Axsome Therapeutics AXSM under CEO Herriot Tabuteau

Axsome Therapeutics AXSM under CEO Herriot Tabuteau

 

HEXAGRAM 06 – Sung – Conflict

Above    CH’IEN    THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN

Below    K’AN        THE ABYSMAL, WATER

1. The upper trigram, whose image is heaven, has an upward movement;
   

   the lower trigram, water, in accordance with its nature, tends downward.
   

   Thus the two halves move away from each other, giving rise to the idea of conflict.
   

2. The attribute of the Creative is strength
   

   that of the abysmal is danger, guile.
   

   Where cunning has force before it, there is conflict.
   

3. A third indication of conflict, in terms of character, is presented by the combination of
   

   deep cunning within and
   

   fixed determination outwardly.
   

   A person of this character will certainly be quarrelsome.
   

 

THE JUDGMENT

CONFLICT.

• You are sincere And
  
• are being obstructed.
  

A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune.

Going through to the end brings misfortune.

It furthers one to see the great man.

It does not further one to cross the great water.

Conflict develops when one

• feels himself to be in the right and
  
• runs into opposition.
  

If one is not convinced of being in the right, opposition leads

• to craftiness or high-handed encroachment but
  
• not to open conflict.
  

If a man is entangled in a conflict,

his only salvation lies in being so

• clear-headed and
  
• inwardly strong
  

that he is always ready to come to terms by meeting the opponent halfway.

To carry on the conflict to the bitter end has evil effects even when one is in the right,

because the enmity is then perpetuated.

It is important to see the great man,

that is, an impartial man whose authority is great enough to

• terminate the conflict amicably or
  
• assure a just decision.
  

In times of strife, crossing the great water is to be avoided, that is,

dangerous enterprises are not to be begun,

because in order to be successful they require concerted unity of forces.

Conflict within weakens the power to conquer danger without.

 

THE IMAGE

Heaven and water go their opposite ways: The image of Conflict.

Thus in all his transactions the superior man

Carefully considers the beginning.

The image indicates that

the causes of conflict are latent in the opposing tendencies of the two trigram.

Once these opposing tendencies appear, conflict is inevitable.

To avoid it, therefore, everything must be taken carefully into consideration in the very beginning.

• If rights and duties are exactly defined, or
  
• if, in a group, the spiritual trends of the individuals harmonize,
  

the cause of conflict is removed in advance.

 

THE LINES

 

Nine in the second place means:

One cannot engage in conflict;

One returns home, gives way.

The people of his town,

Three hundred households,

Remain free of guilt.

In a struggle with an enemy of superior strength, retreat is no disgrace.

Timely withdrawal prevents bad consequences.

If, out of a false sense of honor, a man allowed himself to be tempted into an unequal conflict,

he would be drawing down disaster upon himself.

In such a case a wise and conciliatory attitude benefits the whole community,

which will then not be drawn into the conflict.

 

Six in the third place means:

To nourish oneself on ancient virtue induces perseverance.

Danger.

In the end, good fortune comes.

If by chance you are in the service of a king,

Seek not works.

This is a warning of the danger that goes with an expansive disposition.

Only that which has been honestly acquired through merit remains a permanent possession.

It can happen that such a possession may be contested,

but since it is really one’s own,

one cannot be robbed of it.

Whatever a man possesses through the strength of his own nature cannot be lost.

If

one enters the service of a superior,

one can avoid conflict only by not seeking works for the sake of prestige.

It is enough if the work is done: let the honor go to the other.

 

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

 

HEXAGRAM 33 – Tun – Retreat

Above    CHIEN     THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN

Below    KEN     KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

The power of the dark is ascending.

The light retreats to security, so that

the dark cannot encroach upon it.

This retreat is a matter

• not of man’s will
  
• but of natural law.
  

Therefore in this case withdrawal is proper;

it is the correct way to behave

in order not to exhaust one’s forces. 1

In the calendar this hexagram is linked with the sixth month (July-August), in which

the forces of winter are already showing their influence.

 

THE JUDGMENT

RETREAT. Success.

In what is small, perseverance furthers.

Conditions are such that the hostile forces favored by the time are advancing.

In this case

• retreat is the right course, and
  
• it is through retreat that success is achieved.
  

But success consists in being able to carry out the retreat correctly.

Retreat is not to be confused with flight.

• Flight means saving oneself under any circumstances whereas
  
• retreat is a sign of strength.
  

We must be careful not to miss the right moment while

we are in full possession of power and position.

Then we shall be able

• to interpret the signs of the time
  
  • before it is too late and
    
• to prepare for provisional retreat
  
  • instead of being drawn into a desperate life-and-death struggle.
    

Thus

• we do not simply abandon the field to the opponent;
  
• we make it difficult for him to advance
  

  by showing perseverance in single acts of resistance.
  

In this way

we prepare, while retreating, for the counter – movement.

Understanding the laws of a constructive retreat of this sort is not easy.

The meaning that lies hidden in such a time is important.

 

THE IMAGE

Mountain under heaven: the image of RETREAT.

Thus the superior man

keeps the inferior man at a distance,

Not angrily but with reserve.

The mountain rises up under heaven, but owing to its nature

it finally comes to a stop.

Heaven on the other hand

• retreats upward before it into the distance and
  
• remains out of reach.
  

This symbolizes the behavior of the superior man toward a climbing inferior;

he retreats into his own thoughts as the inferior man comes forward.

He does not hate him,

for hatred is a form of subjective involvement

by which we are bound to the hated object.

The superior man shows strength (heaven) in that

he brings the inferior man to a standstill (mountain)

by his dignified reserve.

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