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Archive for May, 2014

The path seeks the seeker

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

51 – Thunder

Two masses of cool air move swiftly toward each other,
after lightning flashes through the sky. Neither mass
of air intends harm to the other. Each is simply
serving a Law of Nature. Gaps must be filled.
Equilibrium must be restored.

How does that observation …

It is more than an observation. It is a Law of Nature.

Then, how does this law apply to following a path or
seeking a path to enlightenment?

The path also seeks the seeker. They come together.
This is a Law of Life.

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A wide (33%) middle way., applied philosophy to live by, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom

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To whom does the message apply?

Spirit shares His understanding of I Ching wisdom, as expressed in the life situation described in  Hexagram 27 – Nourishment.

” Mountain is over Thunder; yin over yin. Nourishment follows Accumulation (26) and leads to Great Surpassing (28). Even squirrels seem to know they must store something now for later. We build for today but also for tomorrow, if we seek to provide for
our future, even knowing that we may not live to enjoy it.”

“Saving something for tomorrow is generally accepted wisdom, but
there are those who have little or nothing to save, and barely enough to survive today. What about them?”

“Did they draw the card?”

“No, I did.”

“Then, to whom does the message apply?”

“To me.”

“And what is the message that applies to you?”

“To be more thrifty than I now am?”

“Yes.”

Note: A curiously appropriate message for me, for
today I receive my monthly allowance, and I confess that
I am not the most frugal woman in town.

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Attraction pulls as a pendulum

Spirit shares His understanding of I Ching wisdom expressed by Hexagram 42 – Increase. Wind is over Thunder; yang over  yin. Every line has its ideal complement.

“Increase develops out of Reduction (41). and moves toward Removal (43) The pendulum reaches its extreme in either direction of expansion and then turns, as a railway or bus line between two limits of its route. Whenever we reduce our position relative to whatever, or whomever, we, at the same time, increase it to another. The Law of Attraction works according to this principle.”

“How did the Law of Attraction …?”

“How does the Law of Attraction enter into the concept of increase?”

“Yes.”

“Whatever we attract moves our relationship from the opposite position.”

“What if we attract each other?”

“Then we have moved away from a position of being less attracted to each other.”

“Is there a personal message, or question?”

“Yes.”

…………….

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Contention is denial of reality

Spirit shares His understanding of I Ching Wisdom

“Today’s lesson is related to the life situation expressed by Hexagram 6 – Contention.

Contention requires differences of opinion.Since everyone experiences Life from a unique perspective, differences in what and how anyone views whatever situation must necessarily be different, or at least seem to be so.”

“That would seem to explain …”

“It does explain …”

“But, explanation alone does not resolve the problem of different perspectives.”

“There is no essential problem with differences of perspective. It is as it is.”

“Then, how to explain and resolve contention?”

“Contention is refusal to accept, or denial of the reality that any particular perspective can ever only be one of countless possible perspectives.”

……………………

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Blessings may not last

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom

14 – Great Possession

Great Possession develops out of Community and leads to Humility, if we accept the blessing that associating with others is, when we are fortunate and wise enough to develop close ties with people who share our way of life.

What is our way? Is it a shared world view? Or a specific goal? Or what? And, how can we ever know who is really with us, and why?

So many questions.

They seemed to appear in my mind, one after another, in a continuous stream.

Without pause?

Without pause.

Then, how can they be answered separately?

Perhaps their answers would all be as one.

As companions and community?

I guess.

Then enjoy and be thankful to Life for whatever blessings come, while they last, and accept that whatever comes may go, for whatever reason.

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Cause and Effect are Interactive

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom of  I Ching  as expressed in Hexagram 50 – The Cauldron.

“Fire i over Wind. Yang is over yang.. Each is receptive to the other, at least in this situation. The Cauldron follows  Revoluion (49) in the order of the hexagrams, and leads to Thunder (51). The energies of fire and wind, in their extreme forms, can create destruction on their own. Together, they could bring disaster. Mental energies are no different than those of nature, in this respect. But, a gentle fire and a controlled movement of air can create welcomed warmth, boil water, or heat food.

A cauldron was a large kettle hung over a fire before it was replaced by modern appliances and more controllable sources of heat. However, the timeless realities exist even in a so-called modern world. The transfer of energy still requires movement and interaction between cause and effect.

What are you saying to me?

Who is what?

Perhaps there is a two-way interaction.

Yes.

…………..

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Spirit’s I Ching way – 59 Dispersal

Wind over Water
Dispersal develops out of Pleasing and dissolves with Discipline.

Dispersal results in both disconnecting from the past and connecting to the future, without necessarily understanding either, or the destiny that moves within us, as the wind moves around us.

How can there be any stability and a feeling of being here and now in such a view of reality?

It isn’t a view of reality. It is as it is.

But, I need to hold on to my past while reaching for my future.

My as in individual?

Yes, and even if it proves to be an illusion, I need it, now.

Yes.

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Within and without together

Spirit’s I Ching as a way to enlightenment

56 – Travel
Fire over Mountain

Fire moves, or at least has the potential to do so, while mountains are
generally known for their stability. If we travel from and return to a mountain, we can be confident that it will be where it was when we left it.
But, a fire may have moved on and created destruction as it moved.

Travel develops out of Abundance and transforms itself into Wind. or has the potential to do so if we only travel because of restlessness, without a purpose or goal.

Abundance suggests possessing much more than is necessary to satisfy survival needs. Without struggle there is a danger of life becoming meaningless.

Abundance can also provide us with an opportunity to travel, both within and without.

Not either, or?

We necessarily travel both ways at one time.

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Situations beyond our control

Spirit shares His understanting of Hexagram 16 . Tunder is over Earth; yin over yin.

“Delight means Pleasure. Delight/Pleasure follows Respectful (15) and leads to Following (17). We are attracted to like-minded people. If we can live and work together with an attitude of mutual respect then the work itself becomes a pleasure.”

“That sounds like an ideal situation, but many of us associate and work with people who seem determined not to develop an attitude of respect; mutual or otherwise.”

“Then why are we there?”

“Perhaps we feel trapped within conditions beyond our control, and must choose a situation that is the lesser of two or more evils.”

“Then, take control of the situation.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

“Yes.”

……………

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Personal Ethics Direct our Traffic

Spirit shares His understanding of the life situation expressed in Hexagram  5 – Waiting.  Water is over Heaven; yin over yang. Waiting follows Immaturity (4) and leads to Contention (6).

“Waiting requires patience and firm resolve if one is choosing to wait for a more opportune moment before acting with intent. To set sail at high tide is to let the water move away from port with you – to go with the flow, if it is going your way.”

“That sounds ideal, if timing allows us the privilege to wait. And, also, there are some who seem to wait until someone or something makes decisions for them.”

“That can never be the case.”

“Why?”

“Personal ethics always direct our traffic.”

“How?”

“We are always personally responsible for the consequences of whatever we choose, and letting others choose for us is still choosing.”

“Is there no easy way out?”

“There is no way out.”

…………..

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