I Ching
No revolution in outer things is possible without prior revolution in one's
inner way of being.
Whatever change you aspire to in your affairs must be preceded by a change
in heart, an active deepening and strengthening of your resolve to meet
every event with equanimity, detachment, and innocent goodwill.
When this spiritual poise is achieved within, magnificent things are
possible without.
(I Ching)
Book of changes
The I Ching is an ancient Chinese method of making
choices.
Essentially you are required to think about one specific issue and have a
clear question in mind, such as "Should I take that job?"
Then you consult the I Ching and read a verse.
What you read must be considered in the context of your current issue and
the question you are asking.
The Book of Changes is not foretelling the future or providing you with an
answer.
It serves merely to offer some perspective on the matter.
Each verse is designed to broaden your
perception.
Horoscope?
Some people see the I Ching as being like a horoscope or
an oracle.
This seems rather superstitious.
The Book of Changes is an effective way of considering new
possibilities.
It serves as a mirror or sounding board for our own thoughts; a way to bring
forth deeper concerns, ideas and doubts.
In itself, it tells us nothing we did not already have within us.
How
you are
The Book of Changes presents
statements that are read relative to your own particular state of mind upon
reading.
You read it according to how you are not according to how it is.
The I Ching offers
no predictions and no advice. It asks you to see what is within and intuit what
happens next. You may choose to act or not-act.
An incident or event
may seem problematic in the immediate moment, but over time it may seem
fortuitous.
What comes next may enrich your experience.
The verses are akin to a person replying to a question. The answers are not
specific or necessarily useful in themselves - is it how we use the
new insight relative to what we already know that matters.
For example: "Should I take that job?"
If the I Ching urges 'caution in undertaking new endeavours', then
you will interpret the reading relative to how you already feel:
If uncertain: you may decide not to take the job
If keen to take the job, you may take it, but with the awareness that things may not work out
The I Ching echoes our own consciousness.
Eight choices?
The I Ching operates on the premise that any given moment in
time offers 8 potential courses of action.
For example, we could:
Sit down
Do nothing
Drink some water
Say something
Kick
Punch
Yield
Read a book
Each one is a latent course of
action.
We should attach no significance to any of the
eight choices.
This is simply an illustration. There may be many more choices in front of you.
Eight is just a number.
The important thing is to see that life is not black and white, this or that.
We can do many different things. We have many variables and choices before us.
More...
Page created 2 September 1998