What does 40.3 mean?

[hilary]

Both are from the bible quotes aren't they? How do you see the quote of Jesus as fitting 40.3?

Yes. Nothing profound intended - I was just looking for a quotation to go with the alternative interpretation, that you don't necessarily have to lug the baggage about with you all the time.

 

[hilary]

as Dionysus says, if you think that's bad, just try adding that donkey on top of your desires...

And yet another story, this one maybe more relevant to 40 in general than this line in particular...

An old man and his son are taking their donkey to town to sell. They're walking along the road, leading the donkey, when a passerby says, 'How stupid for you to be walking when you have a donkey!'

Not wanting to be thought stupid, they put the boy up on the donkey and continue on their way, with the father walking alongside. The next passerby says, 'What a disgrace! The young whippersnapper riding while his poor father trudges along! Really, the youth of today!'

Not wanting to be a disgrace, the boy climbs down and his father mounts, and they carry on. Passerby: 'For shame! Riding at your ease and making that poor little thing walk!'

To escape shame, the father pulls the boy up behind him. The next passerby exclaims in horror: 'Disgusting! Animal cruelty! The poor donkey with such a load!'

And this is why father and son arrived at the market carrying the donkey.

 

[hilary]

So, I'm with Hilary on interpretation b ~ now that you're in the cart, put down the baggage.

Thank you. Also, I reserve the right to change my mind the next time I see this in a reading. It really doesn't say what you should do.

 

[dobro p]

And that takes me right back to Aristophanes' joke at the beginning of the Frogs.

I've had a thought, possibly off-topic, possibly not: humor in the Yi? If you read some of the lines with at least a twinkle in the eye, if not with ironic intonation, that would add something *very* interesting.

Is a sage always solemn?

 

[hilary]

I've had a thought, possibly off-topic, possibly not: humor in the Yi? If you read some of the lines with at least a twinkle in the eye, if not with ironic intonation, that would add something *very* interesting.

Is a sage always solemn?

Re-read your Hatcher!

 

[my_key]

Thank you. Also, I reserve the right to change my mind the next time I see this in a reading. It really doesn't say what you should do.

I agree, it is important to remain flexible when interpreting this line, I would extend it though to being flexible in the interpretation of any line reading not just 40.3.
I wondering why though you see a need for the line to be saying what you should do.
Why is there a need or a pressure to do something in response to an I Ching consultation?

The focus at this 40.3 line might be that we can be more aware but it is mightily difficult to do more aware.

Within the wider context of the hexagram of forgiveness and compassion 40.3 seems to be speaking more to a state of growing curiosity and awareness of the burden that is being carried and the consequences of carrying it. It could even be about engendering a growing awareness or consciousness of taking responsibility. As Huang asks "On who shall I lay the blame?".

Progressing through the hexagram, lines 4,5 and 6 seem to be pointing towards greater ownership of our own nature. A small step towards authentic autonomy in line 4 is enhanced in line 5 and in line 6 the hold of the outlaws is finally loosened or topple

So, I'm with Hilary on interpretation b ~ now that you're in the cart, put down the baggage.

I see it a bit differently, more that there is never a time of not being in the cart. 40.3 is that point of opportunity where now we begin the realise that we are in the cart and that the cart is kind of crowded up with unnecessary baggage. What is actually in the cart with us has been in the cart for all the time we have. We just haven't noticed.

 

[hilary]

I wondering why though you see a need for the line to be saying what you should do.

That's more or less the opposite of what I was saying. We had alternative interpretations offered, both of which seemed to contain a 'should', which is exactly what's missing from the line - and indeed from the hexagram.

 

[Trojina]

I think it would be a mistake to look at 40 and put the whole emphasis on one aspect of Release which is forgiveness. Much of the time forgiveness won't be relevant to the question at all so to hang on that is to limit the meaning way too much. The main message in the Oracle is to do something if there's a need to do it or to drop it if there isn't. To be released to act or let go. Forgiveness is only mentioned in the Image not in the Oracle

The Oracle says

'Release. Harvest in the southwest.
With no place to go,
To turn round and come back is good fortune.
Having a direction to go,
Daybreak, good fortune.'

