Unchanging Hexagrams

[peace]

Hi everyone:

I have a question about unchanging hexagrams.
I'm not sure how to read them.
In one of the books I have, there is a special meaning for them, which differs from only reading the hexagram without the changing lines.

For example:
I got 34 unchanging and reading said:

For unchanging:
"When you receive this hexagram without change, you must devote yourself to establishing harmony betwen your Self and traditional eideals. Adhering to thse ideals will center you, regardless of your opionss of conventional values.
This is absolutely necessary in order to give your Great Power the correct thrust - the thrust out of and beyond what may be a stifling situation".

---------------
This is not how I would have interpreted it if I had only read the hexagram meaning by itself.

Is there some other book or interpretations/commentaries that deals specifically with unchanging lines?

Thanks,
Rosalie

 

[bradford_h]

The thing to do with unchanging gua is to spend some extra time trying to understand the hexagram name and the judgment and image texts.
In the case of 34, worthwhile to persist, take the words apart. Does persist mean to keep doing what you're doing, even if it's failing, or does it mean to find a way to be successful?
Look at the image. In my translation, out of respect will not take a step. Use the ram image taken from the lines. Look to the actual situation, the givens and the obstacles to be surmounted, not just the purpose you have in your head. Respect what the realities are in order to succeed in the real world. That's what "Great Power", Da Zhuang is, not being a butt-hed ram. It's measured by the success you have in acheiving your aims, not by the force you apply in getting there.

 

[peace]

Bradford -

That is so cool.
You mention your translation - Do you have a website? I always enjoy your posts - did not know you had actually translated I Ching guas. I would love to see them?

Thanks so much.
Rosalie

 

[bradford_h]

Hi Rosalie-
there are actually two translations, at
http://www.hermetica.info/
You can't see them online. Clicking the link downloads a zipped pdf file, to be read in a program like Acrobat reader. I used this format so that everybody could see and print the Chinese text, regardless of their computer.
Section C is a sample of the many many possible translations suggested in the Section H version, along with a commentary (where I may have had a little too much fun) and info and quotes on the hexagrams.
Section H gives the Chinese and English side-by-side and word-by word.

 

[bruce]

"The wise are not entangled in identity with force: they will master its clean release."

Beautiful stuff, Brad.

 

[peace]

OMG - Bradford.
I feel like I found a gold mine!!
Thank you so much.
I have so many questions to ask you but fear they may not be appropriate or that everyone else knows the answers.

Is there a recommended method you have for using all this information? Do you recommend printing it all out? Do you have it in book form?
How did you learn all this and how long did you study?

How lucky we are to have you as a resource!

Humbly,
Rosalie

 

[bruce]

Also ringing true to me is LiSe's rendering as identity with stone - "man of stone".

But your above statement is, imo, nothing short of masterly.

 

[bradford_h]

Hi Rosalie -
Obviously it's cheaper to open the file on the computer and read it there. And use the Find function to go to particular things.
Sometimes I print out copies for reference. I do this as rarely as I can, because it's over a thousand pages, and this danged Book of Changes just won't stop changing. But it's less of a hassle if I set up the printer to print two pages side by side on a sheet.
I hope to have it in book form, in two volumes, sometime soon. I've found an on-demand publisher so I'll be able to get it into Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. But this is still a ways away.
Studies began in 1967, but I didn't start studying it in Chinese until about 11 years ago, and that made a huge difference getting free of some of the layers of translator and missionary interpretations
b.

 

[peace]

Hi Bradford:

Is this a hobby - or your day job?
What a masterpiece!

Glad you've done this - thanks.
Rosalie

 

[peace]

Hi Bradford:

I've taken your advice and looking much more in depth at the answers I get.
There is so much to look at with each hexagram.
I'm also finding that looking carefully at the image - both the ideograph and the illustrated I Ching (RL Wing) gives alot of insight.

Your translation also provides alot more possibilities than Wilheim and Huang - yet I like them also because it's easier for me to learn.

Thanks again.
Rosalie