The I Ching or Book of Changes

The I Ching or Book of Changes by Hellmut Wilhelm Page A

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Authors: Hellmut Wilhelm
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laugh.
After great struggles they succeed in meeting.
    Two people are outwardly separated, but in their hearts they are united. They are kept apart by their positions in life. Many difficulties and obstructions arise between them and cause them grief. But, remaining true to each other, they allow nothing to separate them, and although it costs them a severe struggle to overcome the obstacles, they will succeed. When they come together their sadness will change to joy. Confucius says of this:

    “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 their 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.”
Nine at the top means:
Fellowship with men in the meadow.
No remorse.
    The warm attachment that springs from the heart is lacking here. We are by this time actually outside of fellowship with others. However, we ally ourselves with them. The fellowship does not include all, but only those who happen to dwell near one another. The meadow is the pasture at the entrance to the town. At this stage, the ultimate goal of the union of mankind has not yet been attained, but we need not reproach ourselves. We join the community without separate aims of our own.

14. Ta Yu / Posession in Great Measure

    The fire in heaven above shines far, and all things stand out in the light and become manifest. The weak fifth line occupies the place of honor, and all the strong lines are in accord with it.All things come to the man who is modest and kind in a high position. 1
THE JUDGMENT
POSSESSION IN GREAT MEASURE.
Supreme success.
    The two trigrams indicate that strength and clarity unite. Possession in great measure is determined by fate and accords with the time. How is it possible that the weak line has power to hold the strong lines fast and to possess them? It is done by virtue of unselfish modesty. The time is favorable—a time of strength within, clarity and culture without. Power is expressing itself in a graceful and controlled way. This brings supreme success and wealth. 2
THE IMAGE
Fire in heaven above:
The image of POSSESSION IN GREAT
MEASURE.
Thus the superior man curbs evil and furthers good,
And thereby obeys the benevolent will of heaven.
    The sun in heaven above, shedding light over everything on earth, is the image of possession on a grand scale. But a possession of this sort must be administered properly. The sun brings both evil and good into the light of day. Man must combat and curb the evil, and must favor and promote the good. Only in this way does he fulfill the benevolent will of God, who desires only good and not evil.
THE LINES
Nine at the beginning means:
No relationship with what is harmful;
There is no blame in this.

If one remains conscious of difficulty,
One remains without blame.
    Great possession that is still in its beginnings and that has not yet been challenged brings no blame, since there has been no opportunity to make mistakes. Yet there are many difficulties to be overcome. It is only by remaining conscious of these difficulties that one can keep inwardly free of possible arrogance and wastefulness, and thus in principle overcome all cause for blame.
Nine in the second place means:
A big wagon for loading.
One may undertake something.
No blame.
    Great possession consists not only in the quantity of goods at one’s disposal, but, first and foremost, in their mobility and utility, for then they can be used in undertakings, and we remain free of embarrassment and mistakes. The big wagon, which will carry a heavy load and in which one can journey far, means that there are at hand able helpers who give their support and are equal to their task.

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