 

[my_key]

That's more or less the opposite of what I was saying. We had alternative interpretations offered, both of which seemed to contain a 'should', which is exactly what's missing from the line - and indeed from the hexagram.

Thanks for clarifying. So we are in agreement.... give or take. Always good to hear.
Possible new names for 40 The Shouldless One, Non Judgemental Journey

 

[radiofreewill]

Hi mi_key ~ I like what you say regarding hilary's option b about the cart always being with us, just unconsciously overloaded to our detriment, up to this point.

That would then seem to me to invite the next pair of hexagrams, 41 and 42, as the rubric to use in light of becoming newly aware of having an overloaded cart:

41 Decrease ~ mountain over lake ~ decrease baggage accumulated by desire (stories about me)​

​

42 Increase ~ wind over thunder ~ increase spirit thru the penetrating insight of presence​

So, decrease the influence of desire, which is fighting against the natural flow of the spirit (the cart) and going away from the Lord; and increase the influence of the responsiveness that draws one back to the natural flow of spirit and coming towards the Lord.

 

[my_key]

I think it would be a mistake to look at 40 and put the whole emphasis on one aspect of Release which is forgiveness. Much of the time forgiveness won't be relevant to the question at all so to hang on that is to limit the meaning way too much. The main message in the Oracle is to do something if there's a need to do it or to drop it if there isn't. To be released to act or let go. Forgiveness is only mentioned in the Image not in the Oracle

The Oracle says

'Release. Harvest in the southwest.
With no place to go,
To turn round and come back is good fortune.
Having a direction to go,
Daybreak, good fortune.'

You are right it is always a mistake to take one approach to a reading or a hexagram. Similarly Hex 40 has many other names to become acquainted with: not just Release. Relief, Unravelling, Solution, Liberation, and Untied all spring to mind as alternatives.

You are right that Forgiveness is mentioned in the Image. The Oracle, uses other words. It can indeed be a place of origin for many interpretations however it's middle line does place the accent on turning around and coming back. Unforgiving attitudes drive us all into many a cul de sac and once we have reached the end of the road and have no place to go the only about turn you can make is one in the direction of forgiving.

My only experience is my own life and all the times, in all the numerous different aspects, locations, contexts and settings, I am unable to think of any situation in which I have turned around and come back to have one of my needs met without forgiving some one, some thing, some act, some word, or some aspect of my wounded deeper self. Similarly dropping something, perhaps because it has become too hot or too uncomfortable - an image of a horse hair shirt springs to mind here - aligns with needing a new freedom from it. Freedom comes from lack of attachment and that is but a short step away from compassionate forgiveness. It is not necessarily the dropping with is the important act here mor the not feeling attracted to picking up the horsehair shirt and putting it back on again.

These are my understandings from the experiences that I have had in my world. For me, forgiveness runs through the very veins of 40.

 

[my_key]

Hi mi_key ~ I like what you say regarding hilary's option b about the cart always being with us, just unconsciously overloaded to our detriment, up to this point.

That would then seem to me to invite the next pair of hexagrams, 41 and 42, as the rubric to use in light of becoming newly aware of having an overloaded cart:

41 Decrease ~ mountain over lake ~ decrease baggage accumulated by desire (stories about me)​

​

42 Increase ~ wind over thunder ~ increase spirit thru the penetrating insight of presence​

So, decrease the influence of desire, which is fighting against the natural flow of the spirit (the cart) and going away from the Lord; and increase the influence of the responsiveness that draws one back to the natural flow of spirit and coming towards the Lord.

Those are certainly interpretations that follow through on the same kind of theme. For me it depends on what you see as the context of 'Desire', as that wears many hats. Perhaps even something else to consider is like when you turn the volume down on one blaring tune that is being played, it gives room for other quieter harmonies to be heard.

Your earlier sortie into 39-land, also aligns with an overall process (39 through 42) of incrementally developing presence or awareness. Hardship is best countered by the superior person when (s)he develops introspection to cultivate his virtue (Huang). So by 40.3 we seem to be seeing pictures of him / her getting the hang of it.