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Frustrated about not having enough time

surnevs

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I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one here that feels it frustrating not to have the time needed when replying or following up on threads I started - maybe shouldn't have started them at all ? I remember my sister, many years ago, gave me Richard Wilhelm's I Ging, the german edition; and she's not into such things at all, but may have felt my passion for it. Very kind of her ! I never told her that I wasn't able to read it, simply because I don't understand the german language. I decided, back then, to at least try to learn german up to the level where I, with the help of my insight into the I Ching could follow it, but then again: Time!
I'll not ask here if any got the same feeling of frustration. But raise another question: Don't You think that it's the reason, that many interesting threads end up in the desert along the time? Or, that participants who don't react to replies simply sometimes are forced to be absent from here, due to more important doings? I think that when looking at it in this light it could be easier to forgive others' absence from discussions here (and generally elsewhere).
 

my_key

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Sometimes it is helpful to view whatever we or others have been able to contribute as enough.

Interesting threads are made interesting by the diverse perspectives and offerings of different contributors, however each thread needs a momentum behind it that can be difficult to maintain with only a small number of contributors.

Harking back to the old days of Clarity there was a group of regular contributors. Names that spring to mind are rosada, moss elk and trojina who are still regular contributors. For various reasons - including death - regular participants such as sparhawk, bruce (aka meng and so), dobro, bradford, lightofreason, martin, jesed, rodaki, ravenstar, frank, lise and others, whose names elude me now, have fallen by the wayside: such is the very nature of change.

However, in those way off days the burden of keeping a thread alive and vibrant in this open forum world was shared among many. Today, the modern pressures of life determine different priorities for many and contributing to threads particularly in Exploring Divination or Open Space fall way down the list.

Each of us can only do what we can do. To my way of seeing the world there is nothing to forgive.
 

surnevs

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You wrote: "Today, the modern pressures of life determine different priorities for many and contributing to threads particularly in Exploring Divination or Open Space fall way down the list."
I agree - I think this is a key subject in it.
And: forgiveness. This could be misunderstood I realise. In a thread some years ago I read someone's frustration on involving time and engagement in answering queries just to find that it was in vain, that the other person asking never gave a hint for even having read it. This was what I was referring to when thinking that sometimes such an absence can happen to have acceptable reasons.
But generally, I think it's worth bringing into memory that most of the reasons for things fading out are due to what I quoted You here above.
This written I do also think generally that the massive amount of material given to read to understand the I Ching demands time - a time I simply don't have.
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Adding, an example. Nearly a year ago I started reading 'Astrology and Cosmology in Early China' by David W. Pankenier after having been presented for it in a pdf draft, I think either in academia.edu or sino-platonic.org, and today I've reached page 222 out of 511, appendix included. As it's a valuable book I've decided to finish reading it despite the number of footnotes which are, besides link's to the sources he refers to, chapters in themselves / necessary links to material useful to read to follow him in depth. And, for a foreigner to this language as I am quite difficult to read - but insight to the I Ching, somehow "laying between the lines", can be found in this book that I won't miss. Now, this decision forces me to lay aside other material that I just as much want to read and for the moment I find myself in a situation where I ask: Will I ever reach the end of this book within the time I have left (past 70 years)?
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Editing: key subject, not -term.
 
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my_key

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Your comments remind me of the old saying "So much to do, so little time to do it".
 

surnevs

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Your comments remind me of the old saying "So much to do, so little time to do it".
Basically what I was reflecting on. I think that it's good now and then to be reminded that others also are met with this problem, at least for being assured that one isn't alone in this.
 

rosada

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What annoys me is how even when I do get time to study there's no guarantee I'm going to remember any of what I read. It's awful. Sometimes I'll find myself reviewing an old post and thinking, "Wow, that person was really on to something!" only to discover I was the one who wrote it! :hissy:
 

surnevs

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It starts with a lot of time and energy available but not much insight, experience and know-how and ends up with know-how, experience and insight but not much energy or time available, mostly I think. For my part, I wish I could forget all I know about the I Ching and just be open to what comes from it and keep asking and wondering.
 

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