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The Angels of Grace, A Spiritual Take on Hexagram 22 as an expression of grace…

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maremaria

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Sometimes one has to focus on the pretty trees and leave the rest of the forest to the loggers. :rofl:

So, you say that sometimes "shortsightedness" is a choice, and not a wrong one ?
( if you are aware of what you are doing)
 
M

meng

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Good question, Maria.

I've let "shortsightedness" simmer on the burner for a couple daze. It does not rise to the top of predominant meanings of 22 - in my yibrain vocabulary. I can use it for subsidy to better understanding, though.

I still have no problem (God help me! :eek:) with "grace" for 22, with its colors and melodies that make people smile. But I'm happy with using "beauty" for the 22 image.

I always wonder what a male spider sees in a female spider. I'd have to be a spider to see her as beautiful. Or a hornet.
 

bradford

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So, you say that sometimes "shortsightedness" is a choice, and not a wrong one ?
( if you are aware of what you are doing)


The word I've been using is nearsightedness, not shortsightedness, and, to repeat,
I haven't been using it with a negative connotation, merely with a caution (reiterating the Da Xiang and the Tuan Zhuan of the Yijing itself) to remember that the world is larger than this. Laozi had a great deal of praise for the small, simple life in the hamlet, and the Sufis also praise living nearby ("local activity is the keynote of the dervish path").

80 Shrink the domain, spread out the people
b Let there be tens & hundreds of people with specialties
c But unemployed
d Let the people feel the weight of death
e And not wander far
f Though there be boats & wagons
g No place to ride them
h Though there be armor & weapons
i No reason to show them
j Let the people return to knotting cords
k And counting on these
l (To) sweetening their own food
m Embroidering their own clothing
n Secure in their own homes
o Rejoicing in their own customs
p Neighboring realms overlook one another
q The sounds of each other’s roosters and dogs are heard
r (Yet) the people grow old & die
s Without goings & comings between them
 
M

maremaria

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I still have no problem (God help me! :eek:) with "grace" for 22, with its colors and melodies that make people smile. But I'm happy with using "beauty" for the 22 image.

I.

I’m more comfortable with the word “beauty” re 22. Beauty without simplicity (22.6), for me, can be something else. Beautiful thinks are as important as air to breath, food and water to live.

Attending to a writing workshop nowadays. Working on our stories, the instructor finds little beautiful germ in a clumsy text. Unpolished germs that need an experienced hand to help them come out. It’s a combination of 23 And 22. We don’t beautify (with the negative meaning), we polish and yes we smile at the end. The energy that comes out from a nice story, song, and painting and comes into us is that is valuable.
 

bradford

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Shortsightedness, by the way, movement too soon, haste,
the opposite of deferred gratification, not looking out for the
long-term consequences of action, is one of the central meanings
of 54, Gui Mei.
 

rodaki

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talking about words' beauty . .
been listening:

There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

L. Cohen
 
M

meng

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nearsighted: Unable to see distant objects clearly

shortsighted: Unable to see distant objects clearly, Lacking foresight or scope, Not given careful consideration.

Yes, I can see the difference sorta. My error.
 

Sparhawk

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So, you say that sometimes "shortsightedness" is a choice, and not a wrong one ?
( if you are aware of what you are doing)

Why do they have to take me away from my 22 contemplation? :D

The word used by Brad was "nearsightedness" (the difference is subtle but meaningful) and, well, although I certainly understood and agree with him, perhaps that word is not the obvious metaphor for all that he intended it to be. He said (my underline):

Brad said:
Closer to the core meaning is nearsightedness, but more literally, ornamentation or superficiality. The mountain goat needs to be nearsighted to pick his way up the mountain - he wants each of his steps to be real, so there is a place for nearsightedness in how graceful his ascent is.

The main and objective message of 22, other than what everyone wants to subjectively attach to it contextually with any given situation, is "focused attention". IMO, most in the West have hung to Wilhelm's word of choice, "grace," and all its possible English meanings. However, if you compare the message of the Chinese text with Wilhelm/Baynes's translation, he appeared to have something very specific in mind for "grace" which anyone can find by looking in the dictionary:

3 a: a charming or attractive trait or characteristic b: a pleasing appearance or effect : charm <all the grace of youth — John Buchan> c: ease and suppleness of movement or bearing
Everything else that has to do with the word "grace" in English is completely foreign to the meaning intended in the Chinese.

