CSX Corp CSX under James Foote

CSX Corp CSX under James Foote

 

 

 

 

 

HEXAGRAM 34 – Ta Chuang – The Power of the Great

Above    CHEN        THE AROUSING, THUNDER

Below    CH’IEN    THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN

The great lines, that is, the light, strong lines, are powerful.

Four light lines

• have entered the hexagram from below and
  
• are about to ascend higher.
  

• The upper trigram is Chen, the Arousing;
  
• the lower is Ch’ien, the Creative.
  

• Ch’ien is strong,
  
• Chen produces movement.
  

The union of movement and strength gives the meaning of THE POWER OF THE GREAT.

The hexagram is linked with the second month (March April).

THE JUDGMENT

THE POWER OF THE GREAT.

Perseverance furthers.

The hexagram points to a time when inner worth

• mounts with great force and
  
• comes to power.
  

But its strength has already passed beyond the median line,

hence there is danger that one

• may rely entirely on one’s own power and
  
• forget to ask what is right.
  

There is danger too that, being intent on movement,

we may not wait for the right time.

Therefore the added statement that perseverance furthers.

For that is truly great power

• which does not degenerate into mere force
  
• but remains inwardly united with the fundamental principles of right and of justice.
  

When we understand this point –

namely, that greatness and justice must be indissoluble united –

we understand the true meaning of all that happens in heaven and on earth.

THE IMAGE

Thunder in heaven above: The image of THE POWER OF THE GREAT.

Thus the superior man

does not tread upon paths

That do not accord with established order.

Thunder – electrical energy – mounts upward in the spring.

The direction of this movement is in harmony with that of the movement of heaven.

It is therefore a movement in accord with heaven,

producing great power.

However,

true greatness depends on being in harmony with what is right.

Therefore in times of great power

the superior man avoids doing anything

that is not in harmony with the established order.

THE LINES

Six in the fifth place means:

Loses the goat with ease.

No remorse.

The goat is noted for

• hardness outwardly and
  
• weakness within.
  

Now the situation is such that

• everything is easy;
  
• there is no more resistance.
  

One

• can give up a belligerent, stubborn way of acting and
  
• will not have to regret it.
  

MOVING HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 43 – Kuai – Break-through (Resoluteness)

Above    Tui        THE JOYOUS, LAKE

Below    CH’IEN    THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN

This hexagram signifies

on the one hand

• a break-through after a long accumulation of tension,
  

  as a swollen river breaks through its dikes, or in the manner of a cloudburst.
  

On the other hand, applied to human conditions,

• it refers to the time when inferior people gradually begin to disappear.
  

Their influence is on the wane;

as a result of resolute action,

• a change in conditions occurs,
  
• a break-through.
  

The hexagram is linked with the third month [April-May].

THE JUDGMENT

BREAK-THROUGH.

• One must resolutely make the matter known At the court of the king.
  
• It must be announced truthfully.
  

Danger.

It is necessary to notify one’s own city.

• It does not further to resort to arms.
  
• It furthers one to undertake something.
  

• Even if only one inferior man is occupying a ruling position in a city, he
  
  • is able to oppress superior men.
    
• Even a single passion still lurking in the heart
  
  • has power to obscure reason.
    
• Passion and reason cannot exist side by side – therefore
  
  • fight without quarter is necessary if the good is to prevail.
    

In a resolute struggle of the good against evil, there are, however,

definite rules that must not be disregarded, if it is to succeed.

1. First,
   

   resolution must be based on a union of
   

• strength and
  
• friendliness.
  

1. Second,
   

   a compromise with evil is not possible;
   

• evil must under all circumstances be openly discredited.
  
• Nor must our own passions and shortcomings be glossed over.
  

1. Third,
   

   the struggle must not be carried on directly by force.
   

If

• evil is branded,
  
  • it thinks of weapons,
    

and

if

• we do it the favor of fighting against it blow for blow,
  
  • we lose in the end
    

because thus

• we ourselves get entangled in hatred and passion.
  

Therefore

1. it is important
   

• to begin at home,
  
• to be on guard in our own persons against the faults we have branded.
  

In this way,

• finding no opponent,
  
• the sharp edges of the weapons of evil become dulled.
  

For the same reasons

1. we should not combat our own faults directly.
   

• As long as we wrestle with them,
  
• they continue victorious.
  

Finally,

1. the best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.
   

THE IMAGE

The lake has risen up to heaven: The image of BREAK-THROUGH.

Thus the superior man

• Dispenses riches downward
  

And

• refrains from resting on his virtue.
  

• When the water of a lake has risen up to heaven,
  
  • there is reason to fear a cloudburst.
    
• Taking this as a warning,
  
  • the superior man forestalls a violent collapse.
    

If

• a man were to pile up riches for himself alone, without considering others,
  
• he would certainly experience a collapse.
  

For all gathering is followed by dispersion.

Therefore

the superior man begins to distribute while he is accumulating.

In the same way,

in developing his character

he takes care

• not to become hardened in obstinacy
  

but

• to remain receptive to impressions
  

  by help of strict and continuous self-examination.
  

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