Memorizing the Images

[rosada]

Putting a picture with each of the hexagrams makes connecting with the meanings easier. Lately I've been trying to memorize Wilhelm's translations of the images by drawing cartoons to go with the words. These pictographs aren't intended to relay the meanings but are just to help recall the words. Thus...

hexagram 1.
A boy doing jumping jacks on a bed:

The superior man makes himself strong and untiring.

Hex. 2
A man carrying a giant loaf labeled "Whohas Bread":

The superior man who has BREADth of character
carries the outer world.

Hex. 3
An elegant waiter bringing an order out of the Confusion Restaurant."

Thus the superior man brings order out of confusion.

Hex. 4
A foster child scrubing a long hallway/thoroughfare.

The superior man FOSTERs his character by the THROUGHness of all that he does.

Hex. 5
Somehow I've never had trouble remembering this one.

The superior man eats and drinks, is joyous and of good cheer.

Hex. 6
A boy about to launch a paper ship on a transatlantic journey.

In all his TRANsactions the superior man carefully considers the beginning.

Hex. 7
The Pope celebrating mass by giving out wafers.

The superior man increases his MASSes by generosity toward the people.

 

[dobro p]

Memorizing things is one way to familiarize yourself with them and to learn them.

But understanding the meaning is a clear and important big step beyond mere memorization.

Applying that understanding is a clear and important big step beyond mere understanding.

Familiarization. Understanding. Application.

 

[martin]

And then, when you have learned to apply it it's time to drop it ...

Yes, I know, that's a radical thing to say on a site that is dedicated to the Yi.
But an oracle is also a bulb, like nearly everything else, and the Light ...

 

[dobro p]

And then, when you have learned to apply it it's time to drop it ...

Yes, I know, that's a radical thing to say on a site that is dedicated to the Yi.
But an oracle is also a bulb, like nearly everything else, and the Light ...

...doesn't need a bulb! That's right. And you're right when you say that by the time you understand the Yi completely, you don't need it anymore. But until you do understand it, it serves the function of the bulb, which can usefully illuminate things down here in bulbland.

 

[martin]

Yes. There is a tendency to hold on to bulbs when they are really not needed anymore, though.
Or, to change the metaphor, to old vehicles. Nothing wrong with vehicles, they are useful and they can be fun. But they are supposed to bring us somewhere and once we are there they are no longer needed. It's time to discard the carriage and walk on foot (22.1).

Of course it's possible that we will feel that we need another carriage then. Okay, fine, next carriage, next car.
But ultimately, driving one car after the other, Volkswagen, Ferrari, Ford, even Rolls Royce, what do we learn?
I think we learn that we never needed them in the first place and that in a sense we always walked on foot. Our own two feet, that's all we need. And it's all we ever used. The carriage, the car, has always been our own two feet in disguise.

It may take twenty or thirty years or longer to learn this and there is probably no other way to learn it than trying one car after the other. So it's okay, all those cars. Oracles, teachings, meditation techniques, esoteric stuff, and so on.
But, well, perhaps it's possible to speed this up a little? I'm not sure.

 

[rosada]

I asked the I Ching, what is the value of my thread on memorizing the images? I received:

26.
The superior man acquaints himself with many
sayings of antiquity
And many deeds of the past,
In order to strengthen his character thereby.

This spot on responce inspires me to feel my project is not, for me anyway, a waste of time. If others wish to post their own memorization tips here, please feel welcome. However if you are not getting value from these ideas please don't feel obligated to read this thread.

 

[dobro p]

Martin - there's a Buddhist teaching story about knowing how to leave the raft behind once you've used to to get across the water to the other side; you don't try to carry the raft on your back and take it with you. I'm nowhere near that point yet. The Yi images stuff for me that I don't see.

Rosada - Wow, that's impressive. You're definitely on the right path with this memorization thing you've got going. And aside from the Da Xiang, I think the main text is even more important to your situation, even if it is a bit more abstract. I wonder what 'not eating at home brings good fortune' means in your case.

As for your invitation not to read the thread: well, how do I find out what's in a thread if I don't read it lol? And can't I post stuff that occurs to me after I've read a thread? Isn't that one of the things this place is for? You know, I wasn't criticizing your memorization technique, I was trying to broaden its perspective and add steps and stages.

 

[martin]

So the Yi thinks that your car is a Rolls, Rosada? I knew that already!

 

[rosada]

dobro and Martin:


Note to self:
19.
The superior man is inexhaustible in his will to teach and without limits in his tolerance and protection of the people.
The superior man is inexhaustible in his will to teach and without limits in his tolerance and protection of the people.
The superior man is inexhaustible in his will to teach and without limits in his tolerance and protection of the people.

