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Archive for the ‘enlightenment’ Category

Resistance is Necessary to Life

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s situation on our journey through human
existence is designed to develop the attributes
of Hexagram 2 – The Receptive.

Earth is both above and below, and represents
Mother Nature, or for those who see Nature
as disconnected from themselves, the environment.

Nature is both flexible and firm. Though it
generally accepts directions from Universal Laws,
and both adapts and contributes to the needs
of other life forms, it also maintains its own
personal essence, and lives to express its own
purpose and desires, resisting any form of abuse.

It sounds like me.

It is you, and everyone else, both individually
and collectively.

But, Nature is surely much more than people.

As in kind, or power?

Both.

How?

We each are part of Nature and yet Nature is
much more than all of us together.

Yes.

What is the message?

What could Nature teach you about yourself?

To be flexible, yet firm, and to seek to express ..

Not to seek to express.

Then, to express my own purpose and desires,
and to resist abuse in any form.

Yes.

That’s fine and noble, except …

Except what?

It can be so wearying.

And easier to give in to abuse?

Yes.

What effect does that have on the abuser?

It seems to encourage more abuse.

Yes.

Then …

Yes. A certain low level but constant
resistance is necessarily a part of
the Game of Life.

Get used to it?

Yes.

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom

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How Can I Know Truth?

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom
expressed through I Ching Hexagram 23 -Stripping Away. Stripping Away follows  Adornment (22) and leads to Return (24).

“If we gently but firmly strip away the layers of illusion
within our mind we will gradually reveal the truths of life.”

“That process would suggest that the truths of life are
already within our minds.”

“Yes.”

“But even accepting that as so …”

“It is so.”

“To you it may be so but it can’t be for me simply because
you tell me it is so.”

“Yes.”

“Then how can I ever recognize illusion, let alone truth?”

“Intention to do so is necessary.”

“But to intend to discover anything surely requires that
I first believe there is something to discover.”

“Yes.”

“Then, where does my belief come from?”

Beliefs.

Then, where do my beliefs come from?

Your false beliefs or true beliefs?

Are there true beliefs?

No.

If there are false beliefs, or illusions, then surely
there must also be true beliefs.

Not necessarily so.

Why?

Beliefs are ideas and produced by thought.

And all ideas are false or illusions?

No, only beliefs.

Then, how can I know truth?

Yes.

What does that mean?

You have asked the first necessary question.

How does that help me?

It implies that you accept there may exist truths
that are not related to specifics alone.

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Understanding life's struggles

Between Beginnings and Endings

Spirit shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
hidden with the I Ching hexagram 46 – Rising.

Earth is over Wind. Both are Yin.
Rising follows Gathering (45) and moves into
Exhaustion (47).

Rising expresses upward movement, such as the Sun
seems to rise from the Eastern horizon, each morning,
wherever on Earth we may be. It then seems to reach
high into the sky, about mid-day, and then begins
to descend toward the Western horizon, arriving there
to end its daily journey, each evening.

How does that story relate to inspiration?

It teaches us that we live within a structured universe.
There are rules of order, known as Universal Laws.

How can knowing them help me, here and now, today?

Beginnings and endings are inevitable, but what happens
between the two reflects free will.

How?

We each choose.

What?

Not what, alone, but also how and why.

Category:

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

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Water and Air as Yin and Yang

Spirit shares His understanding of I Ching 52 –
Mountain.

Mountain above and mountain below. Now, that’s
a mountain.

Mountain follows Thunder (51) and is followed by
Gradual Progress (53).

Spirit explains: Thunder is caused by the force
of air, as is wind. Air is not without life. Air
is the breath of life, at least human, plant and
animal life, here on Earth. Without clean air we
cannot live as we would with it.

Where does Mountain fit into the picture?

What picture?

Of clean air.

Air is the background.

What about Gradual Progress? How does it follow
Mountain?

