Under Armour Inc UAA under CEO Stephanie Linnartz

Under Armour Inc UAA under CEO Stephanie Linnartz

 

HEXAGRAM 04 – Meng – Youthful Folly

Above    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

Below    K’AN    THE ABYSMAL, WATER

In this hexagram we are reminded of youth and folly, in two different ways.

• The image of the upper trigram, Ken, is the mountain, that of the lower, K’an, is water;
  
  • the spring rising at the foot of the mountain is the image of inexperienced youth.
    
• Keeping still is the attribute of the upper trigram; that of the lower is the abyss, danger.
  
  • Stopping in perplexity on the brink of a dangerous abyss is a symbol of the folly of youth.
    

However, the two trigrams also show the way of overcoming the follies of youth.

Water is something that of necessity flows on.

When the spring gushes forth, it does not know at first where it will go.

But its steady flow fills up the deep place blocking its progress, and success is attained.

 

THE JUDGMENT

YOUTHFUL FOLLY has success.

It is not I who seek the young fool;

The young fool seeks me.

At the first oracle I inform him.

If he asks two or three times, it is importunity.

If he importunes, I give him no information.

Perseverance furthers.

In the time of youth, folly is not an evil.

One may succeed in spite of it, provided one

• finds an experienced teacher and
  
• has the right attitude toward him.
  

This means, first of all, that the youth himself

• must be conscious of his lack of experience and
  
• must seek out the teacher.
  

Without this modesty and this interest there is no guarantee that he has the necessary receptivity,

which should express itself in respectful acceptance of the teacher.

This is the reason why the teacher must wait to be sought out instead of offering himself.

Only thus can the instruction take place

• at the right time and
  
• in the right way.
  

A teacher’s answer to the question of a pupil ought to be clear and definite

like that expected from an oracle;

thereupon it ought to be accepted as

• a key for resolution of doubts and
  
• a basis for decision.
  

If mistrustful or unintelligent questioning is kept up,

it serves only to annoy the teacher.

He does well to ignore it in silence,

just as the oracle

• gives one answer only and
  
• refuses to be tempted by questions implying doubt.
  

Given in addition a perseverance that never slackens

until the points are mastered one by one,

real success is sure to follow.

Thus the hexagram counsels

• the teacher as well as
  
• the pupil.
  

 

THE IMAGE

A spring wells up at the foot of the mountain: The image of YOUTH.

Thus the superior man fosters his character

By thoroughness in all that he does.

A spring

• succeeds in flowing on and
  
• escapes stagnation by filling up all the hollow places in its path.
  

In the same way character is developed by thoroughness that skips nothing but, like water,

gradually and steadily fills up all gaps and so flows onward.

 

THE LINES

 

Six at the beginning means:

To make a fool develop

It furthers one to apply discipline.

The fetters should be removed.

To go on in this way brings humiliation.

Law is the beginning of education.

Youth in its inexperience is inclined at first to take everything carelessly and playfully

must be shown the seriousness of life.

A certain measure of taking oneself in hand, brought about by strict discipline, is a good thing.

He who plays with life never amounts to anything.

However, discipline should not degenerate into drill.

Continuous drill

• has a humiliating effect and
  
• cripples a man’s powers.
  

 

 

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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