The I Ching Book of Merit

[bamboo]

i thought fei -ren was "non-people" ? I think Brad said that. I dont know what it means, except maybe sociopaths, people who, like the Tin Man, have no heart. they can do harm. play with them at your own risk, but never expect loyalty or compassion.

 

[rosada]

I like Charley's phrase, "Friends in the adventure." That suggests the feeling of friends, but not long term loyalty. Like the kids you meet for a week at summer camp.
-rosada

 

[rodaki]

hello everyone

(I'm out of town for a seminar on using literature/theater in teaching .. today's suggestion for teachers' reading: 'The Art of War' -this is a strange, exciting job I'm doing )

many thanks for the tags -guess this wasn't as bad as I feared :bag:

Charly, I don't know about 'friends in adventure' . . for me this line has always been about circumstances or people with which/whom you can only go so far before reaching a dead-end . . that's as much as it furthers, in persisting you can only hurt yourself, thus turn around and move along

-excerpt from Kitchen Thoughts

Rosada, this last phrase of yours had me thinking . . about a literal 'Cooking directions by the IChing'! I know this thread is about the 'Badges of Merit IChing' but I couldn't help try out a couple of hexagrams . .

1: Getting the idea of cooked food;
no more raw stuff, cooking is the idea of a great mind indeed!
Thus the superior man stays strong and untiring.

2: Hunger;
an empty stomach is like a strong horse driving you to the kitchen
-follow it to find nourishment in the outer world.

3: The first (failed) attempts;
furthering thru perseverance . .
but maybe better to check with another or call on a more experienced cook (mum/aunt/grandma/someone!?)

4: Danger under the pot's lid;
will this be edible or should we order in?
Ordering in is nourishing the first time, if you order two or three times it's importune and people are getting miffed.

5:Waiting to be served;
there's clouds of smells wetting our appetite
Stop fidgeting, dinner will be served soon.

6: Cooking Vs Baking;
true, cooking serves a better cause but baking has some very strong moments too . . better call it even. Besides, even after a great appetizer, salad and entree, dessert will still get the last word.


or something like that

 

[rosada]

Good idea, Rodaki!
It's not too late to re-orient the thread. Make it

The I Ching Cookbook.
Recipes to make you strong and untiring.

-rosada

 

[rodaki]

Good idea, Rodaki!
It's not too late to re-orient the thread. Make it

The I Ching Cookbook.
Recipes to make you strong and untiring.

-rosada

. . but 'Badges of Merit' is awesome and going strong already . . maybe better to let both run along according to people's mood/ideas at any given point??


or we could start another thread for 'The IChing Cookbook' . . altho I'm not so sure if it can work for all 64 hexagrams . . :bag:

 

[charly]

...
The I Ching Cookbook.
Recipes to make you strong and untiring.
...

Hi, Rosada.

It sounds like aprodisiacs!

Yours,

Charly

P.D.
Maybe it would be of interest, an article by Donal Harper:

http://www.ihp.sinica.edu.tw/~medicine/ashm/lectures/Donald Harper-ft.pdf

Ch.

 

[rosada]

My version of badge 8.

8. Make a New Friend

Judgement:
Having friends is a good thing.
Are you sure enough of who you are to team up with another and not lose yourself?
Good, then no problems.
People will like you once they get to know you.
But of course, you must get to know them too.

Image:
Some people will be our close friends.
Some people will just be people we know.
Ultimately we want to have friendly relations with everyone.

8.1
Be yourself.
True friends will like you because you are you.

8.2
Don't beg to be liked by everyone.
Pause and consider who you have an inner feeling for.
(hmm..remember the lessons of 4.3)

8.3
Otherwise you could just end up knowing a lot of people
But not anyone you want to spend time with.

8.4
So decide who you really feel you'd enjoy having as a friend,
And begin cultivating a relationship.

8.5
Again friendships are created not by begging people to like you but by being who you are and making yourself available. Those who share your enthusiasms will join you and there will be those who do not and this needn't trouble you.

