Selected wisdoms from the Yi (Hexagrams 43 and 47)

While going through a journal to find a particular divination, one had in mind to discuss about, I chanced upon some highlighted wisdoms in a February 1998 oracle given by the Yi in answer to a personal question, months after the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

In Hexagram 43 Guai / Break-through, the commentary after the Image reads:

"When water of a lake has risen up to heaven, there is reason to fear a cloudburst. Taking this as a warning; the Junzi forestalls a violent collapse. If a man were to pile up riches for himself alone, without considering others, he would certainly experience a collapse. For all gathering is followed by dispersion. Therefore the Junzi begins to distribute while he is accumulating."

"In the same way, in developing his character he takes care not to hardened in obstinacy but to remain receptive to impressions by help of strict and continuous self-examination."

With two moving lines, the first and the third, it changed to Hexagram 47 K’un / Oppression. And the commentary after the Judgment reads:

"Times of adversity are the reverse of times of success, but they can lead to success if they befall the right man. When a strong man meets with adversity, he remains cheerful despite all danger, and this cheerfulness is the source of later successes; it is that stability which is stronger than fate. He who lets his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly has no success. But if adversity only bends a man, it creates in him power to react that is bound in time to manifest itself. No inferior man is capable of this. Only the great man brings about good fortune and remains blameless."

"It is true that for the time being outward influence is denied him, because his words have no effect. Therefore in times of adversity it is important to be strong within and sparing of words."

From 1998 onwards, notwithstanding a drastic reduction of income and available funds, I increased the quantum of donations annually to my favorite charity (with the money/gifts distributed among orphanages and old folk homes countrywide) and one has also taken on the annual donation to the Society of the Blind after my father died. Since one had encouraged him to donate to the Society years earlier.

In a way, by writing this blog one may also be distributing while accumulating knowledge and experience.

For the first few years after the oracle, the message, ’Be cheerful’ appeared on the screen of my mobile phone whenever it was switched on. One no longer required that reminder since changing the outdated analogue phone with another free mobile.

It has been eight long years running with variable degrees of adversity and oppression. Of late, there have been some encouraging signs of recovery. In continuing to follow the Yi’s guidance and its wisdoms, one may finally see the light at the end of the tunnel this year or the next. Hopefully the recovery will big enough to allow one to once again become a flying dragon in the heavens!

Meanwhile, Cheerio!