Starbucks SBUX under CEO Howard Schultz (2022)

Starbucks SBUX under CEO Howard Schultz (2022)

 

HEXAGRAM 20 – Kuan – Contemplation (View)

Above    SUN    THE GENTLE, WIND

Below    K’UN    THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH

A slight variation of tonal stress gives the Chinese name for this hexagram a double meaning.

It means both

• contemplating and
  
• being seen, in the sense of being an example.
  

These ideas are suggested by the fact that the hexagram can be understood as picturing a type of tower characteristic of ancient China.

• A tower of this kind commanded a wide view of the country;
  

  at the same time, when situated on a mountain,
  

• it became a landmark that could be seen for miles around.
  

Thus the hexagram shows a ruler

• who contemplates the law of heaven above him and the ways of the people below, and
  
• who, by means of good government, sets a lofty example to the masses.
  

This hexagram is linked with the eighth month (September – October).

• The light-giving power retreats and
  
• the dark power is again on the increase.
  

However, this aspect is not material in the interpretation of the hexagram as a whole.

 

THE JUDGMENT

CONTEMPLATION.

• The ablution has been made,
  

But

• not yet the offering.
  

Full of trust they look up to him.

The sacrificial ritual in China began with

• an ablution and
  
• a libation by which the Deity was invoked,
  

after which the sacrifice was offered.

The moment of time between these two ceremonies is the most sacred of all,

the moment of deepest inner concentration.

If piety is

• sincere and
  
• expressive of real faith,
  

the contemplation of it has a transforming and awe-inspiring effect

on those who witness it.

Thus also in nature

a holy seriousness is to be seen in the fact that

natural occurrences are uniformly subject to law.

Contemplation of the divine meaning underlying the workings of the universe gives

to the man who is called upon to influence others

the means of producing like effects.

This requires that power of inner concentration which religious contemplation

develops in great men strong in faith.

• It enables them to apprehend the mysterious and divine laws of life, and
  

  by means of profoundest inner concentration
  

• they give expression to these laws in their own persons.
  

Thus

a hidden spiritual power emanates from them,

influencing and dominating others

without their being aware of how it happens.

 

THE IMAGE

The wind blows over the earth: The image of CONTEMPLATION.

Thus the kings of old

• visited the regions of the world,
  
• Contemplated the people, And
  
• gave them instruction.
  

When the wind blows over the earth it

• goes far and wide and
  
• the grass must bend to its power.
  

These two occurrences find confirmation in the hexagram.

The two images are used to symbolize a practice of the kings of old;

1. in making regular journeys the ruler could, in the first place,
   

   survey his realm and
   

   make certain that none of the existing usages of the people escaped notice;
   

2. in the second,
   

   he could exert influence through which such customs as were unsuitable
   

   could be changed.
   

All of this points to the power possessed by a superior personality.

• On the one hand, such a man
  
  • will have a view of the real sentiments of the great mass of humanity and therefore
    
  • cannot be deceived;
    
• on the other, he
  
  • will impress the people so profoundly,
    
    • by his mere existence and
      
    • by the impact of his personality,
      

    that they will be swayed by him as the grass by the wind.
    

 

THE LINES

 

Six in the fourth place means:

Contemplation of the light of the kingdom.

It furthers one to exert influence as the guest of a king.

This describes a man who understands the secrets

by which a kingdom can be made to flourish.

Such a man must be given an authoritative position, in which he can exert influence.

He should be, so to speak, a guest – that is,

• he should be honored and allowed to act independently, and
  
• should not be used as a tool.
  

 

0 Nine in the fifth place means:

Contemplation of my life.

The superior man is without blame.

A man in an authoritative position to whom others look up

must always be ready for self-examination.

The right sort of self-examination, however, consists

• not in idle brooding over oneself
  
• but in examining the effects one produces.
  

Only

• when these effects are good, and
  
• when one’s influence on others is good,
  

will the contemplation of one’s own life

bring the satisfaction of knowing oneself to be free of mistakes.

 

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

 

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
    

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