Insight from The Book of Changes
Eric M. Daub
The other morning, I was feeling discouraged, as many of us are during this time of terrible assault on our democracy, and I went back to my old friend, the I Ching, or Book of Changes, to ask about the state of things. Nothing specific, just something about what is happening and/or what, if anything, can be done about it. I have three pennies from 1957. These were minted the year that I was conceived, when my parents were missionaries in post-war Japan. My ritual is a simple one: 1). Calm myself 2). Focus on the point of inquiry and 3). Toss the coins 6 times. Of course, the coins fall randomly, but they fall in a specific way at that specific date and time. I have found that if this is done with respect for the ancient wisdom, sincerity, and trust, one has access to a source of light and reason. The book speaks in images and our emotions and fears and expectations make it difficult to interpret. But that morning I received a response that gave me a great deal of hope for our collective future.
I received the 18th Hexagram, ku, “Work On What Has Been Spoiled” with no changing lines. When there are no changing lines it generally means that the image is a condition or a reminder of a certain state of affairs. There are several versions of the I Ching and I generally read the translation by Wilhelm Baynes first before studying the other texts that I have collected over the years. The text of the Wilhelm Baynes version states: “The Chinese character ku represents a bowl in whose contents worms are breeding. This means decay. It has come about because the gentle indifference of the lower trigram (Sun, The Gentle, Wind) has come together with the rigid inertia of the upper (Ken, Keeping Still, Mountain), and the result is stagnation. Since this implies guilt, the conditions embody a demand for removal of the cause.” In the Judgement it is stated: “Work On What Has Been Spoiled Has supreme success. It furthers one to cross the Great Water. Before the starting point, three days, After the starting point, three days.” This is explained then with the following: “What has been spoiled through man’s fault can be made good again through man’s work. It is not immutable fate…but rather the abuse of human freedom. Work toward improving conditions promises well, because it accords with the possibilities of the time. We must not recoil from work and danger—symbolized by crossing the great water—but must take hold energetically. Success depends, however, on proper deliberation. This is expressed by the lines, “Before the starting point, three days. After the starting point, three days” We must first know the causes of corruption before we can do away with them: hence it is necessary to be cautious during the time before the start. Then we must see to it that the new way is safely entered upon, so that a relapse may be avoided”. This is followed by the image and the image states: “The wind blows low on the mountain: The image of Decay. Thus the superior man stirs up the people and strengthens their spirit.” Then the text reads: “The superior man must first remove stagnation by stirring up public opinion, as the wind stirs everything, and must then strengthen and tranquilize the character of the people, as the mountain gives tranquility and nourishment to all that grows in its vicinity”.
This is the ancient wisdom handed down to us from the sages of China. I feel that this is a definite reflection of our current situation. The inertia of the lower trigram can be seen in the complacency of the American voter. More voters didn’t vote than voted for Trump? Also, the rigidity of the upper trigram is the rigidity of our system where change is somehow dangerous and to be avoided and the status quo is exalted and encouraged. The fact that the I Ching states that this is not immutable fate and that we can work to correct it gives hope and positive direction. The people can be stirred to action and we can fix what is broken and reform what is corrupt. We can’t do it alone; It takes a village. Every translation of the Book of Changes is only a translation. The Chinese characters have no exact translation into English. I respect the Wilhelm Baynes version because I’m Anglo Saxon and he, an Anglo Saxon, spent decades in China studying the original texts with Chinese scholars. Master Ni, Hua Ching released a version entitled “The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth”. Master Ni translates the Chinese character for Hexagram 18 as “Correcting the Corruption”. The Eranos Foundation edition entitled “The Original I Ching Oracle” translates the Chinese character as “Decay”. In Carol K. Anthony’s edition entitled “A Guide to the I Ching” the 18th hexagram is translated as “Work on What Has Been Spoiled”. The R.L. Wing elucidation translates it as “Repair”. I only offer up this response from the universe to anyone that would be interested because I have benefited from the I Ching in my life. Usually, I ask about my personal concerns, but we live in unusual times and I find our collective concern to be more important than anything else. The coins fall as they fall. I have found wisdom in chance. Any comments are welcome.
