of heaven. It is
therefore a movement in accord with heaven, producing great power.
However, true greatness depends on being in harmony with what is right.
Therefore in times of great power the superior man avoids doing anything
that is not in harmony with the established order.
1
The toes are in the lowest place and are ready to advance. So likewise great
power in lowly station is inclined to effect advance by force. This, if carried
further, would certainly lead to misfortune, and therefore by way of advice a
warning is added.
2
The premise here is that the gates to success are beginning to open.
Resistance gives way and we forge ahead. This is the point at which, only too
easily, we become the prey of exuberant self-confidence. This is why the
oracle says that perseverance (i.e., perseverance in inner equilibrium, without
excessive use of power) brings good fortune.
3
Making a boast of power leads to entanglements, just as a goat entangles its
horns when it butts against a hedge. Whereas an inferior man revels in
power when he comes into possession of it, the superior man never makes
this mistake. He is conscious at all times of the danger of pushing ahead
regardless of circumstances, and therefore renounces in good time the empty
display of force.
4
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.
Such a man's power does not show externally, yet it can move heavy loads,
like a big cart whose real strength lies in its axle. The less that power is
applied outwardly, the greater its effect.
5
The goat is noted for hardness outwardly and weakness within. Now the
situation is such that everything is easy; there is no more resistance. One can
give up a belligerent, stubborn way of acting and will not have to regret it.
6
If we venture too far we come to a deadlock, unable either to advance or to
retreat and whatever we do merely serves to complicate thing further. Such
obstinacy leads to insuperable difficulties. But if, realizing the situation, we
compose ourselves and decide not to continue, everything will right itself in
time.
Barbara Hejslip interpretationYou too actively aspire to be beaten out forward; it is not necessary, it only harms to you. Think of associates you people. Remember, that it is impossible to construct the well-being on failures of others. It is not necessary anybody and anything to sacrifice to own ambition. Behave more modestly, more tactfully, and your desire will be executed. Try to find here "golden mean".
|
Richard Wilhelm's commentary