Mountains are not easily moved and so can reflect
rigid attitudes toward protecting our environment,
clean air and water for future generations of air
breathing and water drinking life forms.

A lecture in conservation?

Yes.

Note: After the lesson was over, for it seemed to be as
a lesson, Spirit sent a vision into my mind of water and
air as yin and yang, each flowing into and out of the
other in an elusive flow, as one and yet not one.

Neither can exist without the other, was the message
Spirit seemed to be sending to me. There is water in
air and air in water. Only degrees of difference
exist and even then, only in passing fluctuations
of harmony.

Something to think about.

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom

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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.

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, Inspirational reading

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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.”

…………..

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, Inspirational reading, Understanding life's struggles

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Wind Corresponds to Mind – I Ching 53

Spirit  shares His understanding of I Ching wisdom, as expressed by Hexagram 53 –  Gradual Progress.

“Wind is over Mountain; yang over yin. Yang 5, in its posiition of leadership, is supported by its complement; Yin 2, in a lower position of balance and dedicated support. Gradual Progress follows Mountain (52 and leads to Marrying a Young Woman (54) .

Wind moves over, around, under, or through whatever would block its way. It is in its nature to move, without regret, permission, or desire to accomplish anything other than to fulfill its nature to move.”

That may be normal behaviour for winds, but what about people?

What about them?

Surely we need to think about what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and what we hope to accomplish by doing it?

Why?

How can we not use our mind?

Yes

…..

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, Inspirational reading

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Spirit Teaches I Ching – Social Networking

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom of I Ching, as expressed in Hexagram 13 – Social Networking. Social Networking develops out of Obstruction (12) and moves toward Great Possession (14). Heaven is over Fire; yang over  yang. Lines two and five are natural correspondents of each other and perfectly matched when yin is on second and yang is on fifth, as is the case in this instance. Yang is in it’s  leadership psition on Line Five, and yin is in a balanced and supportive poisition on Line Two.

Spirit explains: “Through differences of opinion and difficulties with communication, we learn, sooner or later, the value of open and respectful social networking. We learn how to express our own understanding and to listen with intent to understand the positions of others. This is a valuable skill; a great possession, for it helps to foster co-operation without rejecting either our own truth or that of others, should they differ.”

“It sounds very noble, and a way of peaceful co-existence. But, how does this awareness relate to me, specifically, if it does?”

“It’s good advice for each and every one of us, both generally and specifically.”

………………….

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, Inspirational reading

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Spirit Teaches I Ching – The Limits of Power

Spirit shares His understanding of Hexagram 35 – Advance.

“Advance develops from Power (34), if available power is used to advance, and can move into Damaged Illumination (36). Fire is over Earth; yang over yin.

Power can refer to potentiality to do something, or to develop a skill, talent, strength, or financial means to develop a vision, or fulfill a desire, or retire from worldly activities to devote oneself to recovering one’s strength and health, or to expanding one’s awareness of Life. However, power is never more than potentiality unless intention to use it is strong enough to activate the power of whatever potential one might possess.”

“Does everyone possess some form of power?”

“Yes, without exception.”

Then, and it scares me to even ask You, what is mine?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On your definition of power.”

………………..

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applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment

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Double Pitfall is not facing problems

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom of the  ancient I Ching style of thought to explain life, in which all situations are seen to develop out of and into other situations, in a more or less foreseeable pattern. Spirit seems to dismiss the trendy thought of living in the now. The now, He tells me, developed out of the past and will strongly impact on the future.

Today’s focus is on the life situation expressed in Hexagram 29 – Double Pitfall. Problems cannot be faced, dealt with, or overcome until they are recognized, identified, and studied.

Water is over Water; yin is over yin, and as water suggests danger, then Double Pitfall suggests great danger; but  possibly preventable danger, as a result of self-defeating thinking, avoidance, or lack of wisdom or courage to face and challenge difficulties before they develop into situations beyond our control.

How can this reading possibly relate to me?

It possibly relates to every one of us.

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, Inspirational reading

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