11.3

[wind]

I asked about how to proceed with a situation that came to an ugly head and got 11.3-19.

Is line 11.3 the YiJing's way of saying, "You made your bed. Now you have to lay in it."?

All answers are appreciated.

 

[Trojina]

I asked about how to proceed with a situation that came to an ugly head and got 11.3-19.

Is line 11.3 the YiJing's way of saying, "You made your bed. Now you have to lay in it."?

All answers are appreciated.

No it's much kinder than that. It asks one to be philosophical about the human condition. Someone here recently said, I can't recall who it was, that 11.3 was one of the few lines in Yi where there is a sort of direct philosophical message so to speak. This person....(who was it ?) said generally Yi seemed to answer in concrete images...fish/pots/trees/wells so this philosophising in 11.3 was a little different.

I think it's saying something more like 'hey ho, that's life, if you lose today you win tomorrow because life is all ups and downs and this doesn't mean anything is wrong it's just all part of what it is like to be a human being living on this planet.' We have sadness, we have joy, we have sadness. Good things happen, less good things happen, we are well, we get sick, we live we die we laugh we cry...and so it goes, you get my drift I'm sure. Checking what the line actually says it says 'do not sorrow' at the truth of these endless changes in human life. You asked how to proceed and it seems to me Yi is offering some comfort that actually what you now experience is beyond your scope of influence. 11 is the great flow of life, it carries us along. So in 11.3 I think you are being advised to be philosophical about this and above all don't take any of it personally...it's all bigger forces than you can control. If it all doesn't go how you want try to be philosophical about it. I'd say it was pretty much the opposite of 'you made your bed so lie on it'..It's more like 'you are human in a human life, these things will happen, don't be sad and don't worry and above all go on living your life as you always do'.

 

[wind]

Thank you Trojina!

I like that much better than how I was taking it. Your explanation has a more passive and accepting feel to it.

The bit about proceeding and being beyond my influence is truly heartfelt. This is one of those situations where there really isn't much of a solution. I know the person that this is all about is in a poor place right now and I can't step in or fix it. It's the result of choices and everyone has choices to make and we all run the risk of ramifications. It's how we learn our lessons.

So if this is one of life's downs, that surely means there will be an up. I'm happy for that.

Thank you so much for your answer. I have a better understanding of this line and better outlook of this situation.

 

[bradford]

One of my favorite ones. I translate it literally as:

There is no level without a slope,
No going without a return
It is difficult to persist with no errors
Do not worry: these are certainties
In nourishment find happiness

I suppose this is saying "be content with what you come away with."
It changes to Gua 19, which might be regarded as "step up, suck it up, and move on"

 

[wind]

Ah. Thank you for that, Bradford. Thank you for also pointing out that 19 is what I was thinking of instead of the meaning of this line. Between tou and Trojina, I think I got this line licked! :bows:

 

[Trojina]

I suppose this is saying "be content with what you come away with."

I'd like to take this phrase for wikiwing if I may Brad, well let me know if you prefer not. I like it.

 

[bradford]

I'd like to take this phrase for wikiwing if I may Brad, well let me know if you prefer not. I like it.

You can put anything of mine there, with credit.