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Memorizing the I Ching Hexagram 20. Kaun / contemplation (View)

rosada

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A man is driving down the road and his car breaks down near a monestry. He goes to the monestery, knocks on the door and says, "My car broke down. Do you think I could stay the night?" The Monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, even fix his car.
As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound. A sound not like anything he's ever heard before. The Sirens that nearly seduced Odysseus into crashing his ship comes to mind.
He doesn't sleep that night. He tosses and turns trying to figure out what could possibly making such a sound. The next morning, he asks the Monks what the sound was, but they say, "We can't tell you. You're not a Monk." Distraught, the man is forced to leave.
Years later, after never being able to forget that sound, the man goes back to the monastery and pleads for the answer again. The Monks reply, "We can't tell you. You're not a Monk." The man says, "If the only way I can find out what is making that beautiful sound is to become a Monk, then please, make me a Monk."
The Monks reply, "You must travel the earth and tell us how many blades of grass there are and the exact number of grains of sand. When you find these answers, you will have become a Monk." The man sets about his task.
After years of searching he returns as a gray-haired old man and knocks on the door of the monastery. A Monk answers. He is taken before a gathering of all the Monks.
"In my quest to find what makes that beautiful sound, I traveled the earth and have found what you asked for: By design, the world is in a state of perpetual change. Only God knows what you ask. All a man can know is himself, and only then if he is honest and reflective and willing to strip away self deception."
The Monks reply, "Congratulations. You have become a Monk. We shall now show you the way to the mystery of the sacred sound. " The Monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head Monk says, "The sound is beyond that door."
The Monks give him the key, and he opens the door, Behind the wooden door is another door made of stone. The man is given the key to the stone door and he opens it, only to find a door made of ruby.
And so it went that he needed keys to doors of emerald, pearl and diamond. Finally, they come to a door made of solid gold. The sound has become very clear and definite. The Monks say, "This is the last key to the last door."
The man is apprehensive to no end. His life's wish is behind that door! With trembling hands, he unlocks the door, turns the knob, and slowly pushes the door open. Falling to his knees, he is utterly amazed to discover the source of the haunting seductive sound...

But I can't tell you what it is because you're not a Monk.
 
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L

lightofreason

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ic+ 20.3

Line 3
"Self contemplation. To push on, one first needs to pull back and review. (Regenerate)"

From the XOR perspective, line position 3 is ruled by hexagram 15 with its focus on levelling out, modesty, keeping words close to facts and as such, in this context ensuring such prior to moving on.

if we consider the 20-15 relationship, what they share, their sameness aspect, is described by analogy to 54 and is reflected in the line comment on not pushing onwards yet (not being premature/immature) - reflect first, consolidate.

The line change here is from 20 to 53 and the focus on maturing (gradual development) where this reflects the 15-ness of 20 where the modesty, levelling out, of 15 is expressed by 20 in behaviour analogous to that described by 53. - I think you can see the correspondance of this approach with the overall 20-15 sameness aspect identified above.

The hexagrams thus read "with/from attracting/contemplating comes maturing"

chris.
 

rosada

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20.4
Six in the fourth place means:
Contemplation of the light of the kingdom.
It furthers one to exert influence as the guest of the king.

This discribes a man who understands the secrets by which a kingdom can be made to flurish. Such a man must be given an authoritative position, in which he can exert influence. He should be, so to speak, a guest - that is, he should be honored and allowed to act independently, and should not be used as a tool.
 

rosada

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Speaking of "Contemplation of the light of the kingdom," seems like this ia good time to be remembering and recognizing hilary for all her achievement in manefesting this site.

Hip! Hip! Hooray! Hilary, have a GREAT DAY!"
 

Sparhawk

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Today I went to Chinatown in Philadelphia to buy a few Yi books and found the cutest Yi cards. Here is Hex 20:

hex20.jpg


L
 

rosada

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Great addition to the thread, Sparhawk! I hope you'll continue to post the appropriate cards for each of the hexagrams!
 
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rosada

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20.5
0 Nine in the fifth place means:
Contemplation of my life,
The superior man is without blame.

A man in an authoritative position to whom others look up must always be ready for self-examination. The right sort of self-examination, however, consists not in idle brooding over oneself but in examining the effects one produces. Only when these effects are good, and when one's influence on others is good, will the contemplation of one's own life bring the satisfaction of knowing oneself to be free of mistakes.
 

