HEXAGRAM 39: ORIGINAL, INTERPRETATION AND CASES

HEXAGRAM 39 – Chien - Obstruction

Above K'AN THE ABYSMAL, WATER

Below KEN KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

The hexagram pictures

· a dangerous abyss lying before us and

· a steep, inaccessible mountain rising behind us.

We are surrounded by obstacles;

at the same time,

since the mountain has the attribute of keeping still,

there is implicit a hint as to how we can extricate ourselves.

The hexagram represents obstructions

that appear in the course of time but

that can and should be overcome.

Therefore

all the instruction given is directed to overcoming them.

THE JUDGMENT

OBSTRUCCION.

· The southwest furthers.

· The northeast does not further.

· It furthers one to see the great man.

Perseverance brings good fortune.

The southwest is the region of retreat,

the northeast that of advance.

Here

an individual is confronted by obstacles that

cannot be overcome directly.

In such a situation

it is wise

· to pause in view of the danger and

· to retreat.

However,

this is merely a preparation for overcoming the obstructions.

One must

· join forces with friends of like mind and

· put himself under the leadership of a man equal to the situation:

then

one will succeed in removing the obstacles.

This requires the will to persevere

just when

one apparently must do something that leads away from his goal.

This unswerving inner purpose brings good fortune in the end.

An obstruction that lasts only for a time is useful for self-development.

This is the value of adversity.

THE IMAGE

Water on the mountain:

The image of OBSTRUCTION.

Thus the superior man

· turns his attention to himself And

· molds his character.

Difficulties and obstructions throw a man back upon himself.

While

· the inferior man

o seeks to put the blame on other persons, bewailing his fate,

· the superior man

o seeks the error within himself, and

through this introspection

· the external obstacle becomes for him an occasion for

o inner enrichment and

o education.

THE LINES

Six at the beginning means:

· Going leads to obstructions.

· Coming meets with praise.

When one encounters an obstruction,

the important thing is to reflect on how best to deal with it.

When threatened with danger,

· one should not strive blindly to go ahead,

for this only leads to complications.

The correct thing is, on the contrary,

· to retreat for the time being,

o not in order to give up the struggle

o but to await the right moment for action.

Six in the second place means:

The king's servant is beset by obstruction upon obstruction,

But it is not his own fault.

Ordinarily it is best to

· go around an obstacle and

· try to overcome it along the line of least resistance.

But there is one instance in which

a man must go out to meet the trouble,

even though difficulty piles upon difficulty:

this is

· when the path of duty leads directly to it - in other words,

· when he

o cannot act of his own volition but

o is duty bound to go and seek out danger in the service of a higher cause.

Then

he may do it without compunction,

because it is not through any fault of his that

he is putting himself in this difficult situation.

Nine in the third place means:

Going leads to obstructions

Hence he comes back.

While the preceding line shows

· the official compelled by duty follow the way of danger,

this line shows

· the man who must to act

o as father of a family or

o as head of his kin.

· If he were to plunge recklessly into danger,

o it would be a useless act,

because those entrusted to his care cannot get along by themselves.

But

· if he withdraws and turns back to his own,

o they welcome him with great joy.

Six in the fourth place means:

Going leads to obstructions,

Coming leads to union.

This too describes a situation that

cannot be managed single-handed.

In such a case

the direct way is not the shortest.

If a person were to forge ahead

· on his own strength and

· without the necessary preparations,

· would not find the support he needs and

· would realize too late that he has been mistaken in his calculations,

inasmuch as the conditions on which

he hoped he could rely would prove to be inadequate.

In this case it is better, therefore,

· to hold back for the time being and

· to gather together trustworthy companions

who can be counted upon for help in overcoming the obstructions.

0 Nine in the fifth place means:

In the midst of the greatest obstructions,

Friends come.

Here we see

a man who is called to help in an emergency.

He should not seek to evade the obstructions,

no matter how dangerously they pile up before him.

But because he is really called to the task,

the power of his spirit is strong enough

to attract helpers whom he can effectively organize,

so that

through the well - directed cooperation of all participants

the obstruction is overcome.

Six at the top means:

Going leads to obstructions,

Coming leads to great good fortune.

It furthers one to see the great man.

This refers to

a man who has already left the world and its tumult behind him.

When the time of obstructions arrives,

it might seem that the simplest thing for him to do would be to

· turn his back upon the world and

· take refuge in the beyond.

But this road is barred to him.

· must not seek his own salvation and

· abandon the world to its adversity.

Duty calls him back once more into the turmoil of life.

Precisely because of his

· experience and

· inner freedom,

he is able to create something both

· great and

· complete

that brings good fortune.

And it is favorable to see the great man in alliance with whom

one can achieve the work of rescue.

39 OBSTRUCTION

MANGERIAL ISSUE:

The CEO – managing Obstruction.

Hexagram 39 refers to a corporate Time-Space where the corporation is obstructed by obstacles, particularly by two: an insurmountable mountain behind and a wide abyss in front (between a rock and a hard place). These obstacles place the corporation in danger which will appear in time; however the good news is the corporation can overcome them.

