Se débarrasser de la concurrence
On creuse pour améliorer sa position. taoscopy.com
Richesse14
L'abondance est présente. Utilisez vos ressources judicieusement et partagez généreusement. Célébrez le succès avec humilité et grâce, en sachant que la véritable richesse vient de l'équilibre et de l'intégrité.
↓ Line 1
Éviter les influences nuisibles conduit à un chemin irréprochable.
↓ Line 2
La préparation et la capacité permettent des entreprises réussies.
↓ Line 3
La générosité et la noblesse d'esprit sont récompensées, au-delà de la portée des esprits étroits.
↓ Line 4
Maintenir des limites claires et une conscience de soi conduit à une vie sans reproche.
↓ Line 5
Être ouvert et honnête tout en préservant sa dignité apporte la bonne fortune.
↓ Contemplation20
Faites une pause et observez le monde qui vous entoure. Gagnez en clarté en vous distanciant de l'implication immédiate, ce qui permet d'avoir une perspective plus large. La perspicacité vient de la capacité à voir à la fois la vue d'ensemble et les détails subtils.
Lectures originales
14 Richesse
Autres titres : Possession en grande mesure, Le symbole de la grande possession, Souveraineté, Grande possession, Le grand possesseur, Grande richesse, Abondance, Avoir ce qui est grand, "Souvent signifie des choses autres que des possessions matérielles ou des réalisations. Comptez vos bénédictions car elles sont nombreuses." -- D.F. Hook
Jugement
Legge :Richesse signifie grand progrès et succès.
Wilhelm/Baynes :Possession en grande mesure. Suprême succès.
Blofeld : Celui qui possède beaucoup -- succès suprême !
Liu : Grandes possessions. Grand succès.
Ritsema/Karcher : Grande possession, Croissance printanière. [Cet hexagramme décrit votre situation en termes de votre relation à une préoccupation dominante ou une idée centrale. Il souligne que l'organisation de tous vos efforts autour de cette idée est la manière adéquate de la gérer...]
Shaughnessy : La grande possession : Réception primordiale.
Cleary (1) : Dans grande possession sont création et développement.
Cleary (2) : Grande possession est grand succès.
Wu : Grande richesse est primordiale et omniprésente.
L'Image
Legge : Feu sur le Ciel -- l'image de Richesse. Le supérieur réprime le mal et nourrit la vertu conformément à la volonté bienveillante du ciel.
Wilhelm/Baynes : Feu dans le ciel au-dessus : l'image de Possession en grande mesure. Ainsi le supérieur freine le mal et favorise le bien, et obéit ainsi à la volonté bienveillante du ciel.
Blofeld : Cet hexagramme symbolise le feu dans les cieux. [Quand le trigramme pour le ciel est au-dessus, tout ce qui est en dessous peut en être séparé ; quand il est en dessous, il indique une fusion ou un mélange avec ce qui est au-dessus. La signification ici est que la splendeur d'un très grand homme éclaire les cieux.] Le Supérieur réprime ceux qui sont mauvais et soutient les vertueux. Il s'accorde avec joie au ciel et exécute ses commandements.
Liu : Feu sur le ciel symbolise Grandes possessions. Le supérieur réprime le mal et honore la vertu, et suit ainsi la volonté du ciel et attend le destin.
Ritsema/Karcher : Feu situé au-dessus du ciel. Grande possession. Un chun tzu utilise la haine terminée pour afficher l'amélioration. Un chun tzu utilise le céder au ciel pour renoncer au destin.
Cleary (1) : Le feu est dans le ciel ;grande possession.Ainsi la personne supérieure arrête le mal et promeut le bien, obéissant au ciel et acceptant son ordre.
Cleary (2) : … Les dirigeants obéissent à la nature et acceptent son ordre en arrêtant le mauvais et en promouvant le bien.
Wu : Le feu au-dessus et le ciel en dessous forment Grande richesse.Ainsi le jun zi réprime le mal et promeut le bien ; il se conforme à la volonté du ciel pour enrichir sa vie.
COMMENTAIRE
Confucius/Legge :Richesse montre la ligne magnétique à la place du dirigeant central, et honorée par les lignes dynamiques au-dessus et en dessous. La figure est composée des trigrammes de Force et de Clarté. La ligne centrale de Clarté répond à la ligne centrale de Force, aboutissant à une action opportune. Cela indique un grand progrès et succès.