Trojina

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Yes love the card, wish i had some. Please post more if you can. Wouldn't it be good to have a card for each line, hmmm

Re 20,5 am wondering if Wilhelm is laying on his ethics into this a bit. I see how people can twist this line around to mean you must do what makes others happy which i don't think it is about at all.
 

rosada

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I would be delighted to read what you do think this line is about, trojan. I don't really feel I've gotten into this hexagram, even though I am Viewing referances to 20 all over the clarity site this week.
 
B

bruce_g

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Howdy Trojan,

I don't think line 5 directly means to help others, but when someone contemplates their own life, the effect they've had on others (deliberately or unwittingly) can come into play. I think this is what Wilhelm stresses in his commentary.

Or, let's say that the "others" in this case are not people but a career. One contemplates his/her career. It isn't enough that you've worked for many years - it's also the effect/affect that your work has had on others (when looked at from the higher vantage of line 5), and that usually includes the benefits and liabilities to your employer, possibly their customers, the profit etc.

Compare this view with line 2, where everything appears to be only about "me": like the keeper of a house, where only what goes on inside that house matters.
 
B

bruce_g

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rosada said:
I would be delighted to read what you do think this line is about, trojan. I don't really feel I've gotten into this hexagram, even though I am Viewing referances to 20 all over the clarity site this week.

Viewing viewing, huh? :)

Without texts, how do you view 20?
 

Sparhawk

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Man... I wish I had more time to comment on everything... (sans relationship questions, thank you...).

What about a left field interpretation on 20.5? What about if the person on 20.5 is about to die? What if 20.5 is a metaphor for a near death experience? A dire situation where the subject of 20.5, as a noble person, accepts his destiny? This line, after all, changes the hexagram to 23. Perhaps, the noble person of 20.5 (if a noble one), is preparing him/herself for a a drastic change.

Perhaps, his life is flashing before his eyes and a noble person would know his fate is at hand...

Mind you, I've not seen this interpretation anywhere in all the books I have, but in my twisted mind. :)

L
 

Sparhawk

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bruce_g said:
Viewing viewing, huh? :)

Without texts, how do you view 20?

These come to mind from my birthplace, Montevideo, Uruguay:

peatonal1637.jpg

ciudadela3.jpg

ciudadela1639.jpg



The above are pictures of a reconstructed gate from the original Spanish fortification in colonial times. One of the very few things that remain from that time in history. The gate is known as "Puerta de la Ciudadela"

L
 

Trojina

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Rosada I know you see what line we're on as being reflected whats happening elsewhere in the forum - well this is a time when I see it for once. 20 has come up a few times elsewhere hasn't it, away from this thread. Could say this is reflecting the feeling of distance in 20, or at least different vantage points. So you, Rosada can see 20 from other angles maybe :)

Howdy Bruce :cool: yes I agree with the points you make, contemplation of ones life would have to include assessing ones impact on others - I think what i was (still) kicking, somewhat reactively, against was the terrible (to me) idea introduced in another 20 thread that someone should continue a course of study because his family wished it.
This seemed to me the antithesis of the self contemplation line 5 encourages - deep self contemplation - thinking about what others want I thought would hinder that and keep one on the level of adapting to society/family etc. When questioning that in the thread Wilhelm was quoted as supporting this idea - but I don't think it was meant that way.

Luis what is wrong with you, don't you like relationship questions ? Why don't you have enough time to comment on everything ! If you spent less time taking photos of girls feet you could fit us in :D
 

Sparhawk

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trojan said:
Luis what is wrong with you, don't you like relationship questions ? Why don't you have enough time to comment on everything ! If you spent less time taking photos of girls feet you could fit us in :D

Girls feet??? You mean this?:

shoes1500.jpg


But I rather be catching butterflies...


lisa01bnw500.jpg


Both are mine, of course. (the pictures, I mean... I don't look that good... :rofl:)


L
 

rosada

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I love the I ching hexagram for View being unconciously painted into the picture as a crosswalk in Luis photo of the Gate! Was there a similar secret message in the shoes having slim white straps? Like they were spelling out a hexagram? That's why you chose, right, L? For the I Ching Shoe Straps? And the picture of the Butterflies is included here because they draw our attention to...hmmm.. A Magnificent View?
Interesting how many pictures have been posted on this thread. Perhaps 20. has a connection with Viewing the World as a physical manefestation, something perhaps we introspective types need to be reminded of from time to time. The Outer World is not the lesser creation of the Mind, but it's mirror counterpart and equal. Reflection is an equal player in the art of Creation. Mind may "initiate"*, but it's creation is not intended to be just a piece of Fleeting Performance Art. Creation gives the creator feedback, a mirror, something without which it would never evolve, never change and thus never exist.