The Hexagram is about overcoming Obstructions.

MANAGERIAL LESSON:

The Superior CEO, to overcome the Obstruction must:

1) Remain quiet like the mountain.

2) View these times as times to retreat rather than to advance. The Superior CEO knows that when he faces impediments he cannot overcome directly by a frontal attack, it is wise, to stop any aggressive action and withdraw to a safe position.

3) Look for men who hold similar views of retreating to a safer position, and place them under the leadership of a highly ethical and capable manager.

4) Persevere in maintaining this policy. This perseverance will make the corporation profitable and will strengthen his character as a CEO.

5) Look for errors both within himself as well as within the corporation, and correct them quickly. He must not look for errors outside the corporation neither should he look to blame someone else.

6) Learn from the lesson. Temporary Obstructions are excellent for self-development for only when managing under the Obstruction Time-Space does a CEO learns the value of adversity (Obstruction).

INVESTMENT ADVICE:

For the investor, the Obstruction is not a favorable Time-Space to invest. How could an Obstruction Time Space be positive for investors?

By itself (no lines) there is the possibility of success provided the CEO pauses and retreats. But why would an investor want to invest under those circumstances?

OBSTRUCCION.

The southwest furthers.

The northeast does not further.

It furthers one to see the great man.

Perseverance brings good fortune.

The southwest is the region of retreat, the northeast that of advance. Here an individual is confronted by obstacles that cannot be overcome directly. In such a situation it is wise to pause in view of the danger and to retreat. However, this is merely a preparation for overcoming the obstructions. One must join forces with friends of like mind and put himself under the leadership of a man equal to the situation: then one will succeed in removing the obstacles. This requires the will to persevere just when one apparently must do something that leads away from his goal. This unswerving inner purpose brings good fortune in the end. An obstruction that lasts only for a time is useful for self-development. This is the value of adversity.

There is a Great Good Fortune possibility in the sixth place but there are better alternatives.

The following cases are those of corporations under the Obstruction Time-Space:

· Juniper Networks, Inc. JNPR under CEO Kevin Johnson

(Read at the end of the Hexagram)

THE LINES

SIX IN THE FIRST PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Obstruction – strategically withdrawing.

Managerial Lesson: Be strategic.

Managerial Warning: At the first stage of the Obstruction Time-Space, the CEO encounters Obstruction (dangers) for the first time and risks plunging into it.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO does not rush into danger. He thinks on how to overcome the Obstruction rather than rushing to confront a dangerous situation head on. He knows haste would only worsen the situation. The Superior CEO withdraws but not to give up the fight but rather to wait for a better moment when he can deal with the Obstruction. There is a time to fight and there is a time to wait. This is a time to wait.

Investment Advice: Do not invest

SIX IN THE SECOND PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Obstruction – no way out but to fight.

Managerial Lesson: Be resolute.

Managerial Warning: At the second stage of the Obstruction Time-Space, the CEO is forced to meet the Obstruction head on.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO knows that even though it is always a good policy to avoid open confrontations, in this particular case it is best to confront the obstructions rather than withdraw from them, even if the obstructions turn out for the worst. He knows this is especially the case when it is a worthy cause or when it represents a high ideal. The Superior CEO acts with complete confidence because his sense of duty demands it and because the Obstruction Time-Space was forced upon him.

Investment Advice: Do not invest.

NINE IN THE THIRD PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Obstruction – acting responsibly to help those who cannot overcome the Obstruction.

Managerial Lesson: Be responsible.

Managerial Warning: At the third stage of the Obstruction Time-Space, the CEO must act as a father figure to help those who cannot help themselves.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO withdraws from any direct confrontation against those forces obstructing the corporation and returns to the fight at a more auspicious moment. He never confronts these obstructions directly because he could place in jeopardy the same people he wants to protect. That is, the Superior CEO keeps in mind at all times the corporation is his family, the workers are his children and he is the father who must protect them.

Investment Advice: Do not invest

SIX IN THE FOURTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Obstruction – joining forces to fight Obstruction.

Managerial Lesson: Be prepared.

Managerial Warning: At the fourth stage of the Obstruction Time-Space, the CEO risks removing the Obstruction “on his own strength and without the necessary preparations”.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO is always thoroughly prepared. He never relies solely on his projections and possible scenarios because they might easily prove him wrong. Events could easily turn out for the worst. He withdraws in the face of danger and gathers around him those employees on whom he can trust for when he is ready to deal with these obstructions in the future.

Investment Advice: Do not invest

NINE IN THE FIFTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Obstruction - at a time of emergency.

Managerial Lesson: Be resolute.

Managerial Warning: At the fifth stage of the Obstruction Time-Space, the CEO finds himself “called to help in an emergency”.

Managerial Advice:

The Superior CEO has:

· The inner strength to withstand obstruction,

· The leadership qualities to draw men of merit around him, and

· Heaven’s mandate to deal with these obstructions.

