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Awareness of Potential Danger

July 9, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
expressed within the I Ching hexagram 41 – Reduction.

Reduction emerges from Solution (40) and develops into
Increase (42).

Mountain is above Lake. Mountain is Yang and Lake is Yin.

Mountains have height while lakes have depth, and yet
we measure deep and high from our own unique perspectives.
That’s curious.

Why?

One mile or kilometer up or down is still the same distance.

It can make all the difference if you applied the same
measure to progress along the way; any way.

Our life as a way?

Yes, a chosen, more or less, way to live. And as mountains
and lakes, the ground beneath is rarely even. It dips and
climbs in irregular intervals and to irregular degrees.

But, in a boat on top of the lake?

I think you know from personal experience how an ocean
surface can become dangerously unpredictable.

Yes, terrifying so.

So it is with mountains. There is always a risk of uncertainty.
Landslides, mudslides, rock slides, and avalanches, to name
a few possible dangers that may present themselves with little
or no warning.

You’re going to relate all of this talk to Reduction. How?

Knowing possible risks and still choosing to follow a path,
any path through life, is only foolish if you do not first
prepare for whatever you might have to face along the way.

How can I know?

What?

How to possibly prepare for what hasn’t yet happened?

Awareness.

Of what?

Awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses, based on …

study and experience?

Yes, and that awareness will reduce the potential danger
along the Way of Life..

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, Potential consequences, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y

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Manufactured Need

July 4, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
contained within I Ching 43 – Removal.

Lake is over Heaven. Lake is Yin and Heaven is Yang.

Yin, in this instance, is as a butterfly on a rock. What
interaction or common ground can the two possibly share;
frail over solid?

A rock is not easily crushed nor moved, but neither can it
move itself; while a butterfly is easily crushed, but it has
power to move itself out of the way of danger – lightness
and mobility over weight and immobility.

Removal follows Increase (42) and develops into Meeting (44).

That’s a curious sequential order.

How so?

I can understand that increase can become clutter and requiring
downsizing, or removal of whatever no longer serves us well, but
how does this lead to Meeting?

Meeting is coming together.

With whom or what?

Awareness.

Of what?

Of whatever is necessary or desirable and useful, and what
is manufactured need.

How can need be manufactured?

Unethical advertising.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, higher education, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y

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Case Closed

June 28, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
contained within the I Ching Hexagram 61 – Settled.

Water is over Fire.

It’s curious to me that Water is Yang and Fire is Yin.

Why?

I would consider Fire to be more powerful than Water.

How so?

Fire can rage out of control.

Water seems to be able to control Fire more easily
than can Fire control Water.

Fire can heat Water.

Not without human help to control it.

I’ve distracted you from the reading.

No. You’ve distracted yourself, alone.

So, Water over Fire settles or calms Fire?

Settled refers to closed, as in, this issue has been …

What issue?

Whatever issue.

Our discussion?

Yes.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, male domination, Potential consequences, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y

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The Road Ahead

June 26, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
contained within the I Ching Hexagram 61 – Sincerity.

Sincerity follows Discipline (60) in the sequential order of
events and situations experienced by everyone during each of
our human lifetimes, as we move toward enlightenment, and we
do, each in our own way and in our own time.

Wind is over Lake and affects the water in a way that the
water cannot but respond, by releasing its moisture into
the air above it. This is a universal law affecting all
life. We each affect whomever affects us, but not
necessarily in the same way.

What has that to do with discipline and sincerity?

When discipline and sincerity travel together and
interact with each other, within the mind of a seeker
of wisdom and truth, then progress is certain.

What if they’re both going down the wrong road?

Then, progress is still assured.

Then, discipline and sincerity are not sufficient
to progress in the desired direction?

Yes, they are not.

What else is required?

Awareness.

Of what?

Not of what.

Where?

Yes.

Then, a map and a guide are required?

Yes.

My mind would resist.

Why?

