American International Group AIG under CEO Brian Charles Duperreault

 

 

HEXAGRAM 19 – Lin – Approach

Above    K’UN    THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH

Below    TUI    THE JOYOUS, LAKE

The Chinese word Lin has a range of meanings

that is not exhausted by any single word of another language.

The ancient explanations in the Book of Changes give as its

1. first meaning, “becoming great.”
   

• What becomes great are the two strong lines growing into the hexagram from below;
  
• the light-giving power expands with them.
  

1. The meaning is then further extended to include the concept of approach,
   

   especially the approach of
   

• what is strong and highly placed
  
• in relation to what is lower.
  

1. Finally the meaning includes
   

• the attitude of condescension of a man in high position toward the people,
  
• and in general the setting to work on affairs.
  

This hexagram is linked with the twelfth month (January-February),

when, after the winter solstice,

the light power begins to ascend again.

 

THE JUDGMENT

APPROACH has supreme success.

Perseverance furthers.

When the eighth month comes,

There will be misfortune.

The hexagram as a whole points to a time of joyous, hopeful progress.

Spring is approaching.

Joy and forbearance bring high and low nearer together.

Success is certain.

But we must work with determination and perseverance

to make full use of the propitiousness of the time.

And one thing more: spring does not last forever.

In the eighth month the aspects are reversed.

Then only two strong, light lines are left; these

• do not advance but
  
• are in retreat (see next hexagram).
  

We must take heed of this change in good time.

If

• we meet evil before it becomes reality –
  

  before it has even begun to stir –
  

• we can master it.
  

 

THE IMAGE

The earth above the lake: The image of APPROACH.

Thus the superior man

• is inexhaustible In his will to teach, And
  
• without limits In his tolerance and protection of the people.
  

The earth borders upon the lake from above 1.

This symbolizes the approach and condescension of the man of higher position

to those beneath him.

The two parts of the image indicate what his attitude toward these people will be.

• Just as the lake is inexhaustible in depth,
  
  • so the sage is inexhaustible in his readiness to teach mankind,
    

and

• just as the earth is boundlessly wide, sustaining and caring for all creatures on it,
  
  • so the sage sustains and cares for all people and excludes no part of humanity.
    

 

THE LINES

0 Nine in the second place means:

Joint approach.

Good fortune.

Everything furthers.

• When the stimulus to approach comes from a high place, and
  
• when a man has the inner strength and consistency that need no admonition,
  

good fortune will ensue.

Nor need the future cause any concern.

He is well aware

• that everything earthly is transitory, and
  
• that a descent follows upon every rise,
  

but need not be confused by this universal law of fate.

Everything serves to further.

Therefore

he will travel the paths of life

• swiftly,
  
• honestly, and
  
• valiantly.
  

Six in the third place means:

Comfortable approach.

Nothing that would further.

If

• one is induced to grieve over it,
  
• One becomes free of blame.
  

Things are going well for a man:

he achieves power and influence.

But in this lies the danger that he

• may relax, and confident of his position,
  
• allow the easygoing, careless mood to show itself in his dealings with other people.
  

This would inevitably be harmful.

But there is possibility of a change of mood.

If

• he regrets his mistaken attitude and feels the responsibility of an influential position,
  
• he frees himself of faults.
  

Six at the top means:

Greathearted approach.

Good fortune.

No blame.

A sage

• who has put the world behind him and
  
• who in spirit has already withdrawn from life may, under certain circumstances,
  

decide

• to return once more to the here and now and
  
• to approach other men.
  

This means great good fortune for the men whom he teaches and helps.

And for him this greathearted humbling of himself is blameless.

1.    [See the two trigrams.]

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

HEXAGRAM 22 – Pi – Grace

Above    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

Below    Li    THE CLINGING, FIRE

This hexagram shows a fire that

• breaks out of the secret depths of the earth and, blazing up,
  
• illuminates and beautifies the mountain, the heavenly heights.
  
• Grace – beauty of form – is necessary in any union
  

if

• it is to be
  
  • well ordered and pleasing
    
• rather than
  
  • disordered and chaotic.
    

 

THE JUDGMENT

GRACE has success.

In small matters

It is favorable to undertake something.

Grace brings success.

However,

• it is not the essential or fundamental thing;
  
• it is only the ornament and must therefore be used
  
  • sparingly and
    
  • only in little things.
    

1. In the lower trigram of fire
   

   a yielding line
   

• comes
  between two strong lines and
  
• makes them beautiful,
  

but

• the strong lines are the essential content and
  
• the weak line is the beautifying form.
  

1. In the upper trigram of the mountain,
   

   the strong line
   

• takes the lead, so that here again
  
• the strong element must be regarded as the decisive factor.
  

1. In nature we see in the sky the strong light of the sun;
   

   the life of the world depends on it.
   

   But this strong, essential thing is
   

• changed and
  
• given pleasing variety by the moon and the stars.
  

1. In human affairs,
   

   aesthetic form comes into being when
   

   traditions exist that, strong and abiding like mountains, are made pleasing
   

   by a lucid beauty.
   

1. By contemplating the forms existing in the heavens
   

   we come to understand time and its changing demands.
   

2. Through contemplation of the forms existing in human society
   

   it becomes possible to shape the world. 1
   

THE IMAGE

Fire at the foot of the mountain: The image of GRACE.

Thus does

• the superior man proceed When clearing up current affairs.
  

But

• he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
  

• The fire, whose light illuminates the mountain and makes it pleasing,
  
  • does not shine far;
    

in the same way,

• beautiful form suffices to brighten and to throw light upon matters of lesser moment,
  
  • but important questions cannot be decided in this way.
    

They require greater earnestness.

 

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