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Archive for the ‘Understanding life’s struggles’ Category

Closeness and Triangles

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom contained within the I Ching Hexagram 8 – Closeness.

Water, a yang energy, is over Earth, a yin energy.

The vision of water spread over earth suggests flooding.

Yes, and in this context it expresses emotional flooding

My patio Hosta is now sitting in such a wet condition, but his planter pot is too heavy for me to tip over to remove the excess water.

Why did you over-water a plant you claim to care for?

I meant no harm but I generously watered hanging baskets of flowers, after having provided for the plants below, in the same manner

So, unintentional abuse?

I guess.

Now what?

I need help to undo the harm I’ve done.

Yes.

What does that mean?

It means that the plants were too close to each other for you to serve one without offence to the other.

A lovers’ triangle?

Yes.

How does that relate to real life?

It is real life.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, enlightenment, Understanding life's struggles

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Coming Together

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
encoded within I Ching hexagrams. These sixty-four interconnected
symbolic forms represent a continuous development of awakening
within each of us. Our lives have meaning, both individual and
collective. Events and situations are never without meaning, and
none stands alone. They develop from previous causes and, in turn,
contribute to the development of whatever is to come.

I Ching 44 – Meeting, presents with the trigram Heaven above Wind.
Heaven represents Life and Life is all that there is, and yet,
Wind – the winds of change – moves within (since even under is
within, in this instance) Life, both our individual and more or less
collective life.

Meeting follows Removal (43) and develops into Gathering (45).

Meeting suggests coming together with someone or something, or
facing an event or situation that requires a response.

Removal expresses separation from; perhaps not willingly. To stay
or go, when we know we must go; We must move on. However, wherever
we go, we bring our past experience with us, through lessons learned,
among other things.

Meeting suggests a new beginning. There will always be situations and
challenges that must be faced, sooner or later, These will serve us
in developing our self-confidence and expanding our awareness of Life.

Is there a personal meaning for me?

Yes, and for everyone else.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, enlightenment, Power comes from within, Understanding life's struggles

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Difficulty Now or Disaster Later

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom
expressed within the I Ching hexagram 3 – Difficulty.

Difficulty follows The Receptive (2) in the order of the
hexagrams and merges with Immaturity (4).

Water is over Thunder. Both are active yang energies.
Together, in this situation, they act as a thunder storm
where water pours and thunder roars.

It would be a difficulty for anyone outdoors in such
weather.

Yes, unless they are prepared.

How can we prepare for difficulties before we are aware …

Awareness is a prerequisite to preparedness.

But, a thunderstorm is only one of possibly
countless difficult situations we may have to
suddenly face. We surely can’t be aware of
them all before they appear.

Where do they appear from?

Sometimes, they seem to come from nowhere.

Nothing comes from nowhere.

That sounds like the words of a song,
“Nothing comes from nothing…”

Words of truth.

So, difficuties all come from somewhere?

Not somewhere, alone.

Then, from previously existing situations?

Yes.

Then, how to respond?

To what?

Difficulties.

Preparation.

How to prepare for unexpected situations?

Why are they unexpected?

How can they be expected?

Awareness.

Awareness of what?

Awareness of the present situation and how
it developed, and the path it has taken
to where it now is.

And visualize that same path moving forward
toward the horizon?

Yes.

That sounds like work.

A little difficulty now may prevent disaster
later, or at least prepare for it.

Is there an easier option?

No, at least not for you.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y, Understanding life's struggles

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Progress Requires Organization and Supervision

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of
the wisdom represented by I Ching 19 – Overseeing.

Supervision of work in progress is necessary
if the work is to proceed in an organized way,
way, according to a pre-determined outline and
desired outcome.

It sounds like organizational behaviour.

Progress requires organization of time, effort,
and supplies.

What about people?

What about them?

Do they also need to be organized?

By whom?

By whomever is supervising their time and work.

Can they not supervise themselves?

For personal projects, yes. But, if they are
participating in work that requires group effort,
then how would this be possible?

It not only is possible, it is the only way
toward a successful outcome.

But, we each might have a different opinion
on how to proceed and even whether or not
to continue whatever project is in question.

Why is it in question?

Perhaps we each have different opinions.

