GreenSky GSKY under CEO David Zalik

 

 

HEXAGRAM 35 – Chin – Progress

Above    LI    THE CLINGING, FIRE

Below    K’UN    THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH

The hexagram represents the sun rising over the earth.

It is therefore the symbol of rapid, easy progress,

which at the same time means

• ever widening expansion and
  
• clarity.
  

 

THE JUDGMENT

PROGRESS.

The powerful prince

Is honored with horses in large numbers.

In a single day he is granted audience three times.

As an example of progress, this pictures a time when

a powerful feudal lord

• rallies the other lords around the sovereign and
  
• pledges fealty and peace.
  

The sovereign

• rewards him richly and
  
• invites him to a closer intimacy.
  

A twofold idea is set forth here.

1. The actual effect of the progress emanates from a man
   

• who is in a dependent position and
  
• whom the others
  
  • regard as their equal and
    
  • are therefore willing to follow.
    

This leader has enough clarity of vision

• not to abuse his great influence
  
• but to use it rather for the benefit of his ruler.
  

1. His ruler in turn
   

• is free of all jealousy,
  
• showers presents on the great man, and
  
• invites him continually to his court.
  

• An enlightened ruler and
  
• an obedient servant –
  

this is the condition on which great progress depends.

 

THE IMAGE

The sun rises over the earth: The image Of PROGRESS.

Thus the superior man himself

Brightens his bright virtue.

The light of the sun as it rises over the earth is by nature clear.

The higher the sun rises,

the more it emerges from the dark mists,

spreading the pristine purity of its rays over an ever widening area.

The real nature of man

• is likewise originally good,
  
• but it
  
  • becomes clouded by contact with earthly things and therefore
    
  • needs purification before it can shine forth in its native clarity. 1
    

 

THE LINES

Six in the second place means:

Progressing, but in sorrow.

Perseverance brings good fortune.

Then one obtains great happiness from one’s ancestries.

Progress is halted;

an individual is kept from getting in touch with

the man in authority with whom he has a connection.

When this happens,

he must remain persevering, although he is grieved;

then with a maternal gentleness

the man in question will bestow great happiness upon him.

This happiness

• comes to him – and
  
• is well deserved –
  

because in this case

mutual attraction

• does not rest on selfish or partisan motives
  
• but on firm and correct principles.
  

Nine in the fourth place means:

Progress like a hamster.

Perseverance brings danger.

In times of progress

it is easy for strong men in the wrong places to amass great possessions.

But such conduct

• shuns the light. And
  

  since
  

  times of progress are also always
  

  times in which dubious procedures are inevitably brought to light,
  

• perseverance in such action always leads to danger.
  

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

HEXAGRAM 04 – Meng – Youthful Folly

Above    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

Below    K’AN    THE ABYSMAL, WATER

In this hexagram we are reminded of youth and folly, in two different ways.

• The image of the upper trigram, Ken, is the mountain, that of the lower, K’an, is water;
  
  • the spring rising at the foot of the mountain is the image of inexperienced youth.
    
• Keeping still is the attribute of the upper trigram; that of the lower is the abyss, danger.
  
  • Stopping in perplexity on the brink of a dangerous abyss is a symbol of the folly of youth.
    

However, the two trigrams also show the way of overcoming the follies of youth.

Water is something that of necessity flows on.

When the spring gushes forth, it does not know at first where it will go.

But its steady flow fills up the deep place blocking its progress, and success is attained.

 

THE JUDGMENT

YOUTHFUL FOLLY has success.

It is not I who seek the young fool;

The young fool seeks me.

At the first oracle I inform him.

If he asks two or three times, it is importunity.

If he importunes, I give him no information.

Perseverance furthers.

In the time of youth, folly is not an evil.

One may succeed in spite of it, provided one

• finds an experienced teacher and
  
• has the right attitude toward him.
  

This means, first of all, that the youth himself

• must be conscious of his lack of experience and
  
• must seek out the teacher.
  

Without this modesty and this interest there is no guarantee that he has the necessary receptivity,

which should express itself in respectful acceptance of the teacher.

This is the reason why the teacher must wait to be sought out instead of offering himself.

Only thus can the instruction take place

• at the right time and
  
• in the right way.
  

A teacher’s answer to the question of a pupil ought to be clear and definite

like that expected from an oracle;

thereupon it ought to be accepted as

• a key for resolution of doubts and
  
• a basis for decision.
  

If mistrustful or unintelligent questioning is kept up,

it serves only to annoy the teacher.

He does well to ignore it in silence,

just as the oracle

• gives one answer only and
  
• refuses to be tempted by questions implying doubt.
  

Given in addition a perseverance that never slackens

until the points are mastered one by one,

real success is sure to follow.

Thus the hexagram counsels

• the teacher as well as
  
• the pupil.
  

 

THE IMAGE

A spring wells up at the foot of the mountain: The image of YOUTH.

Thus the superior man fosters his character

By thoroughness in all that he does.

A spring

• succeeds in flowing on and
  
• escapes stagnation by filling up all the hollow places in its path.
  

In the same way character is developed by thoroughness that skips nothing but, like water,

gradually and steadily fills up all gaps and so flows onward.

 

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