I was recently reading that (click for page):So, we appear to be hard-wired for attaching meaning where it doesn't intrinsically exists. That's why, when we find a word like "grace" our minds make all kinds of connections, perhaps totally meaningful for each of us, that have little to do with the reality of the author that used it. IMHO, in this particular case, if "grace" is going to be used as the preferred translation for , they would do themselves a favor by sticking to the above meaning of the word and forget all the other English meanings attached to it.

Going back to "nearsightedness," the text of 22 is an ode to "focused attention" to small details. The goat example used by Brad is very good. When climbing a rocky mountain, the goat is not contemplating the breathtaking landscape but minding each step it takes, every detail and rock protrusion, lest it missteps and falls to its death. Another animal metaphor I can think of is a raven picking up bright objects to take to its nest because they are attractive to it; or picking at the eyes of a dead animal or person because is what it will nourish it faster and with the least effort.

Take Wilhelm/Baynes' text for the Image:
Fire at the foot of the mountain:
The image of GRACE.
Thus does the superior man proceed
When clearing up current affairs.
But he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
"Current affairs," by definition, is what requires present attention to detail. "Controversial issues" (think of U.S. Supreme Court, for example) require a more holistic approach, a "big picture" of the consequences, present and future, of a decision.

So, "nearsightedness" in this context isn't a hindrance but it is what's needed to complete a given task properly. It is "focused attention".

When I posted that comment about you-know-what I was playing the raven going for the bright object it spotted from up high... :rofl:

We could go further along with explanations and branching but I'm short of time now.
 

rodaki

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I always felt that near-sightedness is focusing on the little things out of clear judgement -a straight choice (honing, focusing on the fine things)
while short-sightedness for me comes from fear and/or ignorance for what lies ahead . .
but I'm just a foreigner in this language, you know?
 

Sparhawk

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Oops, I took too long to complete my post and crossed posts with Brad... :D
 
M

maremaria

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Shortsightedness, by the way, movement too soon, haste,
the opposite of deferred gratification, not looking out for the
long-term consequences of action, is one of the central meanings
of 54, Gui Mei.

Thank you :)
 

charly

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22-herbs.gif

Lots of men in this business
Lise:

Of course. I had miss the pint. Now, seeing the sort of symbols you have put in the image I understand. I always believed that H.55 Feng was an image of yarrow stalk divination, now I note a similar image in H.22.

Yours.

Charly
 

charly

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H.22 ADORNING (FOR MEN)

W020081014336099069572.jpg

A performer is helped drawing paintings on his face to imitate tiger during the traditional Nuo ritual to exorcise evil spirits and pray for happiness in Shuangbai county, Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Chuxiong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 10, 2008. The whole ritual procedure, with different kinds of dances as its main part, is the most ancient and well-preserved ritual for ethnic Yi people. [Xinhua]
fROM: http://www.showchina.org/en/CultureNews/Opinion/200810/t225460.htm

YI people likes adorning.

Charly
 

Trojina

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The main and objective message of 22, other than what everyone wants to subjectively attach to it contextually with any given situation, is "focused attention". IMO, most in the West have hung to Wilhelm's word of choice, "grace," and all its possible English meanings. However, if you compare the message of the Chinese text with Wilhelm/Baynes's translation, he appeared to have something very specific in mind for "grace" which anyone can find by looking in the dictionary:

3 a: a charming or attractive trait or characteristic b: a pleasing appearance or effect : charm <all the grace of youth — John Buchan> c: ease and suppleness of movement or bearing
Everything else that has to do with the word "grace" in English is completely foreign to the meaning intended in the Chinese.

I was recently reading that (click for page):So, we appear to be hard-wired for attaching meaning where it doesn't intrinsically exists. That's why, when we find a word like "grace" our minds make all kinds of connections, perhaps totally meaningful for each of us, that have little to do with the reality of the author that used it. IMHO, in this particular case, if "grace" is going to be used as the preferred translation for , they would do themselves a favor by sticking to the above meaning of the word and forget all the other English meanings attached to it.

