Oppenheimer Holdings Inc OPY under CEO Albert Lowenthal

Oppenheimer Holdings Inc OPY under CEO Albert Lowenthal

 

HEXAGRAM 18 – Ku – Work on What Has Been Spoiled (Decay)

Above    KEN    KEEPING STILL,     MOUNTAIN

Below    SUN     THE GENTLE, WIND

The Chinese character Ku represents a bowl

in whose contents worms are breeding.

This means decay.

It has come about because

• the gentle indifference of the lower trigram has come together with
  
• the rigid inertia of the upper, and
  

the result is stagnation.

Since this implies guilt,

the conditions embody a demand for removal of the cause.

Hence the meaning of the hexagram is

• not simply “what has been spoiled”
  
• but “work on what has been spoiled.”
  

 

THE JUDGMENT

WORK ON WHAT HAS BEEN SPOILED

Has supreme success.

It furthers one to cross the great water.

Before the starting point, three days.

After the starting point, three days.

What has been spoiled through man’s fault can be made good again through man’s work.

• It is not immutable fate, as, in the time of STANDSTILL,
  

  that has caused the state of corruption,
  

• but rather the abuse of human freedom.
  

Work toward improving conditions promises well,

because it accords with the possibilities of the time.

We

• must not recoil from work and danger –
  

  symbolized by crossing of the great water – but
  

• must take hold energetically.
  

Success depends, however, on proper deliberation.

This is expressed by the lines,

• “Before the starting point, three days.
  
• After the starting point, three days.”
  

We must first know the causes of corruption

before we can do away with them;

hence it is necessary to be cautious during the time before the start.

Then

we must see to it that the new way is safely entered upon, so that

a relapse may be avoided;

therefore

we must pay attention to the time after the start.

• Decisiveness and
  
• energy
  

must take the place of the

• inertia and
  
• indifference
  

that have led to decay,

in order that the ending may be followed by a new beginning.

 

THE IMAGE

The wind blows low on the mountain: The image Of DECAY.

Thus the superior man

• stirs up the people And
  
• strengthens their spirit.
  

• When the wind blows low on the mountain,
  
• it is thrown back and spoils the vegetation.
  

This contains a challenge to improvement.

It is the same with

• debasing attitudes and
  
• fashions;
  

they corrupt human society.

To do away with this corruption,

the superior man must regenerate society.

His methods likewise must be derived from the two trigrams,

but in such a way that their effects unfold in orderly sequence.

The superior man

• must first remove stagnation by stirring up public opinion,
  
  • as the wind stirs everything, and
    
• must then strengthen and tranquilize the character of the people,
  
  • as the mountain gives tranquility and nourishment to all that grows in its vicinity.
    

 

THE LINES

 

Nine in the second place means:

Setting right what has been spoiled by the mother.

One must not be too persevering.

This refers to mistakes that as a result of weakness have brought about decay –

hence the symbol, “what has been spoiled by the mother.”

In setting things right in such a case,

a certain gentle consideration is called for.

In order not to wound,

one should not attempt to proceed too drastically.

 

Nine in the third place means:

Setting right what has been spoiled by the father.

There will be a little remorse.

No great blame.

This describes a man who proceeds a little too energetically

in righting the mistakes of the past.

Now and then, as a result,

• minor discords and
  
• annoyances
  

will surely develop.

But too much energy is better than too little.

Therefore, although

• he may at times have some slight cause for regret,
  
• he remains free of any serious blame.
  

 

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

 

HEXAGRAM 23 – Po – Splitting Apart

Above    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

Below    K’UN    THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH

The dark lines are about to

• mount upward and
  
• overthrow the last firm, light line
  

by exerting a disintegrating influence on it.

The inferior, dark forces overcome what is superior and strong,

• not by direct means,
  
• but by undermining it gradually and imperceptibly,
  

so that it finally collapses.

The lines of the hexagram

• present the image of a house, the top line being tile roof, and
  

  because the roof is being shattered
  

• the house collapses.
  

The hexagram belongs to the ninth month (October-November).

The yin power

• pushes up ever more powerfully and
  
• is about to supplant the yang power altogether.
  

 

THE JUDGMENT

SPLITTING APART.

It does not further one

To go anywhere.

This pictures a time when inferior people

• are pushing forward and
  
• are about to crowd out the few remaining strong and superior men.
  

Under these circumstances, which are due to the time,

it is not favorable for the superior man to undertake anything.

The right behavior in such adverse times is to be deduced from

• the images and
  
• their attributes.
  

• The lower trigram stands for the earth,
  
  • whose attributes are docility and devotion.
    
• The upper trigram stands for the mountain,
  
  • whose attribute is stillness.
    

This suggests that one

• should submit to the bad time and
  
• remain quiet.
  

For it is a question not of man’s doing but of time conditions,

which, according to the laws of heaven,

show an alternation of

• increase and decrease,
  
• fullness and emptiness.
  

It is impossible to counteract these conditions of the time.

Hence

it is not cowardice but wisdom to

• submit and
  
• avoid action.
  

 

THE IMAGE

The mountain rests on the earth: The image of SPLITTING APART.

Thus

those above can ensure their position

Only by giving generously to those below.

The mountain rests on the earth.

• When it is steep and narrow, lacking a broad base, it must topple over.
  
• Its position is strong only when it rises out of the earth
  
  • broad and great,
    
  • not proud and steep.
    

So likewise those who rule rest on the broad foundation of the people.

They too should be

• generous and
  
• benevolent,
  

  like the earth that carries all.
  

• Then they will make their position
  
  • as secure
    
  • as a mountain is in its tranquility.
    

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