Be free from limitation your asking, be careful

[krzysztof]

I would like present some point of view: asking I Ching - is some kind verbalization which happend inside mind, inside it's consciousness part.

Although view about intensive and long focusing before asking I Ching is popular and sometimes used as "pattern" " "right method " "something which should be done before asking I Ching", we should consider that such act always leads to activity of mind - and that way we lost intensive observing, we lost natural "emptiness" of the mind.

In my opinion we should rather intensivly to observe moment of consultation with I Ching instead of absorbing problem through using intelect, because intelect has tendency to making mistakes.

In other words if we use analytic thinking
the result will be only understanding which is submerge into past experiences - and that way
we easy duplicate past habits; that way past become trap.

Kind regards - Krzysztof

 

[rosada]

Interesting observation, Krzyszof.
I once read that when one prays for another, one ought only mention the person's name and then do one's usual prayer ritual. In other words, one ought not focus on the needs of the person we are praying fo least we draw their problem into our own life.

 

[ewald]

I fully agree. Thinking about a question just muddies the waters. I prefer using the Yijing on a computer because it doesn't require me to focus long on a question, so that I'm not tempted to use my intellect and ego on it. Only when I have received the answer do I start thinking, trying to understand why I got that particular answer. And it usually makes sense.

That is not to say that no effort should be made on trying to come up with a good question, though.

 

[hester]

Hi Krzysztof. I liked very much what you expressed, a similar wish has been formenting benath my own thoughts for a while. And so I havent rreally been consulting the Yi, just looking at the books. And saying 'no' when i want to ask. Just feel the question. The tension. And have faith that the gods sometimes favor the unwitting.

Rosada, I am also reminded of Pythagoras, who asked that his students forget all association with the past, when they embark. He also told his students to not pray for themselves, as we do not know what makes us happy, we should direct our prayers to others.

So last night I did a consultation using Krzysztof's inspiration, and recieved 12 to 2. I was very happy, but noticed that my tendancy was to immediately want to contextualize.


So Ewald, : "Only when I have received the answer do I start thinking, trying to understand why I got that particular answer. And it usually makes sense. "

Is this how to contextualize the answer?

 

[rosada]

I asked the I Ching, "What should be one's attitude before consulting?" and received

The Abyss 29.1.3.5 - Peace 11.

I interpret this to mean..

29.
IF YOU ARE SINCERE, YOU HAVE SUCCESS IN YOUR HEART AND WHAT EVER YOU DO SUCCEEDS.

So, intention is the key thing in consulting the I Ching (and perhaps not to worry because you can't get it wrong?).

29.1
IN THE ABYSS ONE FALLS INTO THE PIT.
Perhaps this is advising not spending much time dwelling on the problem.

29.3
FORWARD AND BACKWARD, ABYSS ON ABYSS.
IN DANGER LIKE THIS, PAUSE AT FIRST AND WAIT,
OTHERWISE YOU WILL FALL INTO A PIT IN THE ABYSS,
DO NOT ACT IN THIS WAY.
Perhaps this is advising not that you not be too worried about trying to form exactly the right question. Perhaps to just be aware of the situation, pause, and then do the toss?

29.5
THE ABYSS IS NOT FILLED TO OVERFLOWING,
IT IS FILLED ONLY TO THE RIM.
NO BLAME.
Perhaps this line is advising asking a question that will provide just enough insight for the next best move.

This hexagram then changes to
11. Peace
THE SMALL DEPARTS,
THE GREAT APPROACHES.
GOOD FORTUNE. SUCCESS.
Says forming a question is to quiet the mind, and when the question is complete our small mind is then able to connect with the Great Mind and receive the answer?
---

I then asked what our attitude should be when receiving an answer and got GRACE 22.1.5 - GRADUAL DEVELOPEMENT 53. This suggests to me that if we make a small effort to take in the reading it will be like a seed planted in our brains and we will see the new insight gradually developing in our lives - without our having to make a great mental effort to direct or even understand.

 

[ewald]

Hester - I'm not quite sure what you mean by contextualize. I check how the answer fits into my context, and try to see what feelings and intentions in me there are that fit with the answer.

I don't think there's anything wrong with using the mind to understand the answer, and see how it fits into your context. In fact, I think it's necessary to learn anything from your consultation.

 

[hester]

Thanks Ewald! That is great news.

Rosada, nice!

see ya!