I Ching Community : Hexagram 57 ~ What’s it all about?

3 responses to I Ching Community : Hexagram 57 ~ What’s it all about?

1. Wind by nature is invisible, it can be felt, yet not directly seen it is the initiator of movement, so the objects that are moved by wind can be perceived as the image of wind, just like the drifting of the clouds in the sky or as the leaves are pushed away, even when one does not feel the wind breezing. You can feel the wind on your face also. It can create the waves on water, another invisible, an upward movement of the water with spiraling effect. Just like hurricanes which have the same movement. Wind is also continuous it has started maybe billions of years ago, yet it has not come to an end. It may be gentle, almost as if not in existence, yet there may be times it shows its power like the hurricanes spiraling effect removing away things that are in front. Wind’s main characteristics are movement, adaptability, steadiness, hence, it suits itself much better when wind acts gently. It can pass through anything, making it very difficult to stop. It can pass under the door, can penetrate through the frames of the windows. It is this gentleness, adaptability that keeps wind invisible yet so strong. It is like the spearhead of an arrow, very much like the sting of the insect in the Chinese character for wind (Feng).

   Spring is one of the seasons where lots of wind and rain comes in to the season. The changes of the climate, the cold earth, just recovering from the winter encountering the warmth of the sun creates the movement of the cold and hot air creating winds which in return bring the thunders and rain.

   Alfred Huang Hexagram 57 Proceeding Humbly while Wilhelm uses the term “The Gentle (Penetrating Wind)”

   Huang says “The Chinese consider a gentle breeze with a bright sun or a gentle breeze with mild rain to be the best weather. When the wind blows softly, it goes everywhere. When the wood proceeds gently, it penetrates the soil deeply. gently proceeding is the most effective way to influence events. It never violates and is therefore easily accepted.” If one applies this to human affairs it should not be difficult to realize that being gentle enables the person to make friends, gain their trust and support.

   It also shows the patience for the right time to come for reaching the goal. This is the Yin line under the two Yang lines.

   Wind over wind also means pushing one forward with the continuous force.

   So when the intention is to do something, one should before and after carefully plan and appropriately take the steps. However to much planning also may cause to miss the correct time as well. Just like showing patience or the yielding behavior may give out wrong signals and one may lose self confidence. So the choice of the time along with how much to yield are important. When one is able to know them both as the decision also says “favorable to have somewhere to go” along with favorable to see a great person.”

   Sun Tzu says in #12
   “If it is not advantageous, do not act
   If is not attainable, do not employ troops.”

   Tao Teh Ching Ching #8 says
   “In cultivating your mind , know how to dive in the hidden depths
   In dealing with others, know how to be gentle and kind
   …
   In making a move, know how to choose the right moment”

   And Tao Teh Ching Ching #40 says
   “The movement of the Tao consists in returning
   The use of teh Tao consists in softness.
   All things under heven are born of the corporeal:
   The corporeal is born of the Incorporeal.”

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2. thank you, i needed that…….

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3. I was wondering please from what translation that you were using regarding
   the Tao Teh Ching?

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