Legge : Richesse signifie "grandes possessions", et symbolise un royaume, une famille ou un individu dans un état de prospérité. Le danger dans une telle position réside dans l'orgueil qu'elle est susceptible d'engendrer. Ici cependant, tout est contre cela : la place d'honneur est occupée par une ligne magnétique, de sorte que le dirigeant sera humble, et toutes les lignes dynamiques lui répondront avec une allégeance sympathique. Le siège du dirigeant est dans la position centrale du trigramme de Clarté, et donc sa force est dirigée par l'intelligence, et toutes ses actions sont opportunes, comme les saisons du ciel.
Le feu au-dessus du ciel brille loin -- symbolisant l'immensité du territoire de la richesse. Développer la vertu et réprimer le mal est conforme à la volonté du ciel, qui a donné à tous les hommes une nature adaptée à la bonté.
Cleary (2) : Tous les états d'être ont cette essence inhérente en eux et sont en effet faits de cette essence, mais tous les états autres que celui de l'illumination complète sont en désaccord avec cette essence d'une manière ou d'une autre. La bouddhéité est lorsque vous vous accordez avec cette essence.
Wu : Comme le soleil brille haut dans le ciel, le bon et le mauvais seront exposés. La responsabilité du jun zi est de les discriminer. Il agit conformément à la nature de la bonté (la volonté du ciel) pour enrichir sa vie.
NOTES ET PARAPHRASES
Jugement : Le plus grand type de Richesse découle de la promotion de l'Œuvre.
Le Supérieur gère ses forces conformément aux objectifs de l'Œuvre.
Richesse est l'inverse de la figure précédente, Union des Forces. Si le treizième hexagramme dépeint un processus d'union, le quatorzième pourrait être vu comme l'achèvement de ce processus. Avoir ses forces intérieures correctement unies est en effet Possession en grande mesure, qui est le titre que Wilhelm donne à cette figure.
Il est souligné dans l'Image que cette Richesse doit être administrée conformément à la "volonté bienveillante du ciel,” c'est-à-dire : les principes de l'Œuvre doivent toujours guider ses choix si l'on ne veut pas perdre l'équilibre et devenir appauvri par l'illusion.
Le supérieur considère une riche possession de principes moraux comme un honneur, et la paix en sa personne comme une richesse. Chou Tun-I
Line 1
Legge : La première ligne, dynamique, montre qu'il n'y a pas d'approche de ce qui est nuisible, et il n'y a pas d'erreur. Qu'il y ait une prise de conscience de la difficulté et du danger de la position, et il n'y aura pas d'erreur jusqu'à la fin.
Wilhelm/Baynes : Pas de relation avec ce qui est nuisible. Il n'y a pas de blâme en cela. Si l'on reste conscient de la difficulté, on reste sans blâme.
Blofeld : N'ayant aucun contact avec le mal, il est irréprochable ; par conséquent, même s'il est impliqué dans des ennuis, il reste sans faute.
Liu : Éviter le nuisible n'apporte aucun blâme. Conscience de la difficulté -- également sans blâme. [Cette ligne indique tristesse et confusion mais aussi qu'on peut les éviter en étant prudent.]
Ritsema/Karcher : Sans se mêler au mal. En aucune façon fautif. Labeur par conséquent sans faute.
Shaughnessy : Il n'y a pas d'échange de mal qui ne soit pas un problème ; si en difficulté alors il n'y aura pas de problème.
Cleary (1) : S'il n'y a pas d'association avec ce qui est nuisible, on n'est pas blâmable. Si vous luttez, il n'y aura pas de faute.
Cleary (2) : Tant qu'il n'y a pas de mal provenant de l'association, cela n'est pas blâmable. Si l'on lutte, il n'y aura pas de blâme.
Wu : Son désavantage est de n'avoir aucune association, mais ce n'est pas une erreur de sa part. S'il est conscient de sa position difficile, il sera sans reproche.
COMMENTAIRE
Confucius/Legge : Ne montre aucune approche de ce qui est nuisible. Wilhelm/Baynes : Si la première ligne de Possession en Grande Mesure n'a pas de relations, cela est nuisible. Blofeld : Cette ligne signifie que nous éviterons tout commerce avec le mal. Ritsema/Karcher : Sans se mêler au mal en effet. Cleary (2) : L'absence de mal provenant de l'association. Wu : Son désavantage est de n'avoir aucune association.