8.6
Friendship is a two way street.
Even people who like you wont stick around unless you make an effort to get to know them too.
-Rosada

 

[pocossin]

I'm out of town for a seminar on using literature/theater in teaching .. today's suggestion for teachers' reading: 'The Art of War'

The thirteen chapters of the Art of War follow closely the first thirteen hexagrams of the I Ching -- if one looks at text instead of chapter titles.

1. Plannning (cosmic perspective)
2. Waging War (materiel)
3. Offensive Strategy (capturing)
4. Tactics (skill)
5. Energy (command control)
6. Weak and Strong Points (defensive positions)
7. Manoeuvres (military expedition -- the topic of hexagram 7)
8. Tactical Variations (the general)
9. On the March (encampment -- the place to which the army returns: 9.1, 9.2)
10. Terrain (battlefield)
11. The Nine Varieties of Ground (unity of forces)
12. Attack by Fire (12.1 the pulled up grass)
13. Espionage (13.3 weapons in the thicket and climbing the high hill)

The Art of War edited by Khoo Kheng-Hor is especially readable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoo_Kheng-Hor

 

[rosada]

Oh gosh, more good stuff to study.
Wish you'd start another thread and write out a detailed summary of each chapter for us...

btw, Mars has recently entered Sagittarius - I think we're seeing it manifesting in all these good ideas, all these roads opening up in an infinite number of different directions.
Rosada

 

[rosada]

Hmmm...just checked out this wiki site you posted and i realize asking you to write a summary of the chapters is a more than a ten minute post! Ah well, anyway, interesting to note you see an I ching pattern in this famous book.
Rosada

 

[rodaki]

Thanks for the link Pocossin
I would second Rosada's suggestion on explaining the parallels a bit more if you feel like it . . it sounds like '13 Badges of Merit for Teachers' . . well, I'm still a student in teaching so any advice is welcomed and this book, or chaotic systems as a way to understand the classroom made a great impression on me -always thought I should read the 'Art of War' but never got round to it, preferring improv to strategy.
But it does make sense, students enter the classroom loaded with so much resistance and negative expectations, it takes concentrated and well-directed effort to avoid waging war but instead making them see there are no sides . .

in any case, we're still not in hexagram 9 but I've been thinking about it since I always find it difficult to define . . looking forward to reading everyone's thoughts!

. . maybe it's about gathering all the strange ingredients needed for those filters described in Charly's link? or waiting to see them work?

 

[rosada]

9. The Taming Power of the Small

9. The Taming Power of the Small.

The Taming Power of Hope.

THE JUDGEMENT

THE TAMING POWER OF THE SMALL
Has success.
Dense clouds, no rain from our western region.

THE IMAGE

The wind drives across heaven.
The image of THE TAMING POWER OF THE SMALL.
Thus the superior man
Refines the outward aspect of his nature.

THE LINES

9.1
Return to the way.
Good fortune.
How can there be blame in this?

9.2
He allows himself to be drawn into returning.
Good fortune.

9.3
The spokes burst out of the wagon wheels.
Man and wife roll their eyes.

# 9.4
If you are sincere, blood vanishes and fear gives way.
No blame.

O 9.5
If you are sincere and loyally attached,
You are rich in your neighbor.

9.6
The rain comes, there is rest.
this is due to the lasting effect of character.
Perseverance brings the woman into danger.
The moon is nearly full.
If the superior man persists,
Misfortune comes.
-Wilhelm

 

[rosada]

Badge 9.

Hope sees rain and the clouds gather.
Be prepared - Dress for success!

(After losing your head Holding Together with some questionable friends at 8.6 it's time to...)
9.1 Return to the way
Get cleaned up and put on something that makes you look good.
Not sure? No problem. Just ask:

9.2
Do these pants make my bum look big? Tell me if I'm off track.

9.3
Well excuuuse me!

9.4
No, no, it's okay. Really. I wanted you to tell me the truth.

9.5
Uh, do you think I might borrow a pair of yours then?
Fabulous.

9.6
And so the day went by... being true to ourselves but kind and sharing with others.. now, it's off to dream land..

 

[bamboo]

9 Honing your intuition; hearing the small inner voice

9.1 you already know this isn't a good idea. Re-think. you'd rather be happy.

9.2 Peer pressure is a powerful voice. sometimes others lead you back to the wise path, and sometimes you lead them.

9.3 fighting and arguments brewing. Don't play the blame game now. how to find harmony and keep moving forward?