 

[hilary]

Odd... I normally remember quotations more clearly than anything else, but with the Images what I remember all comes through the meaning. The train of thought goes something like - '26 - heaven in the mountain - library of manuscripts stored in a cave - the noble one, um, uses the many records of ancient words and deeds, or something, and does he also nurture de, since mountains are a nurturing kind of outer trigram?' (I'm being very good, here, and not looking.)

To get the actual wording to stick, I'd just write it out and read it aloud a lot. Since I'm quite embarrassed that it still hasn't, maybe I should start writing...

 

[rosada]

Yeah, the symbolism is great for remembering the meanings. In fact, maybe we should start a Memorizing the Trigrams thread. But even so, with visualizing the trigrams you still have to fuss around with interpreting them whereas if you have the actual words committed to memory, Bingo, it's right there for you. The trick is how to memorize all those words and I'm saying that by drawing up some cartoons you'll find you engage both right brain and left brain and within minutes it's locked in. I've memorized the first twenty five IMAGES in the last two days and the only reason I haven't memorized all 64 is I haven't come up with the cartoons yet.

 

[rosada]

Another advantage that comes from having the interpretations of the images memorized is then you become hungry for more. As dobro stated earlier, familiarization leads to understanding and when you find you're really beginning to understand - that you CAN understand! - you become very motivated.

I've been focusing on becoming familiar with the images because they discribe what one should actually do about a situation. I mean, the JUDGEMENT tells you what the situation is, and the IMAGE tells you what to do about it. I figured since the IMAGES gives the final answer so to speak, I would start by memorizing them. But as they have now become familiar to me, I am more intent on understanding why this particular advice is being given. What is the situation it particularly applies to? For example, Hexagram image one says, "Thus the superior man makes himself strong and untiring." So be healthy. Yes that's a good thing to do generally, but why would the I Ching choose to give us this particular advice here at the beginning? We can know by looking at the judgement. The judgement reads, "The Creative works sublime success, furthering through perseverance." In street English, "Ultimately everything works out, you just have to keep at it." If such is the case then it makes sence for the image to advise, "Therefore make yourself strong and untiring (so you CAN keep at it)." This now makes such sence to me that I instantly have the Judgement memorized, because I see how it links to the image.

My point is that by becoming readily familiar with the Images, so you no longer have to pause or interpret or look them up, you become curious and eager to learn more AND learning more becomes easy!

P.S. Although many of the Images start out with "Thus," I find it helpful to plug in the word "Therefore," to strengthen in my mind the link between the Judgement's assessment of the situation and the Image's advice.

P.P.S. I have as my memory cartoon for hex.1 a boy jumping on a bed. This illustrates both "making oneself strong" by doing jumping jacks, and "untiring" because he is on a bed but not sleeping.

 

[dobro p]

As dobro stated earlier, familiarization leads to understanding and when you find you're really beginning to understand - that you CAN understand! - you become very motivated.

Yeah, it's true that when you understand, you become motivated. But it isn't true that when you memorize something, you understand it. When you memorize something, it's memorized, but not necessarily understood. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the material, and the second step is to understand it, but the understanding doesn't come automatically with familiarization. You have to work at understanding. Memorization is a lower function, understanding is a higher function. Higher functions require a certain amount of effort, for 99.9% of the people 99.9% of the time.

 

[rosada]

What's your issue here, dobro? Nobody's saying memorizing the images is the same as understanding them. I'm saying memorizing FACILITATES understanding. I've also found having them memorized encourages clearer responces from the I Ching:

I just asked, "How should I answer dobro?" and received

28. Preponderance of the Great
THE IMAGE
The superior man, when he stands alone,
Is unconcerned,
And if he has to renounce the world,
He is undaunted.

 

[rosada]

Continuing with cartoon possibilities...

Hex 8. Holding Together
A king with fifes (lutes) wrapped in a stole hands them out to smiling lords.

The kings of antiquity beSTOwed the various states as fiefs and cultivated friendly relations with the feudal lords.

Hex. 9 (The Taming Power of the Small)
A bald man arranges his few remaining hairs with a fine tooth comb.

The superior man reFINEs the outward aspect of his nature.

Hex. 10 Treading (Conduct)
A fellow holds a black dish low to the ground and a white dish above his head while staring into the face/mind of the person he is offering them to.

The superior man discriminates between high and low, and thereby fortifies the thinking of the people.

Hex. 11 Peace
A ruler, a division symbol, a book, a cloud and a globe,
An arrow, a wavey line, a package, a cloud and a globe,
A needle and thread, people looking sick (with AIDS).

The ruler divides and completes the course of heaven and earth,
He furthers and regulates the gifts of heaven and earth, and so aids the people.