Legge : La ligne une, bien que dynamique, est à la partie la plus basse de la figure, et n'a pas de corrélat au-dessus. Aucune influence externe n'a encore agi de manière nuisible sur lui. Qu'il fasse comme indiqué, et aucune influence nuisible ne l'affectera jamais.
NOTES ET PARAPHRASES
Siu : Au début, aucune menace n'a été reçue et aucun défi n'a été relevé. L'homme évite le mal en réalisant les dangers causés par l'opulence et en exerçant une retenue appropriée.
Wing : Bien que vous possédiez beaucoup, vous n'avez pas encore été défié dans votre position. Par conséquent, vous n'avez pas fait d'erreurs. Gardez à l'esprit que la situation est à son début et que des difficultés peuvent se présenter sur la route à venir. Avec une conscience avertie, vous pouvez rester sans reproche.
Éditeur : L'image suggère une situation de grand potentiel qui pourrait être ruinée par de mauvais choix d'action. Reconnaissez la difficulté de maintenir votre volonté dans de telles circonstances. La version de Wilhelm du commentaire confucéen et les traductions de Wu de la ligne et du commentaire ne suivent pas les autres traducteurs. Leurs interprétations semblent anormales à moins que la situation spécifique ne le confirme.
Il y a simplement une fine frontière entre l'individuation en tant que processus conscient et la perturbation et la dissolution de la personnalité -- effondrement ou même psychose -- qui se produit lorsque l'inconscient prend le dessus. (D'où aussi la proximité du génie et de la folie et le danger des méthodes de "raccourci" pour entrer dans l'inconscient, comme les drogues.) L'issue de la confrontation avec les pouvoirs numineux dépend de l'attitude de l'ego. E.C. Whitmont -- La Quête Symbolique
A. Malgré la difficulté, restez à l'écart de tout ce qui pourrait menacer le Travail.
B. Soyez très prudent dans vos choix maintenant.
Line 2
Legge : La deuxième ligne, dynamique, montre un grand chariot avec sa charge. Dans quelque direction que l'on avance, il n'y aura pas d'erreur.
Wilhelm/Baynes : Un grand chariot pour le chargement. On peut entreprendre quelque chose. Pas de blâme.
Blofeld : Il y a de grands chariots de ravitaillement. [Apparemment, nous n'avons pas à craindre l'échec par manque de ressources.] S'il y a un objectif (ou une destination) désiré, se mettre en route (pour l'atteindre) n'impliquera pas d'erreur.
Liu : Charger le grand chariot. Entreprendre sans blâme. [On peut s'attendre à réussir son entreprise et à acquérir des biens.]
Ritsema/Karcher : Le grand chariot utilisé pour transporter. Possédant une direction. Sans faute.
Shaughnessy : Le grand chariot est utilisé pour transporter ; il y a un endroit où aller ; il n'y a pas de problème.
Cleary (1) : Utiliser une grande voiture pour le transport, quand il y a un endroit où aller, il n'y a pas de faute.
Cleary (2) : Utiliser une grande voiture pour le transport, il y a un endroit où aller, etc.
Wu : Transporter dans un chariot vers une certaine destination est sans faute.
COMMENTAIRE
Confucius/Legge : Cela se réfère à la vertu accumulée par le sujet de la ligne, de sorte qu'il ne subira aucune perte dans la conduite des affaires. Wilhelm/Baynes : Accumuler au milieu ; ainsi aucun mal ne résulte. Blofeld : Un endroit où des provisions ont été accumulées échappera au danger. Ritsema/Karcher : Amasser au centre, ne pas détruire en effet. Cleary (2) : Si la charge est équilibrée, vous ne faillirez pas. Wu : Signifie accumuler au centre sans échec.
Legge : La deuxième ligne dynamique a son corrélat approprié dans la cinquième ligne dirigeante de la figure, et subordonnera sa force à son humilité.
NOTES ET PARAPHRASES
Siu : Les vertus accumulées et les aides compétentes permettent à l'homme d'assumer de grandes responsabilités. Comme un énorme chariot prêt à être chargé, il subordonne la force à l'humilité.
Wing : Vous avez non seulement d'énormes ressources à utiliser, mais vous possédez également les moyens de coordonner ces atouts et de les faire fonctionner pour vous. Une telle ingéniosité vous permettra de tenter sans crainte des entreprises ambitieuses.