9.4 Be sincere and listen from the heart; arguments fade when the truth is made clear.

9.5 A friend may be the bearer of important new message, your next step...maybe even tickets to a yankee game. pay attention to your network, your family, maybe even the kid next to you in Math class.

9.6 Sometimes your intuition comes on so strong, there is no mistaking it. respect this now and rest with it. It will soon be time to make a move.

 

[rodaki]

been trying since yesterday to make 9's lines but not with much luck . . (loving both of your takes Rosada&Bamboo )
I get some of the general ideas, like this one: the other day after a long discussion in class one of my never-handing-in-homework students came up to me and showed me a list of everything he hadn't done, promising to do it all together . . I thought of 'lecturing' him on the benefits of doing homework everyday -so 9ish!!- but refrained, thinking of 9.6 . . better wait and see what he comes up with in the next class



edit: on a second thought, maybe 9 is about putting the effort not for the sake of results . . this still feels a strrrange hexagram . .

 

[rosada]

Rodaki, I think 9 is about a person getting their act together, feeling more prepared, more confident about getting out in a world of strangers after the experience of 8 - where perhaps the emphasis was too heavily on finding the perfect fit. 8.6 warns you can miss your chance if you hold back too long. So perhaps nine is about waking up and saying, "Okay, it's a new day, try again, 'return to the path". So trying once again to get out there into the game and this time being less needy to have a perfect partner, and more of a feeling of being a Virgo, one who is perfect without a partner and is looking to serve. But to be able to serve you have to be so small and so cautious you can 9.4 speak truth to authority so that they will listen. So I think 9 is saying keep putting yourself out there, not just to be popular, but to connect with people so you can complete the cause you came here to earth to do. Hex 10. Conduct elaborates on this idea of how polite manners will keep you safe.

8.1
Holding together with one's inner purpose.
Form and function are one.
Walking your talk.
He who sees me sees the father.

8.2
I hold to my inner vision and watch for the one matches my inner programing.

8.3
Life requires I outwardly associate with all kinds of people, people whom I may not be inwardly connected with.

8.4
I let it be known what I believe in.

8.5
I pursue those whom I feel might be interested, I do not chase after those who do not respond.

8.6
If i am too shy I will miss my chance.
--
So after the pep talk and maybe some discouragement on how to make friends and influence people, the I Ching again talks about the importance of connecting with others but now emphasizes the importance of knowing and being who we are. It reads to me as if we are taken back to 8.1 and given a refresher on the importance of being one with your inner purpose.

Anyway, that's what 8 and 9 mean to me. It's helpful to me to think it through to write it down and maybe it will give you something to bounce ideas off of.
Rosada

 

[rodaki]

thank you for explaining this for me Rosada
one of the ideas I tried was to see how 9 follows 8 and I thought of how once the connection is made in 8 one has to keep at it, turn to it time and again to keep it alive . . maintenance work, so to speak . . hmh, maybe it's exactly the Virgo-ish aspect of it that doesn't sit right with me -it makes me think of dusting :bag:

grmphh . . not a good 9 day I guess, maybe tomorrow better

 

[rodaki]

okay, here's a visual attempt at a cloudy 9 . .

9.1: Gently returning to the way

9.2: Formally drawn into returning

9.3: Small restraints detaching

9.4: Subtle dragon; blood and fear goes away

9.5: 'My friends are my estate' Emily Dickinson

9.6: After the rain

(all images found online -right click on them to see their address)

:bows:

 

[charly]

... hmh, maybe it's exactly the Virgo-ish aspect of it that doesn't sit right with me -it makes me think of dusting :bag:
grmphh . . not a good 9 day I guess, maybe tomorrow better

HI, Dora:

I also believe that there are something twisted in these hexagrams. I wonder if Virgo would make sense...

Meanwhile I think, something about H.9:

CHILDREN:​

The chinese name for H.9 is XIAO CHU, wich is written so:

小畜​

XIAO depicts a LITTLE BIRD ascending in the air with the impulse of his wings, it means LITTLE, SMALL.