The Superior CEO:

· Tackles the impediments head on because he has what it takes.

· Does not withdraw even in the face of great risks.

· Plans the strategies and assign the tasks.

· Acts resolutely to overcome the Obstruction.

Investment Advice: Do not invest

SIX IN THE SIXTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Obstruction - at a time of his retirement.

Managerial Lesson: Be unrelenting.

Managerial Warning: At the sixth stage of the Obstruction Time-Space, the CEO is close to retirement to enjoy the last years of his life and risks abandoning the corporation out of selfish motives.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO:

· Recognizes his first duty is to his corporation and its needs.

· Knows retirement is no longer an option to him.

· Takes charge of the corporation with all his strength.

· Applies his experience, inner strength and wisdom to create a great team to turn this corporation into a profitable operation once again.

· Views it as a mandate from Heaven to continue with his job.

· knows the mandate of Heaven will help him overcome the Obstruction.

Investment Advice: Invest. Look for better alternatives if possible.

MANAGERIAL CASES

Juniper Networks, Inc. JNPR under CEO Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson’s Performance: ROI= (13.33%) Annualized Return= (4.67%)

SPY’s Performance: ROI= ( 1.77%) Annualized Return= (0.59%)

Kevin Johnson became CEO of Juniper Networks in September 2008. Since then, his performance has been poor compared to the SPY’s. There is a strong possibility that it will not get any better. It is very difficult to manage under the Obstruction Time-Space. As the line indicates, he needs “to hold back for the time being and to gather together trustworthy companions who can be counted upon for help in overcoming the obstructions.”

Points the investor should consider:

1) THE HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 39 – Chien - Obstruction

The hexagram pictures a dangerous abyss lying before us and a steep, inaccessible mountain rising behind us. We are surrounded by obstacles; at the same time, since the mountain has the attribute of keeping still, there is implicit a hint as to how we can extricate ourselves. The hexagram represents obstructions that appear in the course of time but that can and should be overcome. Therefore all the instruction given is directed to overcoming them.

THE JUDGMENT

OBSTRUCCION.

The southwest furthers.

The northeast does not further.

It furthers one to see the great man.

Perseverance brings good fortune.

2) THE ADVICE

Water on the mountain:

The image of OBSTRUCTION.

Thus the superior man turns his attention to himself

And molds his character.

Difficulties and obstructions throw a man back upon himself. While the inferior man seeks to put the blame on other persons, bewailing his fate, the superior man seeks the error within himself, and through this introspection the external obstacle becomes for him an occasion for inner enrichment and education.

3) THE LINES:

Six in the fourth place means:

Going leads to obstructions,

Coming leads to union.

This too describes a situation that cannot be managed single-handed. In such a case the direct way is not the shortest. If a person were to forge ahead on his own strength and without the necessary preparations, he would not find the support he needs and would realize too late that he has been mistaken in his calculations, inasmuch as the conditions on which he hoped he could rely would prove to be inadequate. In this case it is better, therefore, to hold back for the time being and to gather together trustworthy companions who can be counted upon for help in overcoming the obstructions.

4) THE MOVING HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 31 – Hsien - Influence ( Wooing)

The name of the hexagram means "universal," "general," and in a figurative sense "to influence," "to stimulate." The upper trigrams is Tui, the Joyous; the lower is Ken, Keeping Still. By its persistent, quiet influence, the lower, rigid trigram stimulates the upper, weak trigram, which responds to this stimulation cheerfully and joyously. Ken, the lower trigram, is the youngest son; the upper, Tui, is the youngest daughter. Thus the universal mutual attraction between the sexes is represented. In courtship, the masculine principle must seize the initiative and place itself below the feminine principle.

Just as the first part of book I begins with the hexagrams of heaven and earth, the foundations of all that exists, the second part begins with the hexagrams of courtship and marriage, the foundations of all social relationships.

THE JUDGMENT

Influence.

Success.

Perseverance furthers.

To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.

The weak element is above, the strong below; hence their powers attract each other, so that they unite. This brings about success, for all success depends on the effect of mutual attraction. By keeping still within while experiencing joy without, one can prevent the joy from going to excess and hold it within proper bounds. This is the meaning of the added admonition, "Perseverance furthers," for it is perseverance that makes the difference between seduction and courtship; in the latter the strong man takes a position inferior to that of the weak girl and shows consideration for her. This attraction between affinities is a general law of nature. Heaven and earth attract each other and thus all creatures come into being. Through such attraction the sage influences men's hearts, and thus the world attains peace. From the attractions they exert we can learn the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.

THE IMAGE

A lake on the mountain: The image of influence.

Thus the superior man encourages people to approach him

By his readiness to receive them.

A mountain with a lake on its summit is stimulated by the moisture from the lake. It has this advantage because its summit does not jut out as a peak but is sunken. The image counsels that the mind should be kept humble and free, so that it may remain receptive to good advice. People soon give up counseling a man who thinks that he knows everything better than anyone else.