Éditeur : Un chariot est un "vaisseau" qui contient quelque chose ainsi qu'un véhicule qui peut aller quelque part. Ainsi, l'image suggère le pouvoir d'accomplir une tâche ou d'atteindre un objectif.
Si un homme adore le Soi seulement comme son véritable état, son travail ne périt pas, car tout ce qu'il désire, il l'obtient de ce Soi. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
A. L'image favorise le progrès dans l'avancement du Travail.
B. Un véhicule réceptif.
C. Une accumulation de vertu permet le progrès.
Line 3
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows us a feudal prince presenting his offerings to the Son of Heaven. An inferior man would be unequal to such a duty.
Wilhelm/Baynes: A prince offers it to the Son of Heaven. A petty man cannot do this.
Blofeld: A prince may win rewards from his emperor, but this is beyond an ordinary man's power.
Liu: A duke makes an offering to the emperor. The inferior man is unable to do this.
Ritsema/Karcher: A prince availing-of Growing, tending- towards heavenly sonhood. Small People nowhere controlling.
Shaughnessy: The duke uses aromatic grass to the Son of Heaven; the little man is not capable of it.
Cleary (1): The work of barons serves the son of heaven. Petty people are incapable of this.
Cleary (2): Impartial action gets through to the ruler. Small people, etc.
Wu: A duke has the honor of dining with the king. The little man is unworthy of the honor.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: An inferior man in such a position does himself harm. Wilhelm/Baynes: A petty man harms himself. Blofeld: The little man would only harm himself in the attempt. [This omen suggests that a great goal can be won only by someone very powerful or distinguished; others would be well advised not to attempt it.]Ritsema/Karcher: Small People harmful indeed. Cleary (2): Small people would be harmed. Wu: This will be unfitting to the little man.
Legge: Line three is dynamic in a correctly dynamic place. The top line of the lower trigram is the proper place for a feudal lord. He will humbly serve the condescending ruler in the fifth place. An inferior man in the same position, but without the virtue, would give himself airs.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The superior man places his property and talents at the service of the ruler and the public. The inferior man employs them for his own gain.
Wing: A superior-minded person will place his talents or resources at the disposal of his leader or his community. Through this type of open generosity he is benefited, for he is loyally supported in turn. A lesser man cannot do this.
Editor: This line is often received under painful conditions in which a sacrifice of some kind is demanded. Blofeld and Wu’s versions differ conceptually from the other translators, and may be considered eccentric unless the matter under question supports their interpretations.
Whether your task demands abject poverty of you or gives you the greatest wealth, you must always remember that nothing, absolutely nothing, ever or anywhere really belongs to you. On the contrary, everything is God’s property, and from his property you receive something only for your actual needs, corresponding to your task. Just as it's a matter of indifference to a canal whether more or less water flows through it, because the water doesn't belong to it, you too must regard everything fate gives you as something that comes to you from God, and something you must pass on. Elisabeth Haich --Initiation
A. Sacrifice your ego-autonomy for the good of the Work. This is impossible for one who has not advanced beyond his own narrow self-interest.
B. A superior man's meat is an inferior man's poison.
C. A difficult sacrifice is called for.
Line 4
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows its subject keeping his great resources under restraint. There will be no error.
Wilhelm/Baynes: He makes a difference between himself and his neighbor. No blame.
Blofeld: Pride is not involved -- no error!
Liu: He distinguishes between himself and his friends. This brings no blame.
Ritsema/Karcher: In-no-way one's preponderance . Without fault.
Shaughnessy: It is not his fullness ; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Repudiate self-aggrandizement and there is no fault.
Cleary (2): Negating self-inflation, there is no blame.
Wu: He who keeps his strength under restraint will not be humiliated.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: His wisdom discriminates clearly what he ought to do. Wilhelm/Baynes: He is clear, discriminating, and intelligent. Blofeld: Implies the possession of very great discriminatory powers. [Such as the power to recognize how very little of our success is really due to our own merits.]Ritsema/Karcher: Brightness differentiating clearly indeed. Cleary (2): Because the understanding is clear. Wu: Because he exercises clear discriminations.
Legge: The strength of line four is tempered by his position in a magnetic place. Hence he will do no injury to the mild ruler just above him.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man discriminates clearly what should be done. He keeps his strength under control, yields not to competition and envy, and does not injure the mild ruler.