Going back to "nearsightedness," the text of 22 is an ode to "focused attention" to small details. The goat example used by Brad is very good. When climbing a rocky mountain, the goat is not contemplating the breathtaking landscape but minding each step it takes, every detail and rock protrusion, lest it missteps and falls to its death. Another animal metaphor I can think of is a raven picking up bright objects to take to its nest because they are attractive to it; or picking at the eyes of a dead animal or person because is what it will nourish it faster and with the least effort.

Take Wilhelm/Baynes' text for the Image:
Fire at the foot of the mountain:
The image of GRACE.
Thus does the superior man proceed
When clearing up current affairs.
But he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
"Current affairs," by definition, is what requires present attention to detail. "Controversial issues" (think of U.S. Supreme Court, for example) require a more holistic approach, a "big picture" of the consequences, present and future, of a decision.

So, "nearsightedness" in this context isn't a hindrance but it is what's needed to complete a given task properly. It is "focused attention".

When I posted that comment about you-know-what I was playing the raven going for the bright object it spotted from up high... :rofl:

We could go further along with explanations and branching but I'm short of time now.

This is interesting, opens up certain aspects of 22 i hadn't thought about...sounds almost like conscientiousness which i would not normally ever associate with 22 it being so attached to 'charm' in my mind. Paying attention to detail because it is the most necessary, useful ,appropriate way to go at the time..There may have been goats who kept stopping to admire the view and figure the bigger picture but they became extinct through falling off mountains lol. I had attached this kind of care to hexagram 9..but i guess thats a different sort of attention to detail of what needs tending. 22 isn't 'tending', its focus, close perspective yes.. What you say also clarifies for me why one can't decide 'controversial' issues in this manner...cos one does not have an overview. I'd always been a tad foggy about that
 

bamboo

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It seems as if this whole thread has been a 22 process in action, each looking at different facets of a jewel. ahhh, the blind men and the elephant.

It occurs to me that divining is, in itself, a 22 experience; when one gets an oracle response, it is like a jewel rising to the surface of a pond, glittering for your focused attention. and reflecting a fragment of truth. It is not the whole picture, but it is the flowering - in that moment - of that moment's energy, the congealing of an essence. a moment of grace, if you will. ( but you probably won't:mischief:)

"In the arts, grace arises out of adherence to form: the dancer becoming the form of the dance, the musician giving life to the form of a musical score, the painter becoming one with the brush and canvas. In human affairs, grace is also aligned with form – with mastery of aesthetic and cultural forms honed by time and honored by tradition. Through appreciation of graceful forms in human culture we apprehend the pure beauty of the ideal, of life raised above the mere struggle for survival."
 

Sparhawk

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"In the arts, grace arises out of adherence to form: the dancer becoming the form of the dance, the musician giving life to the form of a musical score, the painter becoming one with the brush and canvas. In human affairs, grace is also aligned with form – with mastery of aesthetic and cultural forms honed by time and honored by tradition. Through appreciation of graceful forms in human culture we apprehend the pure beauty of the ideal, of life raised above the mere struggle for survival."

Great quote!! Can we invite her to the forum?? Please, please!! I want her to be part of Clarity!! A good brain to find nice quotes, and a body to match!! That'll "focus my attention" for a while... :rofl:

Bamboo said:
when one gets an oracle response, it is like a jewel rising to the surface of a pond, glittering for your focused attention. and reflecting a fragment of truth.

I really like that.
 
M

maremaria

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It seems as if this whole thread has been a 22 process in action, each looking at different facets of a jewel. ahhh, the blind men and the elephant.

."

:)

Like your thoughts about 22.
 

lsdavis

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how about the roll(s) of silk appearing in this hexagram and only here?
(BTW silk is the major capital production of females brought out after the long winter isolation and symmetrical to the harvest production of the men after the summer outings)
and whiteness?
 

Sparhawk

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Hi Scott,

how about the roll(s) of silk appearing in this hexagram and only here?
(BTW silk is the major capital production of females brought out after the long winter isolation and symmetrical to the harvest production of the men after the summer outings)
and whiteness?

