Work related reading 12.2.6 > 47

[dawdling]

Hello,

I have a question about one of those situations where I believe the I Ching has provided me with a very specific reply, but I am not 100% sure how to activate it in my life. I have been going through a very very difficult and sudden life transition. I asked the I Ching: "What mentality will best help me in my current situation?"

The reply was: 12.2.6 changing to 47

Of specific interest was the image for hex 12 which says:

"Heaven and earth do not interact: Blocked. A noble one uses his strengths sparingly to avoid hardship. He does not allow himself honours and payment."

or in Wilhelm

"Heaven and earth do not unite: the image of Standstill. Thus the superior man falls back upon his inner worth in order to escape the difficulties. He does not permit himself to be honored with revenue."

Now here is where it gets difficult. My workplace just gave me a raise after helping to successfully pass a stressful inspection for a regulation board. With the raise came the request to take on more hours for the next four months. The raise is not conditional upon my acceptance of working more but I see this situation as directly linked to the image from my reading.

But I can't really turn down a raise can I? The raise has been given as a reward for accomplishment, to deny it might lead to offending my superiors, and seem downright bizarre. Would the I Ching's advice apply to feeling obligated to accept the extra working hours? Or should I read this literally and actually tell them to cancel the raise?

Perhaps I am being a bit naive on my interpretation, but as I am still very new to this I would love to get some advice on how to deal with this type of a situation.

As always, sincere thanks :bows:

 

[peter2610]

A difficult reading, common sense would urge you to keep the pay-increase and the extra hours, not so much for any immediate benefit but more as you yourself have pointed out, if you turn this one down you might not receive any further offers. The lines themselves, however, are fairly clear 12.2 is suggesting that you remain in a position of standstill - that you 'bear and endure' and thereby avoid danger and achieve success. The Wilhelm commentary is accurately specific - inferior people ingratiate themselves with the ruler (your employers) but "the superior man does not enter into any such incorrect, sycophantic relationship." Line 6 is fairly self-explanatory. Hex 47, Oppression, describes a situation in which one is oppressed (usually by negative thoughts) to the extent that one cannot fulfil one's goal. The parallel nuclear progression (53,1=37) echoes the initial reading precisely - "This is a yielding line in a lowly place. Therefore it is not impetuous in pressing forward; it is conscious of the danger. Hence, though others talk about it, it remains blameless."- Wilhelm

If you can bring yourself to take the correct path here don't necessarily expect any resounding material reward, the reward will likely be the danger/mistake you avoid and nothing more. This is a difficult situation and a difficult reading but the Yi Jing is offering you an opportunity to undertake spiritual growth that could remain with you for the rest of your life. Peter

 

[dawdling]

Thanks for your reply and insight Peter. I guess I am wondering what the correct path here looks like. Returning a raise is pretty much unheard of. I think I may offer it up willingly, as a consequence, if they are disappointed that I turn down the extra hours. But I don't think they would rescind the pay-raise unless I force the issue on not getting it, which seems an odd course of action to me.

As it turns out the raise really makes a significant difference only if I take the extra workload, if I maintain my current workload the difference is negligible, and so I wonder if the I Ching's warning is more about the extra time commitment as opposed to the raise itself? I agree that there is an opportunity for growth here, and growth that is not exactly material in reward.

 

[peter2610]

The Yi Jing is asking you to accept its guidance in an unknown direction, a direction in which it is not possible to see any detail - an act of blind faith, the highest order of faith. There is little or no doubt about the direction in which the Yi Jing is trying to lead you, it is not myself trying to lead you, I feel that this reading puts you in a very difficult position. Read through the Wilhelm edition and find the texts I have quoted, making sure you understand them. Then try to find a balanced position that you can live with, undertake further readings if that will help. That is the best that can be done. Nobody is going to criticise you, whatever you decide.

 

[ginnie]

12.2.6 shows a good outcome emerging from a difficult situation. It urges you not to get entangled in small thinking or associating with mean people, and it doesn't say you must give up your raise. That would apply more if you were in a situation where earth and heaven were going in opposite directions, but here that sort of thing is coming to an end. So take your raise and enjoy it!