*If initiation is possible, probably more accurate to say "Mind defines" and the Universe lines up with Mind's definition, but the Universe existed before Mind.
Thinking of The Universe meaning The Whole: Mind and Not Mind together.
 
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rosada

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Musings...
20.1
I'm seeing 20 as a journey up a Mountain. Even though we are part of a group, it's an indivdual journey. We start out at the bottom, we don't know who's group we're in, who's in our group. We feel alone here which is okay if this truly is a new experience, but if one's done this sort of thing before you shouldn't try to play the part of the beginner, you know we can all contribute something so even if you have to apply for welfare, an evolved soul knows they have a role to play, somthing to contribute to the group experience. Even if it's just being a good role model of how to apply the key message of 42. If he sees good, he imitates it, if he sees faults, he rids himself of them. This is the way to create Increase, this is the way to evolve up from the bottom of the Watch Tower.

20.2
I think it's interesting that the numbers 20 and .2 perfectly mirror each other IF you are slightly naive and don't know the meaning of the number zero. Much like a house wife who only knows her own world might think she understands everything the Universe has to offer, because she has never ventured beyond her area of understanding.
So I see line 20.2 as saying, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" I mean obviously,20.2 doesn't mean "Stop now because your world is perfect" or they would have said that. They didn't stay STOP because even though truthfully, the inner world of 20.2 is perfectly matched by the outer world, that's not
The Ultimate, that's not Heaven. Heaven includes Change = Evolving, Improvement
.
 

rosada

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Further musings..

20.3
The Unexamined Life is not worth living.

Okay,realizing that I don't know everything, that the Universe I live in is not just my own Creation, my own Reflection, the search is on to see what is a creation of my own Concious thoughts, and what is a creation of other people's, my Unconcious' thoughts.

20.4

The Secret of Success: Delegate.
Those who realize we seek out people who are acting out our own unspoken fantasies can now choose to more conciously interact with their neighbors. We can choose to cultivate and befriend those whose habits we would like to manefest more of in our personal lives and we can recognize that we are playing a role in other people's home movies ourselves.
 
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rosada

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20.5
The recognition that we are all connected? "There but for the grace of God go I"?
 
L

lightofreason

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IC+ 20.5

Line 5
"Contemplating a life's work (sprouting of seeds), and it's effects on the people."

with/from attracting/contemplating comes pruning.
 

Trojina

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rosada said:
! Was there a similar secret message in the shoes having slim white straps? Like they were spelling out a hexagram? That's why you chose, right, L? For the I Ching Shoe Straps? And the picture of the Butterflies is included here because they draw our attention to...hmmm.. A Magnificent View?

.

:rofl: No he chose that picture because thats what i was castigating him for. He says he has no time to comment on things here and i was saying, after looking at his blog/site that seemed to me he was spending far too much time taking pictures like the one he showed above, and somehow I think the lines of a hex were not at the forefront of Luis mind when he took the shoe pic. I also remember seeing he had taken quite a few pictures of himself pulling faces in a truck. hmmm Well if a mans got time to take pictures of himself pulling faces my point is hes got time to contribute more of his sagely musings here :mischief:

Actually though imagine the view that women gets from those heels !
 

matt

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20.4

Here is one possible idea that I have come to associate this line with - It is to do with the people directly in our lives.

20.4 is suggesting we be the 'guest' of others energy.

Every day, when we come into contact with other individuals in our lives, our communication with them goes a lot deeper than the words we exchange in conversation and the actions we share physically. We are also receptive to others thoughts and feelings on a constant basis. If another person merely 'thinks' a thought without wording it, then we may pick up on that thought. Though most people confuse others thoughts with their own because the boundaries between our minds and others have become fuzzy at best. Equally, if another person feels a feeling without expressing it, then we may pick up on that feeling. Though most of us confuse that feeling with our own emotions, again because most of us do not recognise the identity of our own emotions well enough to differentiate between theirs and anothers.

As all of these feelings and thoughts are mixed together, we are often taking a reactive role to others, rather than a creative. We react to others unspoken energies, because we confuse them with our own, and then take the role of 'owner' of the energy we have picked up from them, rather than the 'guest'. To be the 'guest' is to recognise that these thoughts/feelings belong to another, and therefore the best action is to be the guest of them, not to take blind ownership.

