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Pushing upward to Stillness

kite

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I have just come back from a ten day meditation retreat,it was an extraordinary time,and i returned to the "real " world inspired.but a couple of weeks on and I'm feeling quite overwhelmed at times,even to the point of asking the I ching "have i been damaged by this experience"
The reply illustrates for me,why the I ching has been a part of my life for 33 years,since the day i brought a copy in a bookshop,without even opening the cover,without knowing what it was,and then discovering that i had purchased a book that spoke to me.its true to say that it literaly saved my life once,and has often told me in no uncertain terms,that which i dont want to know.
so ..46.2.6 pushing up.... Hard work and steep slopes lie ahead, but the oracle reassures you that you need not worry or doubt. Instead, set your face to the south, as the ruler does: align your initiatives with the natural order (which can be read in the stars and the compass), and set out towards warmth, light and activity.

to Stillness 52...Stilling follows from Hexagram 51, Shock:
‘Things cannot end with stirring up; stop them. And so Stilling follows, which means stopping.’

Time and time again this somewhat crusty friend and teacher,brings to light the wisdom that needs bear upon our questions.
 
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Do you think receiving 52 is the Yi's way of describing the meditation and the stillness associated? It could be painting a background for you.

It is interesting to look at the back and forth of 51 to 52. And a meditation retreat is very 52. Coming back to the 'real' world is very 51. It can be hectic and everything moving very fast.

46 is about ascending. It could be about your spiritual life or about the work you need to do to progress.

I was thinking that line 6 was pointing in an indirect matter at one of the two things (either the retreat or the real life) and saying that you should remember the values of the one to be okay in the other. This sounds confusing so I will try and explain.

Say the Yi is pointing at real life and how it can be shocking. It is guiding you in saying that you can learn from the meditation how to make your inner self be more 52.

Or the Yi could be pointing at your retreat time, and how still it is. It could be guiding you to not drift too far away from reality only to be jolted back.

These are just my quick interpretations and thoughts. Isn't a retreat supposed to be for completely letting go and relaxing and clearing:confused: I am not sure if my interpretations are conducive.
 

Lavalamp

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"have i been damaged by this experience"

46.2
You have been benefitted, without any doubt, in the most profound of ways. (The King presents him to God.)

46.6
Someone so benefitted, who should be also helping others is bringing them harm instead, and incurring great anger and misfortune in so doing.

52
This hexagram describes Meditation, interesting as this is the kind of retreat you were on. There is a problem in stilling the human heart, you can still the mind and body but the human heart is difficult to keep quiet.

Is there jealousy between spiritual brothers, spiritual arrogance, vying for the affections of a female or something? A spiritual leader abusing his office for his own sake, and you being a junior unable to do anything about it?

In any event, the Yi seems to say the practice is good, benefitting you immensely, and that others are screwing up and taking that for granted is not your problem.
 

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