Qualcomm QCOM under CEO Steve Mollenkopf

 

 

 

HEXAGRAM 39 – Chien – Obstruction

Above     K’AN    THE ABYSMAL, WATER

Below     KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

The hexagram pictures

• a dangerous abyss lying before us and
  
• a steep, inaccessible mountain rising behind us.
  

We are surrounded by obstacles;

at the same time,

since the mountain has the attribute of keeping still,

there is implicit a hint as to how we can extricate ourselves.

The hexagram represents obstructions

that appear in the course of time but

that can and should be overcome.

Therefore

all the instruction given is directed to overcoming them.

THE JUDGMENT

OBSTRUCCION.

• The southwest furthers.
  
• The northeast does not further.
  
• It furthers one to see the great man.
  

Perseverance brings good fortune.

The southwest is the region of retreat,

the northeast that of advance.

Here

an individual is confronted by obstacles that

cannot be overcome directly.

In such a situation

it is wise

• to pause in view of the danger and
  
• to retreat.
  

However,

this is merely a preparation for overcoming the obstructions.

One must

• join forces with friends of like mind and
  
• put himself under the leadership of a man equal to the situation:
  

then

one will succeed in removing the obstacles.

This requires the will to persevere

just when

one apparently must do something that leads away from his goal.

This unswerving inner purpose brings good fortune in the end.

An obstruction that lasts only for a time is useful for self-development.

This is the value of adversity.

THE IMAGE

Water on the mountain:

The image of OBSTRUCTION.

Thus the superior man

• turns his attention to himself And
  
• molds his character.
  

Difficulties and obstructions throw a man back upon himself.

While

• the inferior man
  
  • seeks to put the blame on other persons, bewailing his fate,
    
• the superior man
  
  • seeks the error within himself, and
    

  through this introspection
  

• the external obstacle becomes for him an occasion for
  
  • inner enrichment and
    
  • education.
    

THE LINES

Six in the fourth place means:

Going leads to obstructions,

Coming leads to union.

This too describes a situation that

cannot be managed single-handed.

In such a case

the direct way is not the shortest.

If a person were to forge ahead

• on his own strength and
  
• without the necessary preparations,
  

he

• would not find the support he needs and
  
• would realize too late that he has been mistaken in his calculations,
  

  inasmuch as the conditions on which
  

  he hoped he could rely would prove to be inadequate.
  

In this case it is better, therefore,

• to hold back for the time being and
  
• to gather together trustworthy companions
  

  who can be counted upon for help in overcoming the obstructions.
  

 

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

 

HEXAGRAM 31 – Hsien – Influence (Wooing)

Above    TUI    THE JOYOUS, LAKE

Below    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

The name of the hexagram means

• “universal,”
  
• “general,”
  

and in a figurative sense

• “to influence,”
  
• “to stimulate.”
  

• The upper trigrams is Tui, the Joyous;
  
• the lower is Ken, Keeping Still.
  

By its persistent, quiet influence, the lower, rigid trigram

• stimulates the upper, weak trigram, which
  
• responds to this stimulation cheerfully and joyously.
  

• Ken, the lower trigram, is the youngest son;
  
• the upper, Tui, is the youngest daughter.
  

Thus the universal mutual attraction between the sexes is represented.

In courtship, the masculine principle must

• seize the initiative
  

and

• place itself below the feminine principle.
  

Just as

• the first part of book I begins with the hexagrams of
  
  • heaven
    

  and
  

  • earth,
    

the foundations of all that exists,

• the second part begins with the hexagrams of
  
  • courtship
    

  and
  

  • marriage,
    

the foundations of all social relationships.

THE JUDGMENT

Influence.

Success.

Perseverance furthers.

To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.

• The weak element is above,
  
• the strong below;
  

hence

• their powers attract each other,
  

so that

• they unite.
  

This brings about success, for

all success depends on the effect of mutual attraction.

By keeping still within while experiencing joy without,

one can

• prevent the joy from going to excess
  

and

• hold it within proper bounds.
  

This is the meaning of the added admonition, “Perseverance furthers,” for

it is perseverance that makes the difference between

• seduction
  

and

• courtship;
  

in the latter

the strong man

• takes a position inferior to that of the weak girl
  

and

• shows consideration for her.
  

This attraction between affinities is a general law of nature.

Heaven and earth

• attract each other
  

and thus

• all creatures come into being.
  

Through such attraction

• the sage influences men’s hearts,
  

and thus

• the world attains peace.
  

From the attractions they exert

we can learn the nature of all beings

• in heaven
  

and

• on earth.
  

THE IMAGE

A lake on the mountain: The image of influence.

Thus

the superior man encourages people to approach him

By his readiness to receive them.

A mountain with a lake on its summit is stimulated by the moisture from the lake.

It has this advantage because its summit

• does not jut out as a peak
  

but

• is sunken.
  

The image counsels that the mind should be kept

• humble
  

and

• free,
  

so that

it may remain receptive to good advice.

People soon give up counseling a man who thinks

that

he knows everything better than anyone else.

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