#64 未济 Uncompleted – Finish it Wisely & Boldly.

#64未济 Uncompleted – Finished it Wisely & Boldly.

未济        火水未济       离上坎

This hexagram has a Fire trigram on top of a Water trigram. Fire has yet to be put out by water signifying ‘yet to complete’, uncompleted or unfinished. The six lines are all in the wrong positions (vs 63 Completed) and need to bring them to the right positions to be completed. This hexagram represents spring, coming out of winter.

Description:

1. 亨: the smooth flow of progress
2. 小狐汔济，濡其尾，无攸利: A little fox nearing the edge of a stream in the crossing. It has its tail submerged. There is nothing beneficial to do (except to continue the present journey to completion).

Textual Commentary:

彖曰：未济，亨；柔得中也。 小狐汔济，未出中也。  濡其尾，无攸利；  不续终也。 虽不当位，刚柔应也。

Uncompleted is smooth progress. The soft gained a central position. A little fox crossing and getting near the edge of a stream. It has not developed out of the central yet. It immerses its tail. There is nothing beneficial to do. Not continuing to end means ending in failure. Though the positions are incorrect they work together.

Pictorial Commentary: 象曰：火在水上，未济；君子以慎辨物居方。

The fire on top of the water is uncompleted. A wise man carefully discerns the situation and decides its position and direction to follow.

Moral Teachings:

1. Uncompleted means there is progress to be made.
2. It is important not to give up when we are close. Complete this task first. Nothing else is beneficial until we finish this one and reach the shore. Don’t start a new project until we complete this current one.
3. Study and analyze the situations, find the right positions and order of things, and take action to move in the right direction to get all positions right.  i.e. complete the puzzle and put all pieces in the right position.

Stage 1 Begin Six: Wet the Tail. There is blame and regret. 初六：濡其尾，吝。
The pictorial commentary explains that the tail got wet due to a lack of knowledge, especially of the endpoints. 象曰：濡其尾，亦不知极也。

Lacking knowledge, and don’t know where are the endpoints and directions to move will result in us spending all the time in water and getting our tails submerged. We can stay forever in the water. We need to reach the shore. Hence our soaking in the water is pitiful. Do some situation analysis and plan to move somewhere.  There is the same “wetting the tail” situation in #63 Complete line 1. That line has no fault because we know what we are doing there.

Stage 2 Second Nine: Drag the wheels. Perseverance in righteousness is good fortune. 九二：曳其轮，贞吉。
The pictorial commentary explains that righteous conduct brings fortune. 象曰：九二贞吉，中以行正也。

We have made progress in stage 2. We pursue righteousness and drag our wheels out of the mud. We know where we are doing and what we are doing. It is good fortune.

Stage 3 Third Six: Uncompleted. Overcome the pending disaster. It is beneficial for crossing the great river. 六三：未济，征凶，利涉大川。
The pictorial commentary explains the danger that comes from incorrect positioning. 象曰：未济征凶，位不当也。

We are correcting a bad positioning. There will always be a danger of ending in disaster. But we must overcome the danger to accomplish great things. We cannot fear the danger and then give up. We just have to face the danger with wisdom, caution, and courage. Since we may lack the ability and resources. It is best to get and mobilize others to help us to work together on a worthy project.

Great accomplishment is about putting the wrong things right. Offering new and great benefits that were not there.

Some examples are:

• Improving fuel efficiencies and developing green energy.
• Eliminating the CO2 and helping to solve global warming.
• Extending the healthy life and curing major illnesses etc. etc.

All these projects mean lots of challenges and risks. It is likely beyond the effort of a single person. But he can start and get others to join.

Stage 4 Forth Nine: Perseverance in righteousness brings fortune. There are no regrets. Surprise the Devil’s country by attacking it. For three years, there are rewards from the great Kingdom. 九四：贞吉，悔亡，震用伐鬼方，三年有赏于大国。
The pictorial commentary explains the good fortune and no regrets that come from the execution of our mission. 象曰：贞吉悔亡，志行也。

We take up the challenge of accomplishing a great worthy project and a righteous cause. With the support and help of great others, we surprise and shock the opposition with our aggressive attack.

