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Posts tagged ‘chosen’

Our Desired Outcome May Not Choose Us

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

First, He explains to me that the purpose
of using the 64 I Ching hexagrams
to share ancient wisdom is to enable
seekers to learn to accept that
nothing happens totally separated from
what has or what might yet happen.

Life and all situations we experience
are intricately connected together.
Before and following are relative terms
that have no separately existing
meaning but are always and must be
part of what is happening now.

The finger that points back to where
we have been is the same finger
that can point ahead to where we are
or may go, unless we choose to follow
another path, or another way of life.

Hexagram 46 – Rising represents today’s
I Ching situation. Rising follows
Gathering and leads, or can lead to
Exhaustion, unless we choose to travel
in a different direction.

We gather what we value, at any given
time and in any given situation.
Harvest is a season to gather crops
that have reached an ideal stage
of development.

We also gather certain people we know,
as friends, when our relationship
to them has developed to a certain stage.

How does Gathering lead to Rising?

The numbers or quantity of whatever
we gather rises as we gather.

Then, how can Rising lead to Exhaustion?

We can only rise as high as we can
without exhaustion.

Please explain.

We gather to ourselves whatever we seem
to need or, with some, as much as they
can above their personal needs, and are
not satisfied until the effort involved
in continuing to rise exhausts them.

Could seeking knowledge and understanding
have the same result?

Yes.

Then, quality of what we choose to gather
to us has no effect on outcome?

What outcome?

Our chosen outcome.

Do we choose outcome?

Don’t we choose outcome?

No.

Wow!

What does that mean?

It means, as I’m sure you know,
that I now understand that we
can choose our desired outcome
but it might not choose us.

Yes.

Category:

A wide (33%) middle way., applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, destiny, I Ching as a path to enlightenment

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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.

Category:

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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Receptivity to Inspiration Provides Opportunities

Spirit explains I Ching Hexagram 4 – Immaturity.

The journey of our life begins with creation;
individual and collective.

Creativity (hexagram 1) is an essential attribute
of our unique essence.

Receptivity (hexagram 2) to inspiration, both from
without and within, provides us with opportunities
to express our individual uniqueness.

Difficulty (hexagram 3) in the early stages of
our development is to be expected.

Immaturity (hexagram 4) never lasts forever.
Sooner or later we each progress in our
chosen direction.

Who chooses our direction, and to where?

Our chosen direction chooses itself.

How is that possible?

It is the only way possible.

Please explain.

Why did you not ask about the role of
so-called free will?

I have learned enough from you to accept
that free will is limited to available
options and that even then we my not be
aware of future choices each option
may require of us.

Yes.

So, please explain how our chosen direction
chooses itself.

The future is as the past in that it develops
from how we live here and now.

There always was a here and now?

Yes.

Then, the direction we think we are choosing,
if we do consider the choices we make, are
a direct result of how we got to where
we now are?

Yes.

Then, how can we begin to intentionally choose
where we want to go?

First, by intentionally choosing to be where
you now are.

What choice is there to make?

Accepting responsibility for how you arrived
where you are.

Then, what?

Determine to develop a more mature outlook
on life in general, and your own life,
in particular.

And, to let go of all that we know
holds us back?

Yes.

And those who seem to hold us back?

No, never.

Why?

Unhealthy relationships hold us back,
not unhealthy people. They need us
to accept them as they seem to be,
without pretending that we are where
they are or that they are where
we are, or need and intend to go.

How does one do that?

Release your hold on the past;
not the people in your past.

Then, we move on without necessarily
rejecting them?

Yes.

It doesn’t sound too easy.

Life isn’t meant to be too easy.

Category:

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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Awareness Reduces Danger

Spirit shares His understanding of I Ching wisdom expressed in Hexagram 41 – Reduction. Reduction follows Solution (40) and leads to Increase (42).  Mountain is over Lake; yin over yang.

“Mountains have height while lakes have depth, and yet we measure deep and high from our own unique perspective..”

“That’s curious.”

“Why?”

“One mile or kilometre 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, terrifyingly 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 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 has not 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 dangers along the way of life.”

………………….

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Uncategorized, Understanding life's struggles

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Tranquility is a Vulnerable State of Mind

Spirit shares His understanding of the wisdom contained within Hexagram 11 – Tranquility.

“Earth is over Heaven Solid yin over solid yang.  Every line has a complement, but lines two and five are in reverse situations. Yin is on a yang line and yang is on a yin line. Tranquility follows Treading (10) in the order of the hexagrams, and leads to Obstruction (12).

There is order in our lives, individual and collective. Treading expresses walking our individual path through life, our way; our chosen way. No other can do it for us. No other can live our life but us.”

“Where does Tranquility come in?”

“Tranquility is a state of mind.”

“How can we move forward, or even backward, in a state of tranquility? We would surely be vulnerable to control by someone or something less tranquil.”

“Yes.”

“What does that mean?”

“What do  you think it might mean?”

“That vulnerability is a risk that we necessarily must choose to take if we intend to achieve tranquility?”

“Yes.”

……………

Category:

A wide (33%) middle way., enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading, Understanding life's struggles

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Spirit’s I Ching – 37 – People in the Home

People in the Home follows Damage to Illumination.

 

Spirit explains:

 

People in the home refers to family, whether related or chosen.

Damage to illumination is caused by something or someone

Blocking or restricting a source of light.

 

Is the message one of doom?

 

Not necessarily.

 

Okay, what is it, please?

 

You seem willing, if not eager to hear what you may already know.

You must, sooner or later choose, as we each must, between

Those who are close to you in one way, and those who are

With you on your path to greater illumination.

What is your choice?

 

As it has always been, I seem to need both.

 

Yes.

 

Category:

A wide (33%) middle way., enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading, Understanding life's struggles

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I Ching 61 – Sincerity in the Centre

Today’s I Ching reading by Spirit

 

Wind over Lake

Sincerity follows Discipline

 

Spirit explains:

 

As wind moves water, discipline moves sincerity,

Directing our chosen lifestyle.

 

If we sincerely desire and intend to follow our path

With purpose, then discipline will be a welcome

Companion.

 

I hesitate to ask who …

 

Yes.

 

Category:

enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading, Understanding life's struggles

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I Ching 19 – Overseeing

Today’s I Ching 19 – Overseeing

 

Earth above. Thunder below.

Overseeing follows Degeneration.

 

Spirit Explains:

 

Overseeing is supervising others as they work, as well as

The work itself. However, there are always some who are

Self-directed and can be trusted to do whatever they have

Chosen or agreed to do, without any supervision from

Anyone other than themselves.

 

The message?

 

Who directs your traffic?

 

You.

 

Yes, if you believe I do.

 

Category:

A wide (33%) middle way., enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading, Understanding life's struggles

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