CHU depicts a cottage with a roof of thatch, you don't need to trust me, only imagine it. It means a farm, farming, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, CATTLE.

小畜 XIAO CHU means:

THE TAMING POWER OF THE LITTLES​

Ancient chinese, before writting the Changes, invented SILK, a tiny, tiny long hair with incredible strenght produced by the SILKWORM.

A little worm like these:

Attached is a picture of my pets. They are almost ready to spin. They are darling and I love them, and selfless love is never wrong.

From: http://www.aurorasilk.com/tutorials_articles_faqs/fabrics_yarns_fibers/vegan_controversy.html

​

Then, sometimes 小畜 XIAO CHU means:

THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF A TINY HAIR!​

The part of CHU that I told you seems a roof of thatch is a curled long thread of SILK. Tamed animals behave like if they were TIED WITH AN INVISIBLE SILK THREAD, the bond with ours.

BONDS ARE INVISIBLE FOR THE EYES, BUT THEY EXIST.​

Remember: "the main is invisible for the eyes" (St.Exupery)


Another turn of the screw: H.9 really begins with three words:

小畜亨
XIAO CHU HENG
​

亨 HENG depicts a chinese lantern, I believe, not sure. It means FEAST, CELEBRATION, a RITE where Gods and persons interchange GIFTS and enjoy it with respect and composure.

You will say me that often people that celebrate too much can lose the composure. Nobody's perfect... but that is another story.

The begining of H.9 means:

CELEBRATION
OF
THE TAMING POWER OF THE LITTLES
​

But's only the begining, the story doesn't end here, it follows:

... dense clouds, no rain
from our western suburbs.
​

Maybe a STORM is announcing... but what to do with the taming power of the littles?

See:

Anciently in the chinese town suburb 郊JIAO there was a SHRINE devoted to a popular GOD, where the parents went for asking when they WANTED TO HAVE A BABY!

A BABY is the LITTLE OF LITTLES. When a baby arrives acquires an INCREDIBLE POWER OVER FOLKS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, even aunts, oncles, cusins, over all the family.

When a baby arrives you have a new BOND WITH LIFE.

Yeah!... maybe you'll have prefered a PET, a little domestic animal like a dog, a cat or a silkworm. That's why H.9 is also called:

CELEBRATION OF LITTLE DOMESTIC ANIMALS
PETS PARADE
​

The story is still longer, it speaks about SUPERIOR PEOPLE that are refined only from outwards but remaining innerly like BEASTS ... but it's too long and no much important.

Till ever...


Charly

Dora:
I don't know why chinese parents went to the JIAO shrine when the wether was windy and rainy... Just chinese.
Ch.

 

[rodaki]

aha!!

what a wonderful post Charly . . .

. . fields in shade (like a greenhouse maybe?) silkworms spinning their cocoons, little children, lanterns and gatherings in stormy nights . . hmm, the other thing that 9 reminds me of is knitting so . .

9: after the adventures of 8, little ones gather round the fire to listen to stories . .

9.1: it's been a long day, time to get back home

9.2: and those who want to stay out late won't resist once the tale begins to spin . .

9.3: some might even fight for the seats

9.4: but there's room for all

9.5: on some nights neighborhood kids will also join us to listen to the age-old legends

9.6: and when story upon story pile in our minds and our eyes get bleary and we lean on each other under the sweet spell of sleep, the stories will cease . . but only just till the next evening . .



oh, and about the longer story . .

The story is still longer, it speaks about SUPERIOR PEOPLE that are refined only from outwards but remaining innerly like BEASTS ... but it's too long and no much important.

Till ever...

. . I think we'll have to ask Scheherazade on that one



:bows:

 

[rosada]

I really like your SPIN on 9.6, radaki! I can actually remember one night as a little kid when it started to rain just as we were going to bed. I wanted to stay up because it was so beautiful with the moon and all but even the superior man couldn't have kept his eyes open...
rosada

 

[rosada]

10. Treading [Conduct}

I think it is such fun to read our various stories and to figure out what in the lines gave people a particular inspiration. The Puzzle Path to Learning I Ching!

10. Treading {Conduct}

THE JUDGEMENT

TREADING. Treading upon the tail of the tiger.
It does not bite the man. Success.