Stage 5 Fifth Six: Perseverance in righteousness brings good fortune. There are no regrets. The light of integrity and sincerity of the wise men shines. Good fortune. 六五：贞吉，无悔，君子之光，有孚，吉。
The pictorial commentary explains that the light of the wise men is brightly shining and brings forth good fortune 象曰：君子之光，其晖吉也。

Opposition overcome. The light of righteousness, integrity, and sincerity shines forth throughout the country and brings forth benefits and blessings for all to enjoy. This is a great accomplishment.

Stage 6 Top Nine: Celebration with the drinking of wine in confidence. There is no fault. But if one wet his head, he loses his right conduct. 上九：有孚于饮酒，无咎，濡其首，有孚失是。
The commentary explains that wetting the head shows a lack of self-control. 象曰：饮酒濡首，亦不知节也。

Celebration of success, drinking of wine, has no fault. It is only at fault if one loses self-control by getting drunk – filling our head with wine!

The first three lines talk about water and the last three lines talk about the light of the fire.

Summary

1. Don’t give up until one complete the task.
2. Analyze the situations.  Find the right positions. Take action to move in the right direction and get all the positions right.
3. Accomplishing this worthy project is good enough (see below). No need to be distracted by other things.

Wisdom from the Stage Lines:

1. Find the Vision. Wet the Tail. Wandering in water. Pitiful. Do SWOT and move with purpose and direction.
2. Keep moving. In the Mud. Drag the wheel and move in the right direction. Spend the effort wisely.
3. Scale Up. Overcoming danger and Crossing the Great River. No great accomplishment comes easily. Cautiously overcome the danger and move on. Get help from others to do it together.
4. Shock the Opposition. Aggressively accomplish the righteous cause with help from others. Shock and overcome the opposition.
5. Success – Shinning Light. Mission accomplished. Light of integrity and righteousness shine throughout the land and bring benefits to all.
6. Maintain the Light of Integrity. Celebrating success with wine is OK. Don’t go overboard and be drunk.

Lim Liat (c) 30/6/2010

#63 既濟 Completed – Need Watchfulness & Renewal

 

#63 既濟 Completed – Need Watchfulness & Renewal

既济        水火既济       坎上离下

This hexagram has a Water trigram on top of a Fire trigram. Water has boiled and hence represents the completion or completed. This is the hexagram with the yang(strong) and yin(soft) lines at the right position. Yang should be in an odd position (1,3,5)and Yin should be in an even position (2,4,6) hence it is complete. In a world of endless changes, completion represents the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next cycle. There is much to learn and prepare for the future when one reaches the end of a cycle.

Description:

1. 亨: a smooth flow of progress
2. 小利贞: little benefits for perseverance in righteousness
3. 初吉终乱: it starts with good fortune but ends with chaos.

(In ancient writing, there is no punctuation. Hence some translations put it as 亨小, 利贞. It then becomes small progress or progress for the small,  and beneficial for perseverance in righteousness. It becomes clearer in the textual commentary.)

Textual Commentary:

彖曰：既济，亨，小者亨也。 利贞，刚柔正而位当也。 初吉，柔得中也。 终止则乱，其道穷也。

Completed is smooth progress. The little ones have smooth progress. It is beneficial for perseverance in righteousness. The strong and soft occupy the right positions. The beginning has good fortune because the strong occupy the central state. Ending in chaos is because there are no more ways to go.

Pictorial Commentary: 象曰：水在火上，既济；君子以思患而预防之。
Water on top of Fire makes for Completion. Wise men think of impending disasters and make preparations to prevent them.

Moral Teachings:

1. To complete a project or come to an ending state is good fortune. We have accomplished what we have set up to achieve. All will benefit even the ones that contributed little to the success. They contributed little, maybe of their capability, or maybe they joined the project late. Nevertheless, they all share in the rewards of success.
2. Completed does not mean we henceforth do away with the righteous conduct that brought us here. There are new heights to climb as life goes on. We must continue in the righteous conduct that brings us success.
3. Success comes from each one of us recognizing our roles and positions and contributing from there. We do not try to become or do the work of others. We don’t cross boundaries. We contribute from our strengths and don’t do things that we are weak at.
4. Success comes from softly motivating people to contribute their best rather than forcing people to work.
5. Success tends to cause us to lose our guard and rest on our laurels. We must always have foresight and think of the potential dangers. Constant renewal is needed. We prepare and prevent potential disasters from happening. Then we will not fulfill the prediction of “begin well but ends in chaos”.