20.4 changes to 12 - and 12's intial line is about using the ability of differentiation to establish what energy belongs to what class, just the kind of ability the 'guest' would use. Then we finally have the change to hexagram 25, which talks about not becoming embroiled.

20.4 - when relating to others in our lives - can refer to how we respond to the people around us. 'GUesting tending towards Kinghood' is recognising the ability of a person who is able to differentiate his thoughts/feelings from others and act creatively rather than reactively. He/she is them able to offer more substance to others around them, and give freely without taking. He/she is a guest of others, and they are a guest of his/her.
 

Sparhawk

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trojan said:
he was spending far too much time taking pictures like the one he showed above, and somehow I think the lines of a hex were not at the forefront of Luis mind when he took the shoe pic.

Uh, ahem... Everything I do with my camera is influenced by the Yi... lol

I also remember seeing he had taken quite a few pictures of himself pulling faces in a truck.

Geeze, you remember those?? Wow, I'm flattered. Hey, if a guy like Einstein would allow a photograph of himself with his tongue sticking out, there's no fault for the rest of us, down in the evolutionary chain... :D

hmmm Well if a mans got time to take pictures of himself pulling faces my point is hes got time to contribute more of his sagely musings here :mischief:

Are you kidding? This place is full of Sages, some of whom have "secret, oral tradition and direct lineage" Yi teachings. Many times I find myself in awe at the affirmations and duly humbled to venture my own... :D

Actually though imagine the view that women gets from those heels !

I'm not sure the view is that particular from that hight; I know, however, that they can be "view magnets"... :rofl:

Kidding aside, I wrote a short article, in Spanish, about composition and photography cropping, here: "Buscando detalles", where this lady is the model I used as example. I love "street photography", something that has a long tradition among the old Masters, and much of what Hex-20 teaches can be applied to it.

Luis
 
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rosada

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Matt, thank you for this elaboration on 20.4. It really is a fascinating clue the IC is giving us here. I read somewhere that the simple fact that we breathe air other's have breathed before us means we are taking in energy that has been preprogramed by the vibrations of others. Thus by simply being in a calm state as we breathe we are contributing to the healing of the planet - that is we take in energy that maybe disturbed, hold it in our force field, and release it reprogrammed to our wavelength.

I feel my neighbor's children are fulfilling the role of grandchildren in my life, which is not so unusual. But for her part, years ago my neighbor lost custody of her first-born, a daughter. Although I am 20 years older than my friend I feel as if I interact with her family like the missing older sister. So while the kids are playing the role of grandchildren in my movie, I am the daughter in hers.
 

Trojina

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I noticed with 20.4 I always tend to get it in situations where I'm consulting someone who has knowledge i don't, ie doctor, consultant, advisor of any kind often in an intense 'one on one' kind of way So I've come to take it as often about being a 'guest' of someones expertise, their 'kingdom' is their area of expertise so I benefit from being their guest. In a way I think this line points to someone who is a 'king' in their expertise area so indicates a good idea to seek out them and their view, at least for me its played out that way, that Ihave benefited from their knowledge.


I read what you said with interest Matt about energy exchange. You seem pretty sure we don't have much of a clue about what is our feeling or someone elses. I think this varies enormously between people, depending how empathic they are. If you start to doubt your thoughts are your own, phew, therein madness lies eh :eek:

Thanks for the link Luis but I can't read Spanish :D
 

Trojina

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matt said:
It happens all the time to everbody Trojan :)

What does ? I presume you mean mixing up others thoughts and feelings with ones own.
How do you know it does ? Aren't you generalising from your own experience ? Besides which who is to say where who the original thought came from.

Nah I think it happens sometimes, I think if it happened on the scale you say we would all be psychotic and have no idea who we were. :eek:

Maybe its more this way in other dimensions when we are not so individualised, but here on planet earth we come to know ourselves as seperate, painful as it might be sometimes. I think this separateness is to come to know ourselves better maybe. I see people going around everywhere whom I think wow thats so different to me i would never think/do that. IOW currently I'm always amazed at how differently people see things and pretty often find i wrongly assume people think the same way as I do. So my experience is quite the reverse to how you say. There is sometimes great synchronicity in thought between myself and others but no where near all the time as you say IMO. :)
 

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