Wing: Quell your pride and envy and do not attempt to compete with others or emulate those in power. Give your full attention to the business at hand and you will avoid mistakes.
Anthony: When we argue, we engage and compete with other people’s inferiors. We should remain disengaged. Even when we mentally argue with or inwardly look at the problem, we remain engaged, thinking of ways to deal with their inferiors. Such looking to the side causes us to deviate from our own direction.
Editor: Wilhelm and Liu both render this line in terms of making a distinction between oneself and others. The distinction to be made is to see the difference between the minister in line four and the ruler in line five -- i.e., don't overstep your authority or aspire above your proper place. The line can also refer to co-dependence to other people's illusions. You have your own unique path to follow: you cannot acquiesce to the unenlightened expectations of others without doing damage to yourself, to them, and to the Work. Choices like this are often extremely painful. This, however, does not absolve the aspirant from doing what the Work demands.
Better is one's own dharma, though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed. Better is death in the doing of one's own dharma: the dharma of another is fraught with peril. Bhagavad-Gita 3:35
A. Follow your own path and let others follow theirs.
B. The situation calls for discrimination and restraint.
C. Differentiate the difference between a superior and an inferior element in the situation.
Line 5
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows the sincerity of its subject reciprocated by that of all the others represented in the hexagram. Let her display a proper majesty, and there will be good fortune.
Wilhelm/Baynes: He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified, has good fortune.
Blofeld: His sense of confidence enables him to be sociable and well respected. A dignified bearing is an asset (literally, good fortune).
Liu: One is confident, sociable, and dignified. Good fortune. [Proud or aggressive actions will cause trouble. One should not be hasty but wait for the proper opportunity to act.]
Ritsema/Karcher: Your conforming: mingling thus, impressing thus. Significant.
Shaughnessy: His return is crossed-like, stooped-like; in the end it is auspicious.
Cleary (1): The trust is mutual. Power is auspicious.
Cleary (2): … It is fortunate to be awesome.
Wu: His sincerity matches the confidence the people place in him. His majesty matches the authority the people accord him. This will be auspicious.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: Her sincerity is reciprocated by all the others because it serves to stir and call out what is in their minds. Without a display of proper majesty they might otherwise feel too easy, and make no preparation to serve her. Wilhelm/Baynes: By his trustworthiness he kindles the will of others. The good fortune of his dignity comes from the fact that he acts easily, without prearrangements. Blofeld: His good fortune in winning the respect of others enables him to make changes without prior preparation. [This means that we shall be trusted even if we act unexpectedly.] Ritsema/Karcher: Trustworthiness uses shooting-forth purpose indeed. Impressing thus, having significance. Versatility and-also without preparing indeed. Cleary (2): Aspirations are aroused through faith ... Ease and freedom from preparation. Wu: His sincerity is to pursue what he sets out to do … Auspiciousness comes from simplicity and unpretentiousness.
Legge: Line five symbolizes the ruler. Mild sincerity is good in her, and influences her ministers and others. But a ruler must not be without an awe-inspiring majesty.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man and his people are mutually attracted to each other through unaffected sincerity. Benevolence on his part, however, must be accompanied by the proper display of majesty. Otherwise, the people will become insolent and lose their attitude of service.
Wing: Those whom you may influence are attracted to you through the bond of sincerity. Thus a truthful relationship exists. If you are overly familiar, however, attitudes may become too casual to get things accomplished. A dignified approach brings good fortune.
Editor: Psychologically, this line expresses the idea that the will of the ego to maintain the letter and spirit of the Work creates a climate of compliance among the other complexes within the psyche.
Whatever a great man does, that others follow;
Whatever he sets up as a standard, that the world follows.
Bhagavad-Gita 3: 21
A. A good example evokes virtue.
B. The ego is sincere yet firm with the psychic forces under its influence.
C. The image suggests a reciprocity of forces -- you get as good as you give.
20 Contemplation
Other titles: View, The Symbol of Steady Observation, Looking Down, Observation, Viewing, Looking Up, Observing, Admiration, To Examine, Rulers and Their Subjects, Introspection, Perception, Contemplation of the Work
Judgment
Legge: Contemplation shows us a worshipper who has purified himself, but must still present his sacrifice with that dignified sincerity which inspires reverence.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Contemplation . The ablution has been made, but not yet the offering. Full of trust they look up to him.