Why?

Are you suggesting that if individual members
of a group are not in general agreement of
how or why, then these individuals are in
the wrong group?

For whom?

For whoever is in serious disagreement with
their supervisor or leader.

Yes.

Are we getting personal?

Does the shoe fit?

More or less.

Yes.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Potential consequences, Understanding life's struggles

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Abusive Disrespect

A Spirit Teacher shares His understanding
of I Ching hexagram 44 – Meeting, and how
it can be expressed in our individual life
and collectively; here and now; wherever
here and now are.

Heaven is above Wind.
Heaven is yang while Wind is yin.

First; Chela, tell me your immediate response
to our chosen reading.

Forty-four is not a number I would choose.

But, you did.

Perhaps it chose me.

Why?

Possibly because of my resistance to
the disrespectful attitude it seems to
express toward women.

Social order requires certain restrictions
to individuals.

I can understand that, but when women
are, or seem to be, classified as less
than men, then …

You rise to their defense.

I am a woman.

Yes.

What does that mean?

It means that your response suggests
that you are defending the position
of women in an earlier culture
simply because you are a woman.

Men don’t seem to need protection.

Protection and not defense?

Protection from abuse of rigid patterns
of social organization.

And, who would defend them?

Perhaps we must learn a way
to defend ourselves.

Individually or collectively?

Perhaps both.

How?

Awareness and understanding of
how and why we are abused.

Abused?

Disrespect is abusive if it is
based on gender.

Yes.

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

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The Way of Arrogance

A Spirit Teacher shares his understanding of
the I Ching Hexagram 26 – Great Accumulation,
with me and whomever else cares to listen.

Great Accumulation follows No Error (25)
and moves toward Nourishment (27).
Mountain is over Heaven.

Nothing is higher than Heaven, and yet,
in this instance, Mountain claims to be.

Can this express challenge to authority?

Yes.

How could such a situation develop from
No Error?

The pendulum has swung to the opposite
extreme.

Mountain is out of line?

In the eyes of Heaven, yes.

And Heaven is forever.

Forever what?

Not what, but in terms of time.

There is no time.

Then, what is the meaning?

When?

Now.

Nothing comes from nothing.

Then, No Error and Great Accumulation
can be seen as opposite extremes?

Of what?

Arrogance?

Yes.

How does this situation lead toward
Nourishment?

Awareness is as nourishment.

Awareness of the Middle Way?

Yes.

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cause and effect, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Understanding life's struggles, Universal laws apply even today

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There Are No Cycles To Our Life

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s focus is on I Ching 1 – The Creative.
Heaven is over Heaven. Each alone represents
the sum total, and the source, of all power.
Together they can each be no more, or less.

The essence of all life expresses itself
in countless forms and non-forms. All energy
is creative, and energy is the essence of
all forms of life.

Aspects of creativity include origination,
development, perfection, and consummation.

Consummation refers to the creative act of
dissolving whatever has been created. A cycle
has been completed and now the energy or essence
of whatever was created will be used for some
other purpose. A new cycle begins. We move on.
We move on, but not necessarily forward.

What does that say to me, now that I have
left a stressful chapter in my life?
Where do I go from here?

You turn the page. A new chapter will begin.
It has begun.

But, it hasn’t been created, yet.

Perhaps not, but the outline has been. All
that you now are has been developed throughout
earlier chapters of your life. The next chapter
is not, nor can it be, completely separated from
earlier chapters. This would result in
discontinuity.

And that would suggest completion of a cycle
of life?

There are no cycles to our life, only to the
situations within it. Life, itself, is forever.

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applied philosophy to live by, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Understanding life's struggles, Universal laws apply even today

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Life Is What It Is

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s experience along the way is expressed by
Hexagram 50 – The Cauldron. Fire is above Wind.

Wind would certainly agitate Fire. But, why is
the situation referred to as a cauldron?

The sixth or top line is yang, and is as a lid,
while the first, or bottom line is yin, and is
as a pair of legs that form the base of the body
of the pot.

So yang keeps a lid on yin?

Yes. Intellect must rule over emotion.

Another Universal Law?

Yes.

But, it doesn’t make sense.

In what way?

How could yang do anything without yin?