Stage 1 Begin Nine: Drag the wheels; wet the tail; there is no fault. 初九：曳其轮，濡其尾，无咎。
The pictorial commentary explains that ‘dragging the wheels’ is the right thing to do and there is no fault. 象曰：曳其轮， 义无咎也。

In the pursuit of righteous conduct in challenging times and circumstances, we may encounter difficulty, get the wheels of our truck stuck, and need to be dragged out and get our tails, signifying our back, wet representing slanders. But, it is OK as we have already moved ahead.

Stage 2 Second Six: The woman lost her screen (of carriage, some translations say accessories). There is no need to pursue it. It will be gained back. 六二：妇丧其茀，勿逐，七日得。
The pictorial commentary explains that “gaining back in seven days” is because of the practice of the way of the middle (Balanced ways). 象曰：七日得，以中道也。

Pursuing the course of righteousness will suffer some losses. But these are external coverings. The core is OK. Because of righteous and balanced conduct, the losses will be paid back. The people discovered the truth and saw the benefits of our work and hence paid us back for our losses. It does not take too long, only one week signifying some reasonably short time.

Stage 3 Third Nine: King Gao Zhong attacked the Devil’s region. It took three years to conquer it. Do not use little(evil) men. 九三：高宗伐鬼方，三年克之，小人勿用。
The pictorial commentary explains that taking three years to conquer is very tiring. 象曰：三年克之，惫也。

To fully conquer and get rid of evil like bad attitudes, habits, and practices need a longer time. It may take up to 3 years.  Cultural change is a difficult thing. It could be very wearisome but don’t give up halfway. Persist to the end. We must not use those selfish and

Stage 4 Forth Six: Fine colorful silk clothing turns into rags. Be watchful all day long. 六四：繻有衣袽，终日戒。
The pictorial commentary explains that all-day vigilance is because there are doubts 象曰：终日戒，有所疑也。

If we are not watchful then a good thing will become bad like fine silk becoming rags.  Success does not do away with being watchful. It requires constant vigilance and maintenance to preserve the original shine and usefulness.

Stage 5 Fifth Nine: The Eastern neighbor’s killing of an ox (as an offering) is not as good as the Western neighbor’s spring worship of simple offerings. Sincerity brings blessings. 九五：东邻杀牛，不如西邻之禴祭，实受其福。
The pictorial commentary explains it is sincerity that brings great fortune. 象曰：东邻杀牛，不如西邻之时也；实受其福，吉大来也。

Grand external public relationship type of large sacrifices without true internal sincerity is of no use. God sees the heart and intent of people, not the external actions for a good show, and blesses accordingly. The two copper coins offered by a widow is better than the large offerings of the wealthy. The widow gave out of all she had whereas the wealthy gave out of their surpluses. (Bible Mark 12:41-44).  To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). This story of Saul is exactly what is taught here.

Stage 6 Top Six: Wet the head. This is dangerous. 上六：濡其首，厉。
The pictorial commentary explains that water covering the head indicates that its life will not last long.象曰：濡其首厉，何可久也。

Not heeding the advice and warning of the previous stages have caused us to sink deeper into the water resulting in water over our heads. Our ending is near. Wake up and change! This is the eleven-hour and fifty-nine minutes already.

Summary

1. Completion is a good stage to arrive at. We must share the rewards.
2. We must continue in righteousness.
3. We must all play our roles to the very best.
4. We motivate and get commitment from people and are not pushy.
5. We watch out, renew, prepare, and prevent possible disasters and ensure that our good beginning does not end in chaos.

Wisdom from the Stage Lines:

1. Start moving. Drag the wheel though getting wet at the tail. Doing the right things and making progress needs to overcome some obstacles and backbiting. (Water wet the tail)
2. Keep moving though suffer temporary loss. Continue to do right. The temporary external losses will be repaid back in due time. (Water wet the things)
3. Take on a bigger project. Changing Culture, habits, and attitudes takes a longer time (3 years). Persist till the end. Don’t employ narrow-hearted and selfish people (literally little men). (Water wets the region)
4. Maintain vigilance. Good things need constant vigilance, maintenance, and renewal to preserve their original shine and usefulness. (Water wet the clothes)
5. Celebrate with sincerity. The sincerity of the Heart is more important than putting out a big show without corresponding intention. Obedience is better than sacrifice. (Water wet the chest)
6. Change immediately! Don’t get drowned in the water (water cover head).

Lim Liat (c) 30/6/2010