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Confusion in defining the path...help!

tom

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A confusing time of, on the one hand, happiness and contentment like never before, and on the other, confusion and impatience as to the true path and how to find it. The Yi has fortold of finding a higher spiritual understanding, and self, but seems an indeterminate time away which leads to feelings of wasted time whilst possibly neglecting the richness of the now.

In an attempt to gain further help, I asked "What can I do to aid the process of moving on to the path?"

In response, I had Hex 51 and Hex 49.

This does not seem to help, but rather suggests no rash moves, focussing on reality instead of fantasy and reminaining 'correct' which will lead to something good.

The outcome/relating hex echoes this is suggesting avoiding quick fixes but taking a step by step approach to real change and improvement. Using creative force will lead to success and progress is also suggested.

The problem is that this does not really help any further other than to tell me to wait. But wait for what and how long? This seems to be the only response I ever get to this line of questioning and it is extremeley frustrating. Can anyone please shed any light on something I may be missing here....or have I just got to find some patience?
 

chrislofting

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Tom,

included in the characteristics of 51 is the notion of a moment of enlightenment and the following awareness.

Included in the characteristics of 49 is the notion of revelation, to unmask.

Since your question was along the lines of 'what can I do' then focusing on possible suggestions given hexagram 51 to 49, the suggestion here is (a) to remain 'open' for a sudden moment of enlightenment in the form of a revelation of something (if the change is transcending) OR, (b) if the change is about transforming, and so shape-shifting, then 51 to 49 is a warning about being in an enlightenment frame of mind but not forcing the issue as in forcably seeking something to 'unmask' in that that revelation may not be the 'true' revelation, the 'true' enlightening moment such that it may hide or interrupt the 'enlightenment' process ;-)

Discipline Tom. ;-) A too general focus can be delt with with a particular focus, as in a period reflecting on the hexagrams and the types of change possible etc. That sort of intense, local, focus can aid in the enlightenment process.

(note how hexagram 05 emphasises spending some time partying or making local connections that later can be useful when one's opportunity, and so moment of 'transcendence' comes ;-) - go local and the big picture will eventually come around to you ;-)

Chris.
 

theoldman

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For Tom,
Being true to yourself.
If you dont' know where you are going, how can you expect to make progress on your path?

PS Ah...see the post above and (maybe) below.
ha ha ha!
 

frandoch

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Hi Tom,

Your impatience holds the key. Impatience is waiting for the future, which doesn't exist. Impatience, confusion, hope even, come from a sense of lacking something. Whatever you focus on becomes your reality, and if you focus on what you lack, then the universe will reinforce your lack - not from a malicious intent, but because that's how the universe works.

You can only experience the present moment - there is nothing else. Hoping and waiting for the future to provide what you think you lack, means that you are not experiencing the present moment.

Forget the past and the future - they are both illusions, created by your ego. Through your real self, experience the eternal NOW. Then you will realise that it's all perfect - that it's unfolding exactly as it should - that whatever you experience is precisely what you need to experience.

Trust the process.

Michael F.
 

tashiiij

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Hi Tom.

Maybe the Yi is telling you that the true path is going to shake you up. It's a bit dangerous. Shatter complacency and constructed illusions. It's going to utterly shock you. Are you ready for that. In the midst of the shock, to stay on the wave. So to speak.
 

pedro

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Tom, from a fellow, I would say you need a shock to make that revolution in your life. You already know the answer, dont you? you're just hoping for the Yi to help you out, but only you can help yourself.
You say it all in the first paragraph, and I can relate: "on the one hand, happiness and contentment like never before, and on the other, confusion and impatience as to the true path and how to find it"
How can we wake up to the joy of self realisation if we still let our impatience get hold of us? How can we really feel contentment (gratitude is the key to contentment, appreciating what we have, instead of just focusing on what we want) if you we're still imersed in the ego race?

The only way that doubt is going to disapear is by going deep inside yourself. Nothing and no one can replace that. You have to help yourself, and the sooner you realise that the sooner you will stop wasting time. You see, the answer is there from the very start, but we think we can grasp it intellectually and keep on looking for words and images. When one is tired of looking, or when there is nowhere else to look, then we realise there is only one place left. Inside.

Yesterday I asked what was the most important thing in (my) development right now? I got 58 line one moving (to 47). Joyful contentment, thats what it is! Unless one gets free from anxiety and craving (after all thats what impatience is about), one cannot feel that contentment that is indeed the key (the path!). How do we end anxiety? By realising our true self (and for that you dont need a profound enlightening experience, just look inside yourself).