It cannot.

Then, why must intellect rule emotion?

Intellect rules emotion only in the sense
that …

It has more sense?

That, too.

So, if intellect rules and yet can do nothing
of value …

It can do nothing, period, without yin;
of value or otherwise.

So, we need both intellect and emotion?

Yes.

How do they relate to each other?

As husband and wife.

Or as man and woman?

That isn’t the same.

In what way is it not, if men are superior?

Men are not superior.

Then, please explain.

Husband and wife is a relationship between
two people.

Go on.

Are you ready?

I think so.

Then, here it is. Every team or group requires
a leader to direct it, if that team, group, society,
or married couple share a common goal. We each
contribute what we are best able to contribute,
depending upon our natural attributes, knowledge,
skills, and potentials.

And women are designed to keep the home fires burning?

Yes.

A lot of women, myself included, would call you
a male chauvinist.

Names do not change reality. Life is what it is.

Until it changes?

It never changes from being Life.

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

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Continuous Movement is a Fundamental Principle of Life

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s situation is expressed and explained
in Hexagram 26 – Great Accumulation

Continuous movement is a fundamental principle
of the way of I Ching and way of Life.
There is no stagnation in the sense of
non-movement.

Situations are always either improving
or they are deteriorating. Energy moves,
one way or another, even when that
movement is happening beneath
the surface of human perception.
Energy moves, and all life is energy.

In Great Accumulation, Mountain
is rising above Heaven. Mountain
represents an accumulation of power,
such as knowledge, and wisdom
applying that power.

Heaven represents a different kind of
power – one that is available to all
of nature, not just to mountains
or people of special status.

Why has Heaven permitted Mountain
to dominate?

Perhaps the rest of nature is
intimidated by it’s height,
without awareness that mountains
can crumble and be shaken from
within.

What lesson does this situation
provide for me?

You are as a small hill, in awe
of mountains with their heads
in the clouds.

But, they seem to have great
accumulation, and I don’t.

Their great accumulation may not last.

So, am I not to aspire for more?

The less you have, the less you have
to guard against losing.

But, great accumulation …

…can refer to great accumulation of
compassion and integrity, and that,
nobody can take from you.

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applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, The Way of I Ching, Understanding life's struggles

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There is a Place For Everyone in an Ideal Community

Spirit shares I Ching Wisdom.

Today’s I Ching situation is 10 – Treading.

Treading follows Small Development and
Leads to Tranquility.

Small Development refers to building
community with others.

This is not possible without each member
understanding and accepting certain rules
of relating to others within the community.

We share responsibilities and work
according to our individual nature and
abilities, and yet everyone requires
a sense of dignity and self respect,
knowing she or he is valued for whom
they are and for their contribution
to the harmony and productivity of
the group.

Treading is the outcome of resisting
the temptation to focus on doing
our own thing, but choosing to serve
our unique role within the community.

How could one relate to oneself in such
a community?

In what way?

Surely we each need to develop our own
ideas and create our own vision
of what and who we want to become.

It would require an awareness of how
those personal desires fit into and
serve the community, and how well
one’s energy resonates with the role
chosen by or for us. The role chooses
us as much as we choose the role.

But, what if I am well suited to
the role that somehow chose me,
and yet I prefer another?

Someone else may be doing what you
would prefer to do, so your service
in that role is not needed, whereas …

Duty?

Yes, but you could play the other role
in your spare time, as a hobby.

But, if I have a passion for
a certain role …

Then, perhaps Universal Laws would
consider that role for you,
at another time.

What Universal Law?

The Law of Attraction.

I thought that law attracted people

It does.

I mean specific people to specific
people.

It does that, too.

Then, where and how does it attract
me to a specific role within
a specific community?

You would be attracted to a community
in which you felt comfortable, or
tranquil, within.

And then I would seek to find how
I might contribute to that community?

Yes. If you are of no use to them,
then how could you feel valued?

What if I have no special skill
but I require assistance from
that community, for whatever reason?

Then your personal needs would provide
other members of the community with
an opportunity to express sharing and
caring for those who are unable or
less able to care for themselves, and
sharing and caring are forms of
applied love.

So, there is a place for everyone
in an ideal community?

Yes.

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

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