Blofeld: Lookingdown.[This word often means “contemplation" and I have so translated it when the context so requires.] The ablution has been performed, but not the sacrifice. Sincerity inspires respect. [This is generally understood to mean that the first step has been taken or that one has bound oneself to follow a certain course...but that the main duties are yet to be performed.]
Liu:Observation. The hand-washing ritual is completed, but the sacrifice is still to come. All done and looked upon with sincerity.
Ritsema/Karcher:Viewing: hand-washing and-also not worshipping. Possessing conformity, like a presence. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of something seen from a distance, out of immediate reach. It emphasizes that carefully observing and divining the meaning is the adequate way to handle it...]
Shaughnessy: Looking Up. Washing the hands but not making offering; there is a return with head held high.
Cleary (1): Observing, one has washed the hands but not made the offering; there is sincerity, which is reverent.
Wu:Admiration indicates a worshipper washing his hands in preparation for the offerings, but not participating in it. He shows sincerity and awe.
The Image
Legge: The image of earth and wind moving above it form Contemplation. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, examined the different regions of the kingdom to see the ways of the people, and set forth their instructions.
Wilhelm/Baynes: The wind blows over the earth: the image of Contemplation. Thus the kings of old visited the regions of the world, contemplated the people, and gave them instruction.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes wind blowing across the earth. The ancient rulers visited the different regions to keep watch over their people and carefully instruct them.
Liu: The wind blowing over the earth symbolizes Observation. The ancient kings visited their territories, observed the people, and gave instruction.
Ritsema/Karcher: Wind moving above earth. Viewing. The Earlier Kings used inspecting on-all-sides, viewing the commoners to set-up teaching.
Cleary (1): Wind is over the earth, observing. Thus did the kings of yore set up education after examination of the region and observation of the people.
Cleary (2): Wind travels over the earth – observing.Kings of yore examined the regions and observed the people to set up education. [In Buddhist terms, the ancient Buddhas examined the “regions” of possible experience and observed the people in various states of being, then set up various teachings to accommodate them, just as the wind travels over the earth reaching everywhere.]
Wu: The wind pervades above the earth; this is Admiration. Thus the ancient kings inspected various regions of the country, observed the sentiments of the people, and laid down their instructions.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge:Observation from above -- from the trigram of Flexibility surmounting the trigram of Docility. The ruler is in his correct central position, and thus exhibits his lessons to all below. He has purified himself, but not yet sacrificed. All beneath look to him and are transformed. When we contemplate the spirit-like way of heaven, we see how the four seasons proceed without error. The sages, in accordance with this spirit-like way, laid down their instructions, and all under heaven yield submission to them.
Legge: The Chinese character from which this hexagram is named is used in the sense of both seeing and being seen. The theme is the sovereign and his people -- how he shows himself to them, and how they in turn perceive him. The two dynamic lines at the top belong to the ruler, and the four magnetic lines below represent his subjects. In the Judgment the ruler is portrayed as a worshipper at the commencement of a sacrifice. He is the great Manifester in line five.
The lower trigram symbolizes earth, with the attribute of Docility; the upper trigram symbolizes wind, with the attributes of Flexibility and Penetration. Wind moving above the earth has the widest sweep, and nothing escapes its influence. The personal influence of the ruler effects much, but the ancient kings wished to add to that the power of published instructions which were specially adapted to the character and circumstances of the people.
The spirit-like way of heaven is the invisible order underlying the laws of nature. [Ed. Note: Ritsema/Karcher use the phrase: "Viewing Heaven's spirit tao... The all-wise person uses spirit tao to set-up teaching." Spirit(s), SHEN: independent spiritual powers that confer intensity on heart and mind by acting on the soul, KUEI; gods, daimons. Tao: way or path; ongoing process of being and the course it traces for each specific person or thing; keyword. The ideogram: go and head, leading and the path it creates.]
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Judgment: Contemplate your motivations and discern the purity of your intent. "Put your money where your mouth is.” or "Walk your talk.”
The Superior Man evaluates and rectifies his attitudes.