Hex. 12 Standstill
A man falling backwards onto a fluffy heart shaped pillow. High above him arrows and coins fly through the air.

The superior man falls back uppon his inner worth in order to escape the difficulties. He does not allow himself to be honored with revenue.

Hex.13 Fellowship with Men.
A man sorting through a bucket of clams and their stinky organs.

The superior man ORGANizes the CLAns and makes diSTINCtions between things.

Hex. 14 Possession in Great Measure
A traffic cop with "Obey!" written across his chest directs one car to the curb and motions another to go further. A sun smiles overhead.

The superior man curbs evil and furthers good and thus obeys the benevolent will of heaven.

 

[dobro p]

What's your issue here, dobro? Nobody's saying memorizing the images is the same as understanding them. I'm saying memorizing FACILITATES understanding.

I was responding to the way you portrayed what I had said earlier, when you said: "As dobro stated earlier, familiarization leads to understanding ". That sounded to me like one followed on automatically from the other, as if no effort was required. My understanding is that effort *is* required though, and I wanted to make that clear. You say memorizing facilitates understanding. I disagree; I think it CAN be a useful preparatory step to understanding, though. It can just as easily result in a memorized text with no understanding at all. Think of people who memorize the Bible or the Koran. It's a huge effort, but its focus is on parroting, and it falls way short of understanding in many cases.

You seem impatient with either my ideas or the way I interact with your ideas, so I think it's time to withdraw. Happy memorizing, Rosada.

 

[rosada]

Thanks dobro. I don't think too many folks are leaping on this memorization idea anyway, so if it is the wrong approach at least not too many are being led astray! Meanwhile, please return if you ever have an interest or a helpful memorizing tip to share.

 

[rosada]

The great thing about attempting to memorize the I Ching through the use of pictures, rather than having just the words, is it's very easy to remember a picture. I don't even need to have the picture cards with me, it is so easy to remember the pictures. This means I can review the hexagrams in my mind when I'm lying in bed before sleep. Furthermore, I have discovered that it is not necessary to translate the whole phrase into a picture. Thus if one is trying to make a pictograph of "The superior man brings order out of confusion" it may not be necessary to draw a whole scene but just to write "The superior man brings order out of.." and then draw some squiggly lines to indicate "confusion." Your brain will most easily latch on to the squiggles for confusion, but when you go to visualize your picture you'll find you can now also visuaize the words.

Thoughts for the more memory cards:

Hex. 15
A very chubby guru standing on a large scale, appearing to be arguing. The base of the scale is decorated with equals signs.

The superior man reduces that which is too much and AUGments (sounds like argues) that which is too little. He weighs things and makes them equal.

 

[martin]

Hex 11 Peace
The ruler divides and completes the course of heaven and earth ..

 

[my_key]

Hex 11 Peace
The ruler divides and completes the course of heaven and earth ..

Martin
Really neat - Impressed that the picture only showed part of the whole thing.
Yes.............. you only showed a piece of the ruler.

Mike

 

[my_key]

Hex 11 Peace
The ruler divides and completes the course of heaven and earth ..

Martin
Really neat - Impressed that the picture only showed part of the whole thing.
Yes.............. you only showed a piece of the ruler.

Geddit?
OK... and some fell on stony ground !!

Mike

 

[martin]

Lol, unintended neatness

 

[martin]

So I Googled 'unintended' and found a video called 'muse unintended'
Look how peaceful hexagram 11 flows ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92wD8dQ_B54

 

[rosada]

For some reason I am not able to get the picture to open up on my computer but it sounds
delightful! I want to make one of me driving a rolls.

I made an I Ching necklace!! (as discribed over on Open Space) And guess what? It's a terrific memorization tool! My mind was drifting when I tried to review the hexagrams in my head but if I find if I hold the beads and move one bead forward as I visualize each pictograph I can stay focused through the whole cycle!

 

[rosada]

I get the idea that 11.Peace is about astrologers figuring out when to plant and who's supposed to be with whom and then 12. Standstill comes along and the astrologer has to go into hiding saying "I did my best!" (falling back on his inner worth) while all heck breaks out as everyone starts complaining about why they didn't get the prediction they wanted. And of course the superior man must refuse to be bribed ("honored") with revenue to change his rulings.

 

[rosada]

Hello all,
I continue to be inspired to learn more as I am able to remember the actual wording Wilhelm gives to the IMAGES. I guess I'm like a kid who is more likely stick with his math longer if he doesn't have to keep asking "What does a five look like?" I feel like studying the trigrams for deeper understanding when I don't have to keep checking the book for the basics.