THE IMAGE

Heaven above, the lake below:
the image of TREADING.
Thus the superior man discriminates between high and low,
And thereby fortifies the thinking of the people.

10.1
Simple conduct. Progress without blame.

10.2
Treading a smooth level course.
the perseverance of a dark man
Brings good fortune.

10.3
A One-eyed man is able to see,
Alame man is able to tread.
He treads on the tail of the tiger.
The tiger bites the man.
Misfortune.
Thus does a warrior act on behalf of his great prince.

10.4
He treads on the tail of the tiger.
Caution and circumspection
Lead ultimately to good fortune.

10.5
Resolute conduct.
Perseverance with awareness of danger.

10.6
Look to your conduct and weigh the favorable signs.
When everything is fulfilled, supreme good fortune comes.
-Wilhelm

 

[rodaki]

I really like your SPIN on 9.6, radaki! I can actually remember one night as a little kid when it started to rain just as we were going to bed. I wanted to stay up because it was so beautiful with the moon and all but even the superior man couldn't have kept his eyes open...
rosada

Rosada

oh and



going to read on 10 now

 

[rosada]

10. Belling the Tiger.

There's a fable about a group of mice who were being terrorized by a cat. they met to discuss their problem and one mouse suggested that if they were to hang a small bell from a ribbon around the cat's neck it would ring and they would be warned when ever the cat came near. All the mice agreed this was an excellent solution until one old mouse asked, "Who will bell the cat?" At that the meeting fell apart and the moral of the story was something along the lines of "talk is cheap."

Anyway, I haven't thought of a story that really fits hexagram 10 yet, but I do like that there is a tale from way back that uses similar imagery to describe ticklish situations.
-rosada

 

[charly]

...
9.6: and when story upon story pile in our minds and our eyes get bleary and we lean on each other under the sweet spell of sleep, the stories will cease . . but only just till the next evening . .

oh, and about the longer story . .

. . I think we'll have to ask Scheherazade on that one

...

Hi, Dora:

All beaitiful. 9.6, the most.

Maybe Scheherazade is the bridge between H.9 and H.10.

I never felt sympathy for the Prince, but ough to be a child, if not would have not accepted only fairy tales. Of course, Scheherazade was elder, maybe like an elder cousin, loved but respected. I´m going far from the subject...

Scheherazade was an expert on SURVIVAL SKILLS, and this is the matter of H.10. This thread is going too quickly for my time.

I still ought to you an answer about FEI REN, say H.8?

Nobody´s perfect...


H.10:

STEPS ON SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES.
&
BEHAVIOR CODE FOR LITTLE SCOUTS

From: http://mightygodking.com/index.php/...-from-the-first-years-worth-of-uncle-scrooge/ (1)

​

People that could tread on the tiger´s tail without being bitten can celebrate. It´s not very frequent. (2)

Even more, it´s an exceptional performance! This book will tell you how to get it.

It´s not matter of being tall and strong.

Even a KID can do it but only knowing how to behave.

Maybe gentlemen distinguish high and low, adults and children, TIGERS NOT.

(TO BE CONTINUED)


yours,


Charly
___________________
(1) Quote from the same page:
"Positive Inducement Works Better Than Torture When Questioning Captives"
This guy has read Richard Rutt!

(2) H.10:
lu3 hu3 wei3
TREADING TIGER TAIL
bu4 die2 ren2
NO BITTEN PEOPLE
heng1
FEAST / CELEBRATION

Ch.

 

[rodaki]

Hi, Dora:

All beaitiful. 9.6, the most.

Maybe Scheherazade is the bridge between H.9 and H.10.

I never felt sympathy for the Prince, but ough to be a child, if not would have not accepted only fairy tales. Of course, Scheherazade was elder, maybe like an elder cousin, loved but respected. I´m going far from the subject...

