This hexagram has a Fire trigram at the top with a Heaven trigram at the bottom. Fire is flying on top of the Sky. It shows forth the great brightness and abundance of resources to support the fire. It is fireworks! The Sun shines brightly. The strength of the inside Heaven-Force trigram is expressed through gentleness and bright light and will draw resources.
Description:
- 元亨 Great and Smooth Flow.
Textual Commentary:
大有，柔得尊位，大中而上下应之，曰大有。其德刚健而文明，应乎天而时行，是以元亨。
Gentleness takes the honored position. It is right in the middle and supported by the top and bottom. Its moral character is strong and civilized, following the right situation and timing. Hence it is a great flow with no obstruction.
Pictorial Commentary: 象传: 火在天上，大有；君子以竭恶扬善，顺天休命。
Fire on the top of the sky is Great Possession. Wise men stop evils and promote goodness, following the goodwill of Heaven.
Moral Teaching: Build your wealth on integrity and use it to fight evil and extend righteousness.
What are true riches? They are not measured by the number of possessions. It is measured by the amount spent for good purposes and creating lasting impact. It is measured by the character of the person. Are his wealth legally and righteously earned? How is he impacted by his wealth? Does he become more helpful or become a slave of his wealth?
The way towards a great flow of blessings and possessions is to follow the ways of Heaven which are to stop evil and promote goodness and righteousness. It is focused on others and not on oneself. Having integrity, humility, and doing good to others are the ways to true riches.
Stage 1 Begin Nine: There is no harming of each other, no fault. Be aware of the difficulty and continue to work hard and there is no blame. 初九：无交害，匪咎，艰则无咎。
The pictorial commentary added no new information, just repeating there is no relationship with the harmful and hence no blame. 无交害也。
The wealth has not drawn any attention for others to come to harm you. This may be because we are aware of the difficulties in gaining wealth and there is no showing off with lavish living.
Stage 2 Second Nine: The is a big truck to carry loads. Can start the project. No blame. 大车以载，有攸往，无咎。
The pictorial commentary adds to loading the things into the middle of the big truck and there is no loss. 大车以载，积中不败也。
We now have the resources(Big Trucks) to carry out bigger projects and we should do it with concentrated efforts and take care to follow the right ways (denoted by loading at the middle – the pivot, the right balance, and the right way. The doctrine of the mean by the Ru Jia further elaborate on this.).
Stage 3 Third Nine: The Duke is invited by his King for a feast of celebration. Little men are not invited. 九三：公用享于天子，小人弗克。
The pictorial commentary explains that little men are not invited because they will cause harm. 公用亨于天子，小人害也。
It is usual for the Duke to present to his King the great harvests he had. The great harvests can be distributed to all. Little men are self-centered and petty and will not share their gains with others. They will cause divisions instead. We are reminded to share our wealth and not to hoard it.
Stage 4 Fourth Nine: Not to show off and that is no blame or harm. 九四：匪其彭，无咎。
The pictorial commentary adds that he is able to differentiate clearly, most likely the right and wrong things. 匪其彭，无咎；明辨晰也。
The greatest danger of wealth is to show off. We are warned in the 11泰 Great-Vibrant Flow stage 4 and reminded here again. One needs to recognize that there are others who are greater than us. We are only in position 4 and there is a position 5 higher than us. There is nothing to boast but to remain humble to learn from people (position 5) better than us. One needs to be discerning in the things we do.
Stage 5 Fifth Six: The integrity is very obvious, and the reputation has spread. Good fortune. 六五：厥孚交如，威如；吉。
The pictorial commentary explains others are attracted to us by our integrity, sincerity, and truthfulness. Our reputation of trustworthiness brings us good fortune because we are easy and simple to work with and we have no pretenses. 厥孚交如，信以发志也。威如之吉，易而无备也。
The greater the wealth we accumulate, the more we need to treat people with dignity respect, and integrity. We should not use our strength to bully others. We need to keep the simple and easy ways that have brought us our wealth in the first place.
Stage 6 Top Nine: Blessings from Heaven ensure our good fortunes and that all things turn up well. 上九：自天佑之，吉无不利。
Pictorial commentary re-emphasizes that all things go on well because we have blessings from Heaven. 大有上吉，自天佑也。
What is the most important thing in life? It is not wealth or possessions. It is about following the ways of Heaven and living a life that is pleasing to Heaven. Our life is to fulfill what we have been created for. It is not about possessions but about doing the right things. It is a journey of significance. Promoting righteousness and stopping evils.
Summary:
This hexagram is about having great possessions. We have it because of our foundation of integrity and righteous living. We are to use them to stop evil and promote righteousness.
The stage lines tell us more:
- Continue to work hard. Remember how we get here – the state of great possession.
- Go and do great work
- Share your wealth. You have influence with the authority. Don’t hoard your wealth. Keep the selfish little people away.
- Don’t show off.
- Remain humble and sincere in spite of the great wealth
- Do things of Significance that last – Follow the Will of Heaven
No comments:
Post a Comment