The "ancient kings” in the Image symbolize the creators of an original state of perfection -- an archetypal model toward which the superior man aspires. This idea is common to all mystical traditions, many of which depict this state in the image of an ideal or prototypical man. Here is a summary of the Gnostic conception:
Not only the body but also the "soul" is a product of the cosmic powers, which shaped the body in the image of the divine Primal (or Archetypal) Man and animated it with their own psychical forces: these are the appetites and passions of natural man, each of which stems from and corresponds to one of the cosmic spheres [i.e., planets] and all of which together make up the astral soul of man, his "psyche." H. Jonas -- The Gnostic Religion
In the Kabbalah, the template of this archetypal man (named Adam Kadmon) exists in each of the four realms of consciousness corresponding to intuition, intellect, emotion and sensation, and "he" is perceived as androgynous in all of these worlds except the last -- the "sensation” world of our physical spacetime reality.
The Adam of these first three worlds was androgynous. The Adam of the fourth world is the Adam of the expulsion, the Adam of flesh traversing the desert of his exile, and the Adam capable of reproducing himself now that he is no longer androgynous. C. Ponce -- Kabbalah
Considering that androgyny is one of the symbols used in the Western Mystery Tradition to depict the correct union of male and female forces within the psyche, we quickly recognize that the properly matched male and female correlate lines in theI Ching are a Chinese depiction of the identical concept. Note that the messages of the following three quotations are in complete accord with the goal of the Work as outlined in theI Ching:
Somewhere there is an Adam within each of us in need of restoration, in exile from the Garden. The aim of Kabbalism is the restoration of the divine man in the medium of mortal man. We are the laboratory and we are the workers who work in that space. C. Ponce --Kabbalah
Within our six-foot body we must strive for the form which existed before the laying down of heaven and earth. The Secret of the Golden Flower
The destiny of man is to build the Heavenly Jerusalem on Earth. In other words, to civilize a planet. It is the aim of the occultist, in consort with all men of good will, to bring about this heavenly fact into earthly reality. And the only way it will come about is by every man doing the right thing at the right time for twenty-four hours a day. Gareth Knight -- The Work of a Modern Occult Fraternity
The ancient kings in hexagram number-20 base their laws upon their recognition of diversity among the various forces which make up the kingdom of the psyche. Their divine regulations therefore represent the proper ecology existing between heaven and earth, yin and yang, male and female, Logos and Eros. In this regard, theI Ching's version of the Archetypal Man might be seen as hexagram number-63, Completion, in which the polarity of each of the lines is in perfect correlation. (See the editor's commentary on Hexagram number 11 for further insights into this idea.)
The theme of the hexagram is Contemplationof your situation to see if your attitude meets the archetypal standards of the Work. The worshipper in the Judgment has purified himself for sacrifice but has not yet carried it out. Wilhelm uses the word "ablution” in his translation of the Judgment. An ablution is a ritual cleansing associated with a religious rite:
Ablution: In alchemy ... the adept worker achieves [success] only by purifying his soul of all that commonly agitates it. Washing, then, symbolizes the purification not so much of objective and external evil as of subjective and inner evils ... The principle involved in this alchemic process is that implied in the maxim "Deny thyself." J. E. Cirlot --Dictionary of Symbols
It is important to note that the sacrifice has yet to be performed: preparation is meaningless until it is acted upon. Psychologically, this refers to intellectual "gnosis" which still needs to be grounded in behavior.
Wisdom is achieved very slowly. This is because intellectual knowledge, easily acquired, must be transformed into `emotional,' or subconscious, knowledge. Once transformed, the imprint is permanent. Behavioral practice is the necessary catalyst of this reaction. Without action, the concept will wither and fade. Theoretical knowledge without practical application is not enough ... Intellectually the answers have always been there, but this need to actualize by experience, to make the subconscious imprint permanent by `emotionalizing' and practicing the concept, is the key. Brian L. Weiss, MD -- Many Lives, Many Masters
Without changing lines, Contemplation is an oracular invitation for you to consider your situation and especially your motivations in regard to it. One way of doing this is to reduce everything to a brief written statement, including your best conscious conclusions. Then ask for a comment from the oracle -- often it will become apparent that you have been undergoing a kind of examination.
SUGGESTIONS FOR MEDITATION
The ancient kings are mentioned in the Images of both this figure and number twenty-one, Discernment, immediately following. What are the differences between Contemplation and Discernment, as depicted in these images? How does the concept of sacrifice relate to this, as mentioned in the Judgment? Compare the Judgment of this hexagram with hexagrams and lines 17:6, 45:2, 46:2, 46:4, 47:2, 47:5 and 63:5 for further insights on this extremely important tenet of the Work.