Asana ASAN under CEO Dustin Moskovitz

Asana ASAN under CEO Dustin Moskovitz

 

HEXAGRAM 09 – Hsiao Ch’u – The Taming Power of the Small

Above    SUN        THE GENTLE, WIND

Below    CH’IEN    THE CREATIVE. HEAVEN

This hexagram means the force of the small –

the power of the shadowy – that

• restrains,
  
• tames,
  
• impedes.
  

A weak line in the fourth place, that of the minister, 1 holds the five strong lines in check.

In the Image it is the wind blowing across the sky.

The wind

• restrains the clouds, the rising breath of the Creative, and
  
• makes them grow dense,
  
• but as yet is not strong enough to turn them to rain.
  

The hexagram presents a configuration of circumstances in which

a strong element is temporarily held in leash by a weak element.

It is only through gentleness that this can have a successful outcome.

 

THE JUDGMENT

THE TAMING POWER, OF THE SMALL

Has success.

Dense clouds, no rain from our western region.

This image refers to the state of affairs in China at the time when King Wen,

who came originally from the west,

was in the east at the court of the reigning tyrant Chou Hsin.

The moment for action on a large scale has not yet arrived.

King Wen could only keep the tyrant somewhat in check by friendly persuasion.

Hence the image of many clouds, promising moisture and blessing to the land,

although as yet no rain falls.

The situation is not unfavorable;

there is a prospect of ultimate success,

• but there are still obstacles in the way, and
  
• we can merely take preparatory measures.
  

Only through the small means of friendly persuasion can we exert any influence.

The time has not yet come for sweeping measures.

However, we may be able, to a limited extent, to act as a restraining and subduing influence.

To carry out our purpose we need

• firm determination within and
  
• gentleness and adaptability in external relations.
  

 

THE IMAGE

The wind drives across heaven: The image of THE TAMING POWER OF THE SMALL.

Thus the superior man

Refines the outward aspect of his nature.

The wind can indeed drive the clouds together in the sky;

yet, being nothing but air, without solid body,

it does not produce great or lasting effects.

So also an individual,

in times when he can produce no great effect in the outer world,

can do nothing except refine the expression of his nature in small ways.

 

THE LINES

 

Nine at the beginning means:

Return to the way.

How could there be blame in this?

Good fortune.

It lies in the nature of a strong man to press forward.

In so doing he encounters obstructions.

Therefore he returns to the way suited to his situation,

where he is free to advance or to retreat.

In the nature of things this will bring good fortune,

for it is wise and reasonable not to try to obtain anything by force.

 

Nine in the second place means:

He allows himself to be drawn into returning.

Good fortune.

One would like to press forward,

but before going farther

one sees from the example of others like oneself that this way is blocked.

In such a case,

if the effort to push forward is not in harmony with the time, 2

a reasonable and resolute man will not expose himself to a personal rebuff,

but will retreat with others of like mind.

This brings good fortune,

because he does others of like not needlessly jeopardize himself.

 

Nine in the fifth place means:

If you are sincere and loyally attached,

You are rich in your neighbor.

Loyalty leads to firm ties because it means that each partner complements the other.

• In the weaker person loyalty consists in devotion,
  
• in the stronger it consists in trustworthiness.
  

This relation of mutual reinforcement leads to a true wealth

that is all the more apparent because it

• is not selfishly hoarded but
  
• is shared with friends.
  

Pleasure shared is pleasure doubled.

 

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

 

HEXAGRAM 52 – Ken – Keeping Still, Mountain

Above    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

Below    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

The image of this hexagram is the mountain,

the youngest son of

• heaven and
  
• earth.
  

The male principle is at the top,

• because it strives upward by nature;
  

the female principle is below,

• since the direction of its movement is downward.
  

Thus

there is rest

• because the movement has come to its normal end.
  

In its application to man, the hexagram turns upon

the problem of achieving a quiet heart.

It is very difficult to bring quiet to the heart.

While Buddhism strives for

• rest through an ebbing away of all movement in nirvana,
  

the Book of Changes holds that

• rest is merely a state of polarity that always posits
  

  movement as its complement.
  

Possibly the words of the text embody directions for the practice of yoga.

T

HE JUDGMENT

KEEPING STILL.

Keeping his back still

So that he no longer feels his body.

He

• goes into his courtyard And
  
• does not see his people.
  

No blame.

True quiet means

• keeping still when the time has come to keep still, and
  
• going forward when the time has come to go forward.
  

In this way

• rest and movement are in agreement with the demands of the time,
  

and thus

• there is light in life.
  

The hexagram signifies the end and the beginning of all movement.

The back is named because in the back are located

all the nerve fibers that mediate movement.

If

• the movement of those spinal nerves is brought to a standstill,
  
• the ego, with its restlessness, disappears as it were.
  

When

a man has thus become calm,

he may turn to the outside world.

• He no longer sees in it the struggle and tumult of individual beings,
  

and therefore

• he has that true peace of mind which is needed
  
  • for understanding the great laws of the universe and
    
  • for action, in harmony with them.
    

Whoever

• acts from these deep levels
  
• makes no mistakes.
  

THE IMAGE

Mountains standing close together: The image of KEEPING STILL.

Thus the superior man

Does not permit his thoughts To go beyond his situation.

1The heart thinks constantly.

This cannot be changed,

but the movements of the heart – that is,

a man’s thoughts –

should restrict themselves to the immediate situation.

All thinking that goes beyond this only makes the heart sore.

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