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2 |
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1 |
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8 |
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,
- seeks to put the blame on other persons, bewailing his fate,
-
the superior man
- seeks the error within himself, and
through this introspection
- seeks the error within himself, and
-
the external obstacle becomes for him an occasion for
- inner enrichment and
- education.
- inner enrichment and
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.
0 Nine in the fifth place means:
In the midst of the greatest obstructions,
Friends come.
Here we see
a man who is called to help in an emergency.
He should not seek to evade the obstructions,
no matter how dangerously they pile up before him.
But because he is really called to the task,
the power of his spirit is strong enough
to attract helpers whom he can effectively organize,
so that
through the well – directed cooperation of all participants
the obstruction is overcome.
MOVING HEXAGRAM
HEXAGRAM 62 – Hsiao Kuo – Preponderance of the Small
Above CHEN THE AROUSING, THUNDER
Below KEN KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN
While in the hexagram Ta Kuo, PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT (28),
the strong lines
- preponderate and
-
are within inclosed between weak lines at the
- top and
- bottom,
- top and
the present hexagram
- has weak lines preponderating,
though here again
- they are on the outside,
- the strong lines being within.
This indeed is the basis of
the exceptional situation indicated by the hexagram.
When
strong lines are outside,
we have the hexagram
- I, PROVIDING NOURISHMENT (27), or
- Chung Fu, INNER TRUTH (61);
neither represents an exceptional state.
When
- strong elements within preponderate,
- they necessarily enforce their will.
This creates struggle and exceptional conditions in general.
But
in the present hexagram
it is the weak element that perforce must mediate with the outside world.
If
- a man occupies a position of authority for which
- he is by nature really inadequate,
extraordinary prudence is necessary.
THE JUDGMENT
PREPONDERANCE OF THE SMALL.
Success.
Perseverance furthers.
- Small things may be done;
- great things should not be done.
The flying bird brings the message:
- It is not well to strive upward,
- It is well to remain below.
Great good fortune.
- Exceptional modesty and
- conscientiousness
are sure to be rewarded with success;
however,
if a man is not to throw himself away,
it is important that they should
- not become empty form and subservience
- but be combined always with a correct dignity in personal behavior.
We must understand the demands of the time
in order to find the necessary offset for its
- deficiencies and
- damages.
In any event
- we must not count on great success,
- since the requisite strength is lacking.
In this lies the importance of the message that
one should
- not strive after lofty things
but
- hold to lowly things.
The structure of the hexagram gives rise to the idea that
this message is brought by a bird.
In Ta Kuo, PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT (28),
- the four strong, heavy lines within,
- supported only by two weak lines without,
give the image of a sagging ridgepole.
Here
-
the supporting weak lines are both
- outside and
- preponderant;
- outside and
this gives the image of a soaring bird.
But
- a bird should not try to surpass itself and fly into the sun;
- it should descend to the earth, where its nest is.
In this way
- it gives the message conveyed by the hexagram.
THE IMAGE
Thunder on the mountain: The image of PREPONDERANCE OF THE SMALL.
Thus
- in his conduct the superior man gives preponderance to reverence.
- In bereavement be gives preponderance to grief.
- In his expenditures he gives preponderance to thrift.
- Thunder on the mountain is different from
- thunder on the plain.
In the mountains,
- thunder seems much nearer;
outside the mountains,
- it is less audible than the thunder of an ordinary storm.
Thus
the superior man derives an imperative from this image:
he must always fix his eyes
- more closely and
- more directly
on duty
than does the ordinary man,
even though this might make his behavior seem petty to the outside world.
He is exceptionally conscientious in his actions.
In bereavement
- emotion means more to him than ceremoniousness.
In all his personal expenditures
- he is extremely simple and unpretentious.
In comparison with the man of the masses,
- all this makes him stand out as exceptional.
But
the essential significance of his attitude lies in the fact that
in external matters
- he is on the side of the lowly.