But I'm bored with trying to discribe my drawings in words and besides, I'm sure whoever is interested can come up with their own pictographs. So I'm going to leave off doing this. Arrgh, I hope that doesn't come under the heading of copping out. Fostering one's character by being thorough is one of the first IMAGES.

Meanwhile, last night I had a "dream" that I was in this huge library and I was being shown an computer print out of my past lives and I was able to read a few lines before waking up! I think this happened because I have so strengthened my mind and ability to stay conscious while delving into my unconscious with this memorization work, that I'm somehow able to be awake while dreaming. Anyway, just thought I'd share this as one of the many bennies of strengthening the mind through memory work!

Thanks for reading,
rosada

 

[mudpie]

Rosada, I think you should make a website devoted to i ching images...sketch them and scan them .....it would be a cross between one like Luis' yi-toons and Bruce and Lise's photographic images...Your images are quite playful and fun.
I once had a dream that I met a wolf like man in the woods and he had a leather bound book to show me, the book was tied togther with rawhide. I knew it was important. BUt I didnt get a look inside!
UMMMM, care to tell us a little about the lines you read ..........??? It might become a story that gets continued in future dreams

 

[rosada]

Thank you , Listener, what an interesting idea. I don't have the equipment or the know how to set up such a site but it occurs to me my son does and wouldn't that be a fun way to engage him in my interest in the I Ching? It also occurs to me that it would be fun if someone here with the skills and know how were to start such a thread. We could all mail in our individual cartoons and get a gallery going. I bet with the group imput of pictures everyone would memorize the words in a week!

I live in the woods and I'm thinking it would be fun to design a forest trail that would have 64 rest stops. Each designed to give the full hexagram experience. Maybe they could make it a ride at Disneyland?

My visit to the Hall of Records just produced one line but it had meaning for me on many levels. It was a computer printout that said, "Works with abrupt children," and the inference that this was my core purpose . This dream came about after I had spent the day fiddling with my new I Ching necklace (see Open Space for discription of I Ching necklace - it's 64 black and white beads strung in such a way that they represent all the hexagrams.). I found it so fascinating and so soothing that I started considering how these necklaces might be introduced into the schools to facilitate teaching and to give ADHD kids a focus. I had one child in particular that I thought might catch on to the string. He is hyper - abrupt! - but he is also adopted. The word "abrupt" was written in red on the page in my dream as if to suggest it symbolized more or was misspelled. It occured to me that abrupt and adopt look very similar. It caused me to reflect that I had been told by a clairvoyant once that the words we use are so very important, that we create with our words and they manifest without correction. Anyway, this dream was just the extra push I needed to go ahead and mail my young abrupt adopted friend a beaded necklace. Not in the I Ching pattern, but just a string of ten to encourage him to learn his numbers. Anyway, it will be intersesting to see where this leads. Thanks for asking, Listener. I hope the wolf gives you another peek at the leather book!

 

[mudpie]

Fascinating, fascinating, fascinating!!!!!! wow, I am so proud of you for mailing that necklace off......and the idea is mind-boggling.

Children with Aspergers are also what you might call "abrupt" in many respects, and the need is so great right now to find ways to meet their needs - because there are so many being diagnosed - and their needs are often to find a way to help them connect with others. I could see a necklace being such an incredible way to call them into focus, and to help them connect with other children who might also have a necklace.or simply to help them remember certain skills they need to incorporate. A social skills necklace...! Even an I ching necklace would be something I could see a child using if the images called to mind were child-friendly and the hexgram "names" easily memorized. Children with Aspergers are very good at memorizing. wow, this is really food for thought
The field for working with this population is wide open, I know parents who look high and low for resources. what an idea!

and the thread you mentioned...well, i'd certainly mail in some cartoons. I'd love it.

but this idea about kids...omg.....they respond so enthusiastically to images. The I Ching for children...wouldnt that be a project!? Imagine being a kid and learning the wisdom of the I ching by stringing your own necklace and connecting a word with an image, and then teaching them to use it as a guide when confused. what a learning tool. Even if it was just a way to help them stop and reflect... I am gonna sleep on this tonight, too. wow. I have to look at your thread on open space about the necklace.

if you lived closer, I'd say let's be business partners there are a lot of "abrupt" children in need. what kind of beads do you use? are they big and can you write on them? this is more interesting than the leather book!

 

[rosada]

Remember Campfire Girls and earning beads by completing various activities? We could create a book of 64 projects. Each would be associated with a hexagram. When you complete the achievement you earn a bead. When you've completed all 64 you have your I Ching necklace.

Bead 1 Make your bed.
Bead 2 Keep a diary.
Bead 3 Organize your clothes.
Bead 4 Do your own thing.