( . . . )
H.10:

STEPS ON SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES.
&
BEHAVIOR CODE FOR LITTLE SCOUTS


​

thank you for your kind words Charly.
Truth is, I was in a very bad place when I wrote that post due to a head-splitting, gut-wrenching headache . . coming up with 9's lines was a pleasant surprise


You are right about the Prince, he never asked for the stories, he just consented -it was the little sister that asked for them . . but in the end, it was the stories that kept him from not killing Scheherazade like all the rest, so the stories did a good job after all
-but let's not digress

So, hex10 about a close reading?? I was thinking across the lines of filling in data in forms, bureaucracy etc . . that's from last year when I spent a month working in the Archives section of a public service . . working with these long lists took a lot of 'discriminating between high and low'


Rosada, 'Belling the Tiger' definitely hex10! . . I think I can see every single line of it in your story



gotta go for now​

 

[bamboo]

Hexagram 10: life is tricky. one needs to learn how to take risks, but to avoid being totally foolish. one needs to survive, but in order to thrive, it is necessary to push beyond the limits, think out of the box. Hex 10 seems like the coming of age passage for young people. Parents might wish their kids would take no risks at all, but pushing the boundaries has to happen in order for growth to take place. even line 3 situations might be necessary to serve the greater good.

10.1 you recognize when something is risky and you play it safe. that's a wise decision in this case.

10.2 It is good experience to keep reaching for something that may take time and solitary effort. slow and steady wins the race, and don't worry about looking foolish.

10.3 you may be contemplating doing something beyond what you are capable of right now. the situation is extremely risky and the consequences will hurt if you go ahead. Better not to try and be a big shot.

10.4 You are taking a huge chance and you're scared! Don't worry. The time is right and you've got what it takes.

10.5 Before you hike the canyon, make sure you've got the right shoes. BE prepared! Have a game plan. Even with all the best preparation, it may not be easy and you might meet the unexpected. Take it slow, and stay alert.

10.6 Sometimes fear takes over when you are almost at the goal. Now is the time to look back at how far you have come. You may also find heart in knowing others have done this before you; their efforts have left "footprints" for you to follow. Find courage in their legacy and then with confidence, see it through.

 

[charly]

Hi, Dora:
...
(1) FEI REN use to be read as as EVIL PEOPLE, almost GANGSTERS, but the sense would be people that looking not respectable, strange or even evil but that are FRIENDS IN THE ADVENTURE. That's maybe why 8.3 says JOIN THE FEI-REN, adding no comments.
Ch.

Hi Dora:

This was the idea: sometimes people takes bad names for wich they are addressed despectively like a badge of honor.

Wesley Morse drawn Bazooka Joe whose adventures were little comics enveloping Bazzoka branded bubble gum.

See that Bazooka Joe looks like a pirate and speak of his GANG.

Of course, a FEI REN.

From: http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/05/30/bazooka-joe-goes-hollywood/​

Yours,

Charly

 

[rodaki]

Charly, as much as I find these cartoons incredible ( ), I'm not so sure about 8.3 . . maybe it's the 39, it looks like a labyrinth sometimes . . although I had an idea that could make sense . . but then again . . no, not sure about it at all


on to 10 . .

Bamboo when I first saw your 'tracker' note hexagram 10 was what came to mind -it makes sense now :bows:


ok, 'Badge of Merit 10 (cough): Notes (to self?) as per approaching a curious book called I Ching'
(not that I'm an expert :bag: . . ok, I'll try to tiptoe)

10: Are you paying attention to this? Yes, you can take notes if you want to, as long as you don't let that distract you from the important parts

10.1: This is not a tool to confront others with -rather it 's best used to meet your sleepy self half-way

10.2: trust the inspirations your sleepy self comes up with on the spot, they're probably the most transparent you will ever get

10.3: please do not, I repeat, do not let this become an ego trip . . you'll only find yourself tripping up your own two feet

10.4: and rest assured that, when you meet your own true meanings and tone, they'll come flowing right thru you and for a moment there, you won't be alone

10.5: Once here, you'll have to walk the walk, translate the spark to real life, now's not the time to daydream, are you writing this?

10.6: last and definitely not least: the true value of this process will best reveal itself in hindsight -both rights and wrongs yours to own (a diary would be a good idea and . . who knows? it might turn into a story some day!)
Ok, got everything noted?? cheer up now, it wasn't that bad, was it?

 

[rosada]

That was really nice rodaki! Your 10.6 makes the Tiger - whom I see as The Voice of God! - as not being such a scary fellow after all.
rosada