Ah, 束帛戔戔, very unique to this hexagram, yes.What do you make of it? IMO, in keeping with what I said before, silk production is a detail intensive chore and, as you say, replenishing supplies is a spring/female activity. Leaving the "adornment/grace" association of silk to others... :D

BTW, that repetition of in 22.5 reminds me of the repetition in 29.3...


 

bradford

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Hi all

Below is a link to a 43 page essay on Gua 22
which makes a compelling argument for the inclusion of
Beauty and Aesthetics at or near the core of 22's meaning.

"Hexagram 22 and the Symbolism of Beauty"
All original material © Michael McDonald, Ph.D., 2009
download at
http://www.hermetica.info/22,McDonald.pdf
Hey Luis - free, take one!

Michael is a new member of this group. He holds a PhD in
Philosophy from the University of Hawaii.
 

Sparhawk

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"Hexagram 22 and the Symbolism of Beauty"
All original material © Michael McDonald, Ph.D., 2009
download at
http://www.hermetica.info/22,McDonald.pdf
Hey Luis - free, take one!

Michael is a new member of this group. He holds a PhD in
Philosophy from the University of Hawaii.

Cool! Duly downloaded it, in the process of reading it and stored in the Yi-vault... :D

Thanks!
 
M

maremaria

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read only some pages, but so far , is a very interesting article.

Thanks for the link
 

rodaki

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Reading this article again.
I find it really valuable in showing how one can bring together in-depth knowledge and breadth of ideas
great learning experience, thank you Bradford
 

bradford

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Reading this article again.
I find it really valuable in showing how one can bring together in-depth knowledge and breadth of ideas
great learning experience, thank you Bradford


Thank Michael - he's lurking here somewhere
 

rodaki

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hi Michael, that was great and most appreciated . .
would also be interested in reading your work on 56 and 22, is this available?
tried to google scholar it but didn't come up with anything . .


rodaki
 

solun

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Here I go quoting Akira Rabelais Book of Changes again. Guess I'm stuck on that for now, but going to check out the McDonald article next!


"This hexagram shows a fire that breaks out of the secret depths of the earth and, blazing up, illuminates and beautifies the mountain, the heavenly
heights. Grace-beauty of form-is necessary in any union if it is to be well
ordered and pleasing rather than disordered and chaotic.

THE JUDGMENT

GRACE has success.
In small matters
It is favorable to undertake something.

Grace brings success. However, it is not the essential or fundamental thing; it
is only the ornament and therefore be used sparingly and only in little things.
In the lower trigram of fire a yielding line comes between two strong lines
and makes them beautiful, but the strong lines are the essential content and
the weak line is the beautifying form. In the upper trigram of the mountain,
the strong line takes the lead, so that here again the strong element must be
regarded as the decisive factor. In nature we see in the sky the strong light of
the sun; the life of the world depends on it. But this strong, essential thing is
changed and given pleasing variety by the moon and the stars. In human
affairs, aesthetic form comes into being when traditions exist that, strong and
abiding like mountains, are made pleasing by a lucid beauty. By
contemplating the forms existing in the heavens we come to understand time
and its changing demands. Through contemplation of the forms existing in
human society it becomes possible to shape the world."


Also from BB Walker's interpretation:
"Inside, the strength of simplicity and self-knowledge.
Outside, the beauty of acceptance and gentleness."
And to summarize, speaks about 'cultivating a quality of grace in relationships and
general way of being' - that 'lasting power and progress come not from false power of vain bullying, aggression, egoistic behaviour, etc. They come from humility, equanimity, simplicity, acceptance ...'
 
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drmcd

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Hi - Rodaki,

Thanks for looking at the hexagram 22 chapter!

Yes, there is a companion chapter, which explores the broader topic of "The I Ching Philosophy of Enlightenment," and puts 22:6 in perspective with 52:6, 4:6, 18:6, 41:6 and the other symbols in this particular series. I'd be happy to post this article here, too. I think it could add to the discussion. This series is a good example of what I call "aesthetic order" in the I Ching.

I'm new to this group, and not used to posting in a discussion site like this. Bradford has been nice enough to help me post the first article. Thanks, Bradford!

I tried to attach a .pdf version of the second paper to this post, but it wouldn't let me upload. I'll work on this and see how to post this properly...
 

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