A certain sense of personal responsibility for choices
of direction taken or forms of discipline accepted
and followed would require me to question myself and
any teacher, regardless of how much I might admire her
or him.

Yes. And that is as it should be.

Then, why do I regret not being able to completely
accept your way as my own.

My way should never be accepted as your way.

Why?

It would not be unique.

Must it be?

Yes.

Then, how can all ways merge into one and still
remain unique?

They merge into the one that is beyond uniqueness.

How can anything be beyond uniqueness?

We each are a unique aspect of Life and each are
contained within Life.

Then, what is the purpose of my struggle along
a unique way if I am already within what would be
the destination of my unique way?

A simple purpose; to develop awareness of what
you are.

And then?

And then to expand your awareness.

To include what?

To include the awareness of all otherwise unique
aspects of life.

Otherwise unique aspects?

Yes. They are only unique until you absorb
their awareness into your own.

Then your way becomes mine?

Yes.

It looks like a long road ahead.

Yes, but that’s just the bad news.

There’s good news?

Yes. The road ahead is only in your mind.

Category:

I Ching as a path to enlightenment

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Cause or Effect – Chicken or Egg

June 25, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom contained within
the symbolic structure of the 64 I Ching hexagrams, which expresses an endless
series of events and situations that each of us will necessarily experience
during our human lifetimes, until we have learned to become aware of our own
self-directed role in creating the illusion of permanence and of our seeming
resistance to accept what is, and to respond without unproductive emotional
or intellectual analysis. When milk is spilled, by whatever cause, we mop it up.

How does cause and effect or chicken and egg fit into such a philosophy of life?

I Ching hexagram 50 – The Cauldron, answers that question.

Then, please explain.

Fire is over Wind. Each are yin and each is receptive to the other, at least
in this situation.

The separate energies of Fire and Wind, in their extremes, can create destruction.
Together, they could bring about 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 warmth, boil
water, or heat food.

Enter the Cauldron?

Yes. A cauldron was a large kettle hung over an open fire, before it was
replaced with modern appliances and more controllable sources of heat.

However, the timeless realities exist even within a so-called modern
world. The transfer of energy still requires movement and interaction
between cause and effect.

What is the message that this discussion of fire and wind say to me?

It dares to ask a question concerning our relationship, which you seem
to hesitate to face.

And, that is …?

Who is what?

Fire or Wind?

No.

Cause or effect?

Yes.

Perhaps we each, depending upon the situation, can and do play
either role.

Yes.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y

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We Choose the Rules

June 19, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
concealed within the I Ching hexagram 7 – The Army.

The Army necessarily develops out of Contention (6) and then
establishes a foundation for Closeness (8). Earth is above
and water is below.

Why is Water yang when Lake is yin?

Is feminism rising?

Perhaps, but it is curious, since in essence they each are
water.

Lake is usually more submissive and receptive than is the
free-flowing water of rivers. Now, can we return to discussing
The Army?

Please do.

As today follows yesterday into the past, so The Army follows
Contention; and as today reaches toward tomorrow, so does
The Army reach toward Closeness.

I can understand The Army and Contention acting on each other,
but what possible relationship can The Army have with Closeness?

When reason alone fails to solve contention, then power is a
necessary organizing force. It serves a good purpose if it can
bring together contentious groups of people. Then it contributes
to a sense of closeness.

Okay, I can accept that, but how does it relate to me?

Who is contentious?

Perhaps I justifiably am, at times.

Who is The Army?

I don’t know.

Is The Army as a referee in this instance?

That’s possible, but not all referees play by the same rules.

What rules do I play by?

You seem to play by rules of your own choosing.

Yes, and so do you.

Category:

A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, higher education, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, initiation

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We’re Never Without Intention

June 18, 2015

Spirit shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
expressed within the I Ching hexagram 21 – Biting Through.

Fire (yin) is over Thunder (yang) Only the top line of Fire
has a complement within Thunder; not a strong union.

Biting Through develops out of Observing (20) and, with
effort, contributes to the situation called Adornment (22).