What you seem to be missing is that the true path is right here and right now. Feel grateful for just BEING. Know your potential but use it without expecting anything in return. Act now! Realise that unless you are able to feel the happyness of just being YOU, you are not feeling a thing. Unless you actually roll up your sleeves and get dirty, there is no way you are going to realise whatever it is youre after by intellectual means, let alone by words or books.

Hope that helps...
 

pedro

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I meant "from a fellow seeker"

Actually I see myself in your post, as only now I am realising what Ive just said. Before there were just words and concepts, but now Im finally being able to really feel inside what it all means. Words were just misleading me, although they were one necessary stage, only when I started discarding concepts, the true essence of their teaching begun to make sense.

If there is one single thing one must do is to realise what indeed we are. And that cant be done by words and concepts. The ego (where words and concepts dwell) is not of assistance here.
 

pedro

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Just a final note that was of help to me. When we want to change, its of no use to fight the ego. Instead we have to realise the self, then the ego will be put on the background. WHile one is "reasoning" the ego is still in command. And he is unbeatable. Instead of putting out the fire, one has to deprive it of its fuel.
That cant be done by rational methods, cause reason is indeed the fuel.
 

joang

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Hello Tom.
Relax, my friend, you have already chosen a path. By using the I Ching, you have put yourself on the path of Taoism. Tao means ?The Way.? In my biased opinion, you could not have chosen a better one, but that is for you to decide.

I would highly recommend you read ?The Taoist I Ching? translated by Thomas Cleary. I think you will like it. I think it will speak to you directly. Here is a little taste to whet your appetite. It?s a snippet from hexagram 51, Thunder:

?This hexagram represents acting so as to proceed on the Path, warily practicing introspection; it follows on the previous hexagram revolution. Revolution involves gaining joy through illumination, refining metal by fire, removing old impurities. Removing old impurities does not mean forgetting things, forgetting the body, extinguishing the mind, and stopping thoughts; it is necessary to remove impurities in the midst of action in order to accomplish the task. This is because the Tao is alive, in movement; it is neither material nor void.?

The full commentary runs a page and a half. Note: by ?previous? it is referring to the odd/even arrangement of the hexagrams, in which 49 precedes 51.

Namaste,
Joan G.
 
D

dharma

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Tom, hope this helps.
with love, Dharma

.....

The Struggle

A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. On that day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the moth for several hours as the moth struggled to force the body through that little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. It just seemed to be stuck. Then the man, in his kindness, decided to help the moth, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the moth because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny opening was the way of forcing fluid from the body of the moth into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Freedom and flight would only come after the struggle. By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the moth of health.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets.
 

tom

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Wow, what a bunch of caring people. Thank you all so much for taking the time to consider my plight (sounds a little dramatic!) and offer such a variety of positive support. To put the problem into a bit more context, I have only found spirituality in the last few years having been lost in the wilderness of pre-occupation for the best part of forty years. This has already caused major change for the better in my life (personally), but the nub of my current ?impatience? is concerned with career. I have for some time been in a job which builds the bank balance, but adds little to an improvement in life (mine or others). I know that I am destined for something much different; more wholesome, more about ?giving?, something in healing (in its widest sense) or teaching. For some time now I have been asking the Yi for guidance and have been receiving the same ?holding pattern? message and quite often a mention of an ?inheritance? (which cannot be of the monetary kind).

But I think from the guidance I have received from you lovely people, it is time for me to stop procrastinating and just go do it. I think that I have been waiting for something divine to happen, some sign, a blinding flash, but this rarely happens in life. I?m looking for something more organic and lasting. To you all:

Chris, a disciplined local focus; thank you.
Theoldman, I?ll start my journey without a map then; thank you.
Michael, whatever I choose to do will be right; thank you.
Tashiiij, I?ll brace myself for the shock of the new; thank you.
Pedro, I?ll look inside and trust what I find; thank you.
Joan, I?ll buy the book and I loved the 49, 51 succession; thank you.
Dharma, Wow!, lovely, lovely, lovely analogy; thank you.

Thank you

Tom x
 

cal val

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Tom...

Can I ever relate! I joined this forum because the Yi had me in a holding pattern in a small dying town with zero opportunities...and I was very confused and unhappy. My first post here is entitled "Waiting waiting waiting...when will it end," and my life has changed immensely since that post. I now know why the Yi told me to wait. I've gone through some incredible emotional struggles and personal growth...the kind Dharma speaks of in her parable above...with the help of the Yi and this forum, and I am now able to move forward and out of this poor poor town.

It was quite a struggle heeding the Yi's advice that "the time for action is not yet arrived," but the time for action has finally come, and I'm much better equipped and prepared than I was when the Yi had me in the holding pattern.

Cheerio the noo,

Val
 

megabobby

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hex 51=shocking new great creative ideas
hex 49=successful revolution against stale old manifestation

now all you have to do is rock out
 

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