First Solar FSLR under CEO Mark Widmar

First Solar FSLR under CEO Mark Widmar

 

HEXAGRAM 07 – Shih – The Army

Above    K’UN    THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH

Below    K’AN    THE ABYSMAL, WATER

This hexagram is made up of the trigrams

• K’an, water, and
  
• K’un, earth, and thus,
  

it symbolizes the ground water stored up in the earth.

In the same way military strength is stored up in the mass of the people –

• invisible in times of peace but
  
• always ready for use as a source of power.
  

The attributes of the two trigrams are

• danger inside and
  
• obedience outside.
  

This points to the nature of an army,

which at the core is dangerous,

while discipline and obedience must prevail outside.

Of the individual lines,

the one that controls the hexagram is the strong nine in the second place

to which the other lines, all yielding, are subordinate.

This line indicates a commander,

because it stands in the middle of one of the two trigrams.

But since it is in the lower rather than the upper trigram,

it represents not the ruler

but the efficient general,

who maintains obedience in the army by his authority.

 

THE JUDGMENT

THE ARMY.

The army needs perseverance

And a strong man.

Good fortune without blame.

An army is a mass that needs organization in order to become a fighting force.

Without strict discipline nothing can be accomplished, but this discipline must not be achieved by force.

It requires a strong man who

• captures the hearts of the people and
  
• awakens their enthusiasm.
  

In order that he may develop his abilities

he needs the complete confidence of his ruler,

who must entrust him with full responsibility as long as the war lasts.

But war

• is always a dangerous thing and
  
• brings with it destruction and devastation.
  

Therefore it

• should not be resorted to rashly but, like a poisonous drug,
  
• should be used as a last recourse.
  

• The justifying cause of a war, and
  
• clear and intelligible war aims,
  

ought to be explained to the people by an experienced leader.

Unless there is a quite definite war aim to which the people can consciously pledge themselves,

the unity and strength of conviction that lead to victory will not be forth coming.

But the leader must also look to it that

• the passion of war and
  
• the delirium of victory
  

do not give rise to unjust acts that will not meet with general approval.

If justice and perseverance are the basis of action, all goes well.

 

THE IMAGE

In the middle of the earth is water: The image of THE ARMY.

Thus the superior man increases his masses

By generosity toward the people.

Ground water is invisibly present within the earth.

In the same way the military power of a people is invisibly present in the masses.

• When danger threatens, every peasant becomes a soldier;
  
• when the war ends, he goes back to his plow.
  

He who is generous toward the people wins their love, and

a people living under a mild rule becomes strong and powerful.

Only a people economically strong can be important in military power.

Such power must therefore be cultivated

• by improving the economic condition of the people and
  
• by humane government.
  

Only when there is this invisible bond between government and people,

so that the people are sheltered by their government as ground water is sheltered by the earth,

is it possible to wage a victorious war.

 

THE LINES

 

Six at the beginning means:

An army must set forth in proper order.

If the order is not good, misfortune threatens.

At the beginning of a military enterprise, order is imperative.

• A just and valid cause must exist, and
  
• the obedience and coordination of the troops must be well organized,
  

otherwise the result is inevitably failure.

 

Six at the top means:

The great prince issues commands,

Founds states, vests families with fiefs.

Inferior people should not be employed.

The war has ended successfully,

victory is won, and

the king divides estates and fiefs among his faithful vassals.

But it is important that inferior people should not come into power.

If they have helped,

let them be paid off with money,

but they should not be awarded lands or the privileges of rulers, lest power be abused.

 

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

 

HEXAGRAM 41 – Sun – Decrease

Above    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

Below    TUI    THE JOYOUS, LAKE

This hexagram represents

• a decrease of the lower trigram
  
• in favor of the upper,
  

because

• the third line, originally strong, has moved up to the top, and
  
• the top line, originally weak, has replaced it. 1
  

• What is below is decreased to the benefit of
  
• what is above.
  

This is out-and-out decrease.

If

• the foundations of a building are decreased in strength and
  
• the upper walls are strengthened,
  

the whole structure loses its stability.

Likewise,

• a decrease in the prosperity of the people
  
• in favor of the government
  

is out-and-out decrease.

And

the entire theme of the hexagram is directed to showing how

this shift of wealth can take place

without causing the sources of wealth in

• the nation and
  
• its lower classes
  

to fail.

 

THE JUDGMENT

DECREASE combined with sincerity

Brings about supreme good fortune

Without blame.

• One may be persevering in this.
  

It furthers one to undertake something.

How is this to be carried out?

• One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice.
  

Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad.

Increase and decrease come in their own time.

What matters here is

• to understand the time and
  
• not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretense.
  

If a time of scanty resource brings out an inner truth,

one must not feel ashamed of simplicity.

For simplicity is then the very thing needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings.

Indeed, there need be no concern if the outward beauty of the civilization,

even the elaboration of religious forms,

should have to suffer because of simplicity.

One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to compensate for what is lacking in externals;

then the power of the content makes up for the simplicity of form.

There is no need of presenting false appearances to God.

Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed. 2

 

THE IMAGE

At the foot of the mountain, the lake: The image of DECREASE.

Thus the superior man

• controls his anger And
  
• restrains his instincts.
  

The lake at the foot of the mountain evaporates.

In this way

it decreases to the benefit of the mountain,

which is enriched by its moisture.

• The mountain stands as the symbol of a stubborn strength that can harden into anger.
  
• The lake is the symbol of unchecked gaiety
  

  that can develop into passionate drives at the expense of the life forces.
  

Therefore decrease is necessary;

• anger must be decreased by keeping still,
  
• the instincts must be curbed by restriction.
  

By this decrease of the lower powers of the psyche,

the higher aspects of the soul are enriched.

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