Handing over autonomy?

From the perspectives of using the Yi as a Book of Wisdom and/or an Oracle everyone is right!

(The statement together my following comments (with proper names omitted) were recently posted in the Answers blog in relation to a brief discussion on handing over autonomy to the Yi. And whether the questions asked were wrong?)

Only those who are obsessed with repeated questionings on frivolous matters over a short spate of time get a reprimand from the Yi. This shows the lack of sincerity in the diviner. One does observe this occasionally among new students mainly because of their own exuberance or being misguided sometimes by seniors in forums. When the same hexagram appears several times in a row it is time to sit up and take note. The Yi wants to tell you something. No autonomy is handed over to the Yi if one knows what one is doing or what has to be done with no obsession. Otherwise how can earnest Yi students ever become a Junzi in time to come!

Preponderance over both the question (before it is asked) and the answer is of equal importance. Sincerity and seriousness of purpose required for a divination is an often quoted advice. Any question to the Yi will be answered. But was the question correct in the first place and did the Yi really speak to the diviner have to be considered by those who want to help in an interpretation of the answer.

The thread author’s diverse questions to the Yi were sincere and serious. And she did research on nutrition before asking. Therefore she was not wrong in asking a universal nutrition question that can affect the human species (for her new book).

Although one may not be qualified to interpret the answers, here is a tip for neidan (inner alchemy) practitioners. You may have to abstain from all kinds of meat when you want to progress to a higher spiritual level.