Friday, February 25, 2011

Breakthrough leads to Revolution

Hexagram 43 Guai / Breakthrough is made up of a broken (dark) line at the top with five non broken (light) lines below. It signifies that one weak line is sitting on top of five strong lines.

If in a prognostication, only the top line of Hexagram 1 Qian changes, the changed hexagram is Hexagram 43 Guai. It also means that the arrogant dragon in the top line of Hexagram 1 Qian becomes a weak line or inferior man sitting on top of the changed hexagram oppressing the five superior men below.

Remember my entries on the three types of men where a Junzi (superior man) or even a Da Ren (great man) can turn into a Xiao Ren (inferior man)? The arrogant dragon was once a Junzi or a Da Ren until he forgotten about the Way of Man.

The Judgment of Hexagram Guai says:

Breakthrough. One must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king. It must be announced truthfully. Danger. It is necessary to notify one’s own city. It does not further to resort to arms. It furthers one to undertake something.

Readers may ask how this judgment leads to revolution. It seems not. But read on.

The announcement is of an inferior man occupying a ruling position and oppressing superior men. There is danger in this truthful announcement but it is the right thing to do at this time.

Pause and think of how the revolution started in Tunisia and in Egypt.

The people have had enough of their oppressor (s) after so long. And they made a truthful announcement. Whether citizens of other states will revolt or not, or will be successful or not depends on many other factors. But resoluteness is key here (another meaning of this Hexagram).

The five superior men representing the people have to be resolute to push out the inferior man oppressing them. If the pushed out oppressor happens to be a ruler of the state, then there will be a change of government as a result of a revolution.

If only the rulers of nations understand and follow what the Holy sages and the ancients taught about the Tao of Man, then they would not have to face such dire consequences now or in the foreseeable future. As always in the Book of Changes, there are depicted ways out but it is too late to do anything. The tension build up and accumulated through the decades has to be released.

In case the discerning still does not agree that Breakthrough leads to Revolution, read this recent prognostication given by the Yi (by coincidence as usual over the years):

Nine in the second place means:

A cry of alarm. Arms at evening and at night. Fear nothing.


With this one line change, Hexagram 43 Guai / Breakthrough changed to Hexagram 49 Ge / Revolution.

The Judgment of Hexagram Ge says:

Revolution. On your own day you are believed. Supreme success, furthering through perseverance. Remorse disappears.

Good luck to the revolutionaries and the peoples oppressed by ruler(s) of their nation(s).

Meanwhile the Junzi and the able have to be watchful at all times. Since the great light has only just returned to Earth (refer earlier entry on ‘The returning great light’).

Cheerio!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Second wind

It is noted in the Wikipedia that long distance or marathon runners would love to get a second wind where possible when they run out of breath during the distance running. The second wind, if any, would allow out-of- breath athletes “to continue the run at top performance with less exertion”.

Such athletes would probably be in their prime and have trained very hard for this second wind phenomenon.

Neidan practitioners practising the ancient Chinese meditation may find, without initially realizing it, that they also possess second wind. Only when they test it would they realize this phenomenon.

A year or two, after practising the neidan (inner alchemy) meditation, my son who was attending primary school then wanted to race me up two flights of stairs at a public park. Fearing he would fall, I quickly chased after him as he ran up the forty over steps of stairs while my wife holding my few years old daughter watched. After climbing the stairs in haste, instead of panting as usual, I found a second wind as if the lungs were filled with a sudden burst of fresh air, it felt good, and my breathing reverted to normal.

Since the classics and Daoist texts do not deal with this second wind phenomenon, and lest I forget, I record it down with this blog entry.

When neidan practitioners learn how to breathe like a baby through their abdomen and via the backward flow, the Light circulates together with the Qi (breath) up to the mind and down again, there are many health benefits (some unrecorded) for them and through them, possibly for mankind.


Cheerio!

Friday, February 04, 2011

The returning great light

The holy sages and the ancient sages (Laozi, Confucius, and Mencius) advise the able to go into hiding whenever there is no Tao on earth. Those who did not hide or were too late to do so suffered the consequences. And history keeps repeating itself down the millennia.

The great wealth destruction from September 2008 onwards brought financial ruin to many across the world. Natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, and wind borne diseases which turned into worldwide epidemics killed many people.

That was why in early 2008 the Book of Changes warned this student, there was going to be no Tao on earth.

Of late, the I Ching has told me times are changing.

For Heaven is sending down the light for the sake of the people.

The returning great light and the accompanying wind will penetrate and disperse the darkness which had hurt so many people on earth over the past few years.

During this change, it is advisable for the able to remain cautious since it is a transition from disorder to order and such change takes time. Just do not miss this return of the great light, or they may have to wait for ten years.

With this heaven sent great light, it is time to cross the great waters, and achieve supreme success. What should I do? Practise charioting! Or write a book?