Comment on Bradford?s 1.5

[bruce]

Examining Brad?s 1.5 with probing eyes and a curious mind, it finally struck me with what I think is his reasoning. I?d never seen line 5 quite in this light before. If the dragon?s talent is in his ability to soar high, then his ?Triumph is in the landing?. Why, I asked myself, is this so? Then I again pondered his translation of the text: ?Rewarding to encounter a mature human being.?

I, as many others, have a tendency to look upward in the ethers for inspiration; but upon gaining a loftier view from up here, I?m confronted with the fact that down there is where the rhythm and action of life is taking place. And so creative action is only half completed through inspiration. The greater fulfillment is my relationship with creation, and that doesn?t happen high up above, but in the low down realities of life.

At least I think that?s what he means?

[peace]

I think that's what it means too.
Ideas are only ideas until they are manifested in reality in concrete action - otherwise, they are our imaginings.
To me, the ideas are the easy part at best - and self-indulgent at worst.
And...to have a great idea and waste it....that's not good - unless we are smart enough to find someone who will implement it for us.
That's usually more than smart - that can usually also make us rich!

Rosalie

[bradford_h]

Since the Zhi Gua of 01.5 is Da You, I wanted this to be a comment on the nature of greatness - not being great in oneself, but having the courage to enter greater realities and contexts. This of course dwarfs one, so there is a subtle reference here to the mighty dragon being not that much different than the little flying bird at 62.0. He's just flying around in a larger universe.

Where I live there are lots of really high cliffs, so hang gliding has been a major sport here since its beginning. I've known a few pilots who have had less than great flights because they died at the end.
Also, in Olympic gymnastics, you never get that 10 unless you stick that landing. There's a reason for that. Greatness has follow through.

[bruce]

Brad, so then line 6 is the dragon who refuses to land?

[bradford_h]

Landing would be beneath him.

[bruce]

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/lol.gif

[peace]

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/crazy.gif

[bruce]

I came upon this just now, while reading Joseph Campbell?s The Hero with a Thousand Faces. I thought it bore resemblance to this discussion of hex. 1.5, and the danger of 1.6.

The return and reintegration with society, which is indispensable to the continuous circulation of spiritual energy into the world, and which, from the standpoint of the community, is the justification of the long retreat, the hero himself may find the most difficult requirement of all. For if he has won through, like the Buddha, to the profound response of complete enlightenment, there is danger that the bliss of this experience may annihilate all recollection of, interest in, or hope for, the sorrows of the world; or else the problem of making known the way of illumination to people wrapped in economic problems may seem too great to solve. And on the other hand, if the hero, instead of submitting to all of the initiatory tests, has, like Prometheus, simply darted to his goal (by violence, quick devise, or luck) and plucked the boon for the world that he intended, then the powers that he has unbalanced may react so sharply that he will be blasted from within and without?crucified, like Prometheus, on the rock of his own violated unconscious.