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Posts tagged ‘following’

We Need Help to Overcome

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

I Ching 13 – Association With Others follows
Obstruction and leads to Great Possession.

Obstruction suggests that something is blocking
our way.

Or someone?

It is never someone unless that someone is
our self, and it usually is.

We need help in overcoming whatever seems to
prevent us from following our spiritual path.

What if the community we now associate with
is itself the means of obstructing
our spiritual development.

Isolation is not the answer.

Isn’t meditation a form of isolation?

No.

How is it not?

Meditation is time out to reflect on
the situation and seek higher guidance
to develop awareness.

Develop awareness of what?

Of how to best contribute to our own
spiritual development without
unnecessarily obstructing the
development of others.

Looking at it from that perspective …

That is the only perspective.

Then, we could be obstructing those
who seem to be …

Yes.

Then how to overcome obstruction in a way
that leads to community?

Meditation.

And then?

Follow your heart.

And mind?

No, not in this instance.

Why?

Mind will overwhelm you with reasons
to stay.

To stay where?

Not where, what.

Then what?

Obstructed.

But, if obstruction is the problem …

Obstruction is a challenge. It doesn’t
exist in a material or physical form.
Not everyone would see the same
situation as an obstruction. We need
to change the way we see.

How?

By looking within for the answers
to life’s challenges.

What about community?

For that, too.

Category:

higher education, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, mystery schools, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Understanding life's struggles

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Degeneration as a Universal Law

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom:

I Ching 17 – Following.
Lake is above Thunder.

Following follows Delight (16)
and leads to Degeneration (18).

The way of delight leading
to disaster?

Not necessarily so.

Please explain.

Delight in itself is neutral
as far as ethical outcome
is concerned.

Then it’s a matter of what
delights us?

Yes.

So, in the case of …

Yes?

I’m trying to express taking pleasure
or being pleased with activities
that bring pleasure to others
as well as to myself.

Go on.

In such a situation, how could
mutual pleasure lead to
degeneration?

Degeneration is a necessary part
of any outcome.

How?

It’s a Universal Law.

Then please explain how
this law works.

Everything changes.

When?

Continuously.

But, if shared pleasure is
an outcome then how can this
be considered as degenerating
anything or anybody?

When shared pleasure is increased
then displeasure or unhappiness
is decreased, or degenerated

The message?

That is the message.

Category:

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

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Tomorrow will come, whether or not …

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

51 – Thunder develops from The Cauldron – 50, as today develops
from yesterday, and Thunder co-creates 52 – Mountain, as today
must come before tomorrow.

Tomorrow will come, whether or not we prepare for it.
Yesterday helped us, more or less, to prepare for today’s
experiences, and how we live today will determine, to some
extent, how well we cope with whatever tomorrow brings us.

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
myself.

It applies to everyone, always.

Category:

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

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The Unknown; within and beyond

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

16 – Pleasure – Thunder over Earth

Pleasure develops out of Humility and becomes Following.

Humility does not require low self-esteem. We can recognize
and take pleasure in knowing how far we have come on our
journey through Life, and yet, still be in awe of how far
we still must travel to satisfy our Soul.

Where does pleasure come into that awareness?

Pleasure is a necessary food for the Soul. Without pleasure
there can be no incentive to move forward.

Why?

Pleasure provides meaning to Life.

How?

We must enjoy what we are doing or where our efforts
may lead us, or why do anything or move toward anything?

Fear of losing something?

What?

I don’t know.

Yes.

What does that mean?

The unknown will always be within us and beyond us.

How can it be within and beyond? Oh, no. Don’t tell me.

Yes. It is another Universal Law.

Category:

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

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Reduction without sacrificing

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom. “The focus of today’s lesson is on Hexagram 41 – Reduction – Mountain is over Lake.”

“How is that possible?”

“Mountains rise up out of water or earth.
They do things like that. Also, mountains are by nature, above
their surroundings, except for
mountains higher than themselves.

Reduction is the process of making
something less. It takes a superior
person to reduce whatever is under
her or his control.”

“Intentional downsizing?”

“Yes. Following a path of simplicity
does not require sacrificing personal
quality of life.”

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading, 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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Today Could not Exist Without Yesterday

Spirit shares His understanding of Hexagram 18 – Degeneration,

“Degeneration follows Following (17) in the order of life experiences represented by the hexagrams, and leads to Overseeing (19)”. Mountain is over Lake;  yin is over yang.

Degeneration suggests loss of quality or value, whether due to neglect, obsolescence, change in fashion, or whatever. Society seems almost eager to discard what is not shiny and new. Following expresses faithfulness to traditional lifestyles. This preservation of past traditions can create difficulties in adjusting to change.”

“How do we blend progress and tradition? Or, must we choose?”

“There can be no future without a past. When a branch becomes disconnected from its tree then it must be rooted or grafted on to another tree that has its roots firmly planted in the Earth. To completely disconnect from our past, if it was possible, would endanger our future. The past is the foundation of the present, and the present is the foundation of the future. Today could not exist without yesterday. It’s as simple as that.

…………….

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading

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Spirit explains I Ching 17 – Following

Following follows Delight.

 

We choose what and whom we follow, if we follow,

And we do, if only our own Way.

 

Delight suggests extreme pleasure; a light,

Personal pleasure, without much thought as to

Where it is leading us.

 

What’s wrong with pleasure?

 

Nothing, unless it becomes a Way of Life.

 

And then we’re doomed?

 

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 17 – Following

Today’s I Ching – 17 – Following

Lake above. Thunder below.

Following follows Delight.

 

Spirit explains:

 

We are all following something or someone.

We choose the path of temporary delight,

Success, adventure, learning, or whatever.

We travel alone or with others,

Intentionally or …

 

There is no or, He corrects Himself.

At some level of consciousness, we choose.

 

The message?

 

Why do you follow me?

 

You seem to know where I need to go.

 

Yes.

 

 

 

Category:

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

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I Ching 18 – Degeneration

Today’s I Ching – 18 – Degeneration

 

Mountain above. Wind below.

Degeneration follows Following.

 

Spirit explains:

 

Degeneration suggests decay. In the relationship

Between those who follow and those who lead,

Morale is low, as when one loses faith in her

Teacher.

 

What can be done if it is as it is?

 

She could pretend it was otherwise.

 

You would know.

 

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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