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Posts tagged ‘cause’

Cause or Effect – Chicken or Egg

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.

The Horizon as a Well of Mind

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of
Hexagram 48 – The Well, from the ancient source
of wisdom that is I Ching.

Wrapping timeless wisdom in simplicity and
mystery, He tells me, helped to ensure
the survival of both the teachings and
the teachers, or at least some of them,
in a world of shifting degrees of hostility
to messages of love and integrity.

The series of sixty-four I Ching hexagrams
expresses the natural and endless
development of situations and experiences
that we each must face and pass beyond
throughout, as well as before and after,
our journey of a human lifetime,

Do they express the principle of cause
and effect?

The necessary sequence of cause and effect
is much more than a principle. It is
a Universal Law.

Is it a predetermined law?

In what way?

In that a seer would know.

Know what?

The future.

Everyone knows the future.

Perhaps to some extent …

To what extent?

We can’t see beyond the horizon.

Why not?

How would it be possible?

It isn’t possible. There is nothing
to see beyond an endless horizon.

How does this relate to a well?

The water in a well never contains
more or less than it is capable of
containing, regardless of how much
is added or withdrawn.

How can a well’s capacity compare
with the horizon?

The horizon or an horizon?

Are wells as the horizon?

No.

Then, what?

Horizons are as wells.

Horizons?

Yes. The horizon of your mind,
as well as that of others, has
an endless potential to expand.

Or to shrink?

Yes.

What determines it’s fate?

Not its destiny?

No. I accept your teaching of endless
potential as my destiny.

Not yours alone. We each and everyone
share the same destiny; each in her
or his own time and way.

Beneath the Surface of Cause and Effect

A Spirit teacher shares His understanding
of the situation expressed by the I Ching
hexagram 56 – Travel.

Fire is over Mountain.

Travel follows abundance (55) and is itself
followed by Wind (57).

There is a time to move forward and a time
when moving is unwise. Fire travels if and
when it can.

If we seek to follow the advice of the text …

And we do, or at least some of us.

Then, how can we know.

What?

When to move and when to resist moving.

Expanded awareness.

Of what?

Of the situation in question.

Do all situations possess a potential
for movement?

Yes, and more.

What more?

The inevitability of movement.

Cause and effect?

Not necessarily, but cause and effect
are more easily understood than
the underlying impetus to continuous
movement.

The underlying impetus?

Yes.

What could it be?

Destiny.

Indecision Never Wins

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

I Ching 31 – Sensing follows Fire in the sequential
order of situations and events that we each face
as we travel along our physical life journey.

As in cause and effect?

No.

Then what?

As in order or progression. The universe
does not operate on a system of cause
and effect, even if at times it might
appear to do so.

Then, why does Sensing follow Fire?

You might also ask why Sensing leads
to Withdrawal, or why that outcome
might be advisable.

Can we go back to Sensing?

We never left it, at least not those
of us who pay close attention
to whatever situation has developed
or shows signs of doing so.

Then, Sensing is as an instinctual
awareness?

Awareness is not instinctual, but does
or can develop from a natural response
to heat, among other things.

Could instinct be considered as
a prerequisite to sensing or awareness?

No.

Then, where does instinct fit in with sensing?

Instinct follows sensing.

So, when our physical senses send a warning
to our inner awareness, then awareness
triggers an instinctual response to withdraw?

Yes.

Then, fight or flight determine outcome?

No.

Then what?

We choose whether to withdraw or not to.

Then why does withdrawal follow sensing?

It is the usual recommended course of action
in extreme situations.

Then, whatever follows or leads into
any developing situation is contingent
upon …

Contingent upon what?

I’m not sure.

Yes.

What does that mean?

Indecision is also an option.

But, if instinct only offers two?

Then indecision would be over-ruled
by the most dominant instinct.

Or the less controlled one?

Yes.

There is no here and now

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Hexagram 51 – Thunder. Thunder above, Thunder below.

Spirit explains: Thunder is a powerful energy, and doubly so
in this instance.

But, it doesn’t create itself.

Nothing ever does.

Couldn’t the situation create thunder?

What situation?

The situation created by lightning.

Lightning creates nothing.

Then, the situation caused by lightning.

Thunder is part of the situation caused by lightning.

But, not a direct effect.

Which comes first?

Thunder follows lightning.

What does lightning follow?

I don’t know.

Yes.

If there is a personal message …

And, there is.

Then, what can it be?

Everything and every situation is intimately
interconnected to a wider reality.

How can that help me here and now?

There is no here and now. That is the message.

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.

…………..

I Ching 39 – Halting

Today’s I Ching – 39 – Halting

Water above

Thunder below

Halting follows Disharmony in the

Order of the Hexagrams.

 

Is Spirit playing a game?

What game? The cards were

Well shuffled, and yet,

Today’s 39 goes back by one,

Yesterday’s 40, as if

Reversing the order of

Cause and effect, or,

To study the cause of

The cause.  This game

Could go back to

The beginning.

 

Spirit explains:

There never was and never will be

A beginning, and, the game goes on

Forever.

 

 

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