Confusion and lack of skills..

[drfrog]

Hi all,

Ok, so I asked the I-Ching yesterday this question:

"How can I better express tao in my life?"

and got hexagram 64 with moving line 5 leading to hexagram 6. I have my own thoughts on the answer, but to be honest, it's really made me feel that I lack the skills necessary to interpret the I-Ching.

So... I'd be greatful if a kind soul would give me some guidance on the Yi's answer so I can see if what I thought is near ok, or if I'm just messing around.

Thanks,

~ Al

 

[yly2pg1]

010101(64)
000010(8)
------XOR
010111(6)

8->64->6(entropy increase)
6->64->8(entropy decrease)

The tao in your life is in the images of 6 and 8.
6 is about being wise when dealing with conflicts.
8 is about seeking alliance and partnership in charting your life course.
Both are equally important in dealing with the everchanging cycle of events in your life (64).

 

[bruce]

Al,

to better express the tao you must reckon with not yet

Sounds to me that Yi likes you.

 

[heylise]

64.5: To make chaos (here: the as yet unformed potential in your life) yield all its creativity, let your light shine on it and make the possibilities emerge. Intent does not work, it can at the best cause something human, but never something alive, no art, no love. Put your whole self in it, by living it completely. Of every possibility or opportunity, half is always out there, half is in you: it is up to you to put them together.

In hex.6 the corresponding line is 6.5: The only way to contend (read here: creating your own path in life) is by being an individual, independent. If you are true to yourself and correct to others, you are your own (and others) best advocate. You are the Gong.

(The Gong is one of the three highest dignitaries of the Zhou, and part of the name of hexagram 6. He is the judge or arbitrator who can solve the contention)

Mm, I see that Bruce said the same, in just one single sentence...

LiSe

 

[drfrog]

Thanks for your ideas. It's gave me different view points of the text -- part of seeing the whole picture.

I had interpretecd hexagram 6 as not to contend or stand my ground. I really liked LiSe's idea of reading line 5 of hex 6. I'd not thought of doing that.

from a total beginner,

~ Al

 

[bruce]

Al,

There's a lot of "right" or "wrong" that some contemporary IC texts put forth, and even more commentaries and interpretations that do the same. 6 is an example of a hexagram that can elicit some form of "it's wrong to" etc. IE: Conflict is "bad".

I don't believe this is the true spirit of the IC. There may be times when good or bad, right or wrong, apply. That's up to each of us to discern. But I don't believe it is inherent in any one of the hexagrams.

Your interpretation "not to contend" may be exactly what Yi meant. But upon opening that up a bit further, given the depth of your question, I would lend equal depth to Yi's answer. Then it isn?t right or wrong, but when and how much to contend.

 

[bruce]

Just thinking aloud here, but couldn?t Yi be saying ?do not contend with contention?? That is to say 'a truth doesn't always have to be dissected to be experienced'. Yi?s humor is a bit twisted, at times. The nature of your question really opens up some fun ways to look at things.

Something on the ?not yet? of 64, for clarification: We have a tendency to want our answers or our understanding of something to be complete, with shiny gold wrapping and a red bow. To my understanding, Tao can?t be experienced or expressed this way. The way it is experienced is more like the ?Ah? we get when enraptured by art, or by a spectacular sunset, or a new idea. That is 64: the not yet.

 

[jte]

Somewhat along the lines of what I think Bruce is saying, in this particular case, the answer may be more of a "being", rather than a "doing".

How can I better express tao? *Be* more in harmony with "tao".

Easier said than done, no? But perhaps the puzzle of what that means precisely is just what you're supposed to figure out...

- Jeff