Not all food, and not all problems, can be easily digested,
or otherwise dealt with. The more fiber food contains, and
the more dense the structure of problems, the more they
require sharp teeth or determination, for biting through and
reducing the food or problem into ever smaller segments.

Divide and conquer may be used as a military or political
strategy, but it is also a natural process.

Is this reading about nutrition or war?

It’s about Life.

Please explain.

Whatever we choose to do with our life, day by day,
we consciously or otherwise, intentionally or …

Without intention?

We’re never without intention.

How is that possible?

How is it not possible?

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, higher education, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y

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Rainbows Appear After Storms

June 13, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
contained within the I Ching Hexagram 12 – Obstruction.

Heaven is the most powerful yang trigram and is above Earth,
which is the most powerful yin trigram.

Obstruction usually suggests something blocking the way, and
yet the way is usually forward; not up or down.

The way up or down also makes sense.

But, in speaking of enlightenment, surely up and ahead sounds
more like progress than would down or back.

That would depend upon how one defined progress.

I’ve distracted you from the reading.

No; only yourself.

Then, please explain what situation or experience Obstruction refers to.

It can refer to someone interrupting me.

Other than that, and in the context of I Ching.

Obstruction emerges out of the peaceful relationship expressed
by Tranquility (11) and necessarily contributes to Association
with Others (13).

There can be no obstruction unless there is someone or something blocking our way?

Yes.

So, where does a rainbow come into the picture?

What picture?

The scenario that you seem to be presenting about a calm before
a storm, and then a gathering, or celebration.

When do rainbows appear?

After a storm, if they appear at all.

Yes.

What does that mean?

It means we can sit around and do nothing or we can struggle
toward a desired future that may never come.

But, our desired future is much less likely to come without
struggle?

Yes.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, higher education, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y

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Tomorrow Will Come

June 9, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
expressed within the I Ching hexagram 51 – Thunder. Thunder
is over Thunder, expressing a form of yang that has double
its normal potential of active energy.

Thunder develops out of the situation expressed by The Cauldron
(50) and, in turn prepares the foundation for the experience
referred to as Mountain (52).

Every situation we experience today can help to prepare us for
whatever tomorrow will bring to us. We develop skills and
increased awareness of what skills will best serve us in
whatever particular situation.

Tomorrow will come, whether or not we prepare for it.
Yesterday helped us, more or less, to prepare for today’s
challenges and, as life is an endless series of situations
and experiences, how we live today will determine, at least
to some extent, how well we’ll cope with whatever tomorrow
brings our way.

Life is a Master Teacher, and provides us with experiences
that offer incentives to master personal skills and coping
strategies. How we cope with whatever challenges that
tomorrow brings will depend very much on how we live today.

Wow! I’m glad that message applies to people younger than me.

It applies to everyone, always.

Category:

A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, Potential consequences

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We Each Contribute to Life

June 7, 2015

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom
contained within the I Ching hexagram 31- Sensing.

Lake is over Mountain. Lake is yin and Mountain is yang.
The trigram Lake is composed of one yin line above two yang.
The trigram Mountain shows one yang line above two yin.
Every yang and yin line of this hexagram has a complement.

Sensing develops from Fire (30_ in which no line enjoys
a complement, and forms a foundation for Constancy (32).
Constancy is as Sensing, with harmony between yin and yang.

Sensing requires more than receiving information from, or
through, our five physical sensory organs. Sensing suggests
a certain level of understanding of the meaning of the
message that we are receiving.

The yin and yang principles must work together?

Yes, but never equally, or they would negate each other.
There must always be a dynamic blending of their unique
energies. They each contribute what they alone can;
intuitive awareness and intellectual capacity for making
sense of this awareness.

What personal message does this reading offer?

We each contribute what we alone can, if we
care to contribute at all.

To whom or what do we contribute?

To Life. It would be different than it is without
you, or Me.

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A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, Power comes from within, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y

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