55. Fêng / Abundance [Fullness]

-Clarity within, movement without-this produces greatness and abundance.
-Be like the sun at midday
-Only a man who is inwardly free of sorrow and
care can lead in a time of abundance, he must be like the sun at midday, illuminating and gladdening everything under heaven

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(adopted from the Wilhelm translation of the I Ching)

Many report back that the I Ching is difficult to read or understand and that it can be out-dated.  If one reads the 'messages' with less intellect and more heart, the core meaning comes through as it related to your life.

You focus on this message for the day and allow it to release itself in all interactions and connections.  Always keeping in mind that we are 'light-bearers' and our role is to share and shine light through all our interactions (with heaven or earth).  

How does that affect our relating?

I've taken to make it as simple as focusing in on the relevant sentences that resonate as I read through my message for the day. 

My 'practice is quite simple: Each night I do my divination for the next day, it takes no more than a few minutes. I focus on the message and image provided throughout the day as I go along my daily commitments. It serves as a fine-tuning of the mind in a very meditative way.  Als serves as an 'advisor' in how to approach experiences that arise. Interesting how that works.

Today I received 'abundance' and what it is saying to me is to allow the fullness of life to be.  While also recognizing that after abundance comes decrease. But be brilliant and bright and full like the sun at midday without worrying about what comes after fullness. Have the awareness but remain in the present moment.

Note, I am merely brushing upon the surface (vs. the depth) of what such a practice offers, in my attempt to share how relevant & beautiful this medium can be.

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Practicing the I Ching teaches discipline
----a flexible, unburdened, diligent, free-flowing discipline.
a development of trust to know the calling of one's heart &
a receptivity to knowing what is in alignment with one's purpose in this life.

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6. Sung / Conflict 

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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 negative effects
even when one is the right,
because the enmity is then perpetuated.

In times of strife, crossing the great water is to be avoided,
that is, dangerous enterprises are not to be begun,
because in order to be successful
they require concerted unity of focus.

Conflict within weakens the power to conquer danger without.

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(adopted from the Wilhelm translation of the I Ching)

' while man sees what is before his eyes, God looks into the heart.
Therefore a simple sacrifice offered with real piety holds a greater blessing
than an impressive service without warmth.'

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( #63. Chi Chi / After Completion; charged 9 in 5th, wilhelm version)

47. K'un / Exhaustion

'Times of adversity are the reverse of times of success, but they can lead to
success if they; befall the *right man.
When a strong man meets with adversity,
he remains cheerful despite all danger, and this cheerfulness is the
source of later successes; it is that stability which is stronger than fate.

He who lets his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly has no success. But if
adversity only bends a man, it creates in him a power to react that is bound in
time to manifest itself.

No *inferior man is capable of this.
Only the great man brings about goof fortune and remains blameless.
It is true that for the time being outward influence is denied him,
 because his words have no effect.
Therefore in times of adversity it is important to be strong within and
sparing of words.'

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**note in the I Ching: the reference to 'superior' or 'great' vs. 'inferior'  or 'right' vs 'wrong'  is the difference between being on the path as a  'truth seeker' or light bearer  --and not.

the premise being that this is one on the path to truth-seeking and adopts the role of 'lightbearer' to all interactions and experiences.  the goal being to serve god & others (or others through god, or god through others..-- same difference).. and to live with & approach all situaitons with integrity & clarity of intentions.

adopted from the wilhelm translation

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40. Hsieh / Deliverance

'This refers to a time in which tensions and complications begin to be eased.
At such times we ought to make our way back to ordinary conditions as soon
as possible... These periods of sudden
change have great importance.

Just as rain relieves atmospheric tension,
making all the buds burst open,
so a time of deliverance from burdensome
pressure has a liberating and stimulating effect on life.

One thing is important, however:
in such times we must not overdo our triumph.
The point is not to push on farther than is necessary.

Returning to the regular order of life
as soon as deliverance is achieved brings good fortune.
If there are any residual matters that ought to be attended to,
it should be done as quickly as possible,
so that a clean sweep is made and no retardations occur.


A thunderstorm has the effect of clearing the air;
the superior man produces a similar effect
when dealing with mistakes and sins of men that induce a
condition of tension.

Through clarity he brings deliverance.
However, when failings come to light,
he does not dwell on them;
he simply passes over mistakes,
the unintentional transgressions,
just as thunder dies away.
He forgives misdeeds,
the intentional transgressions,
just as water washes everything clean.'

(from the wilhelm version)

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13. T'ung Jên / Fellowship with Men

'True fellowship among men must be based
upon a concern that is universal.
It is not the private interests of the individual
that create lasting fellowship among men,
but rather the goals of humanity.

That is why it is said that
fellowship with men in the open succeeds.

If unity of this kind prevails,
even difficult and dangerous tasks,
... can be accomplished.

But in order to bring about this sort of fellowship,
a persevering and enlightened leader is needed--a man with clear,
convincing, and inspiring aims and the strength to carry them out.

...Just as the luminaries in the sky
serve for the systematic division and
arrangement of time,
so human society and all things
that really belong together
must be organically arranged.

Fellowship should not be a mere
mingling of individuals or of things
--that would be chaos, not fellowship.

If fellowship is to lead to order,
there must be organization within diversity.

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charged Nine in the fifth place:
Men bound in fellowship first weep and lament,
But afterward they laugh.
After great struggles they succeed in meeting.

Life leads the thoughtful man on a path of many windings.
Now the course is checked, now it runs straight again.
Here winged thoughts may pour freely forth in words,
There the heavy burden of knowledge must be shut away in silence.
But when two people are at one in the inmost hearts,
They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze.
And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts,
Their words are sweet and strong, like the fragrance of orchids.'...

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(adopted from the wilhelm version of the i ching)