30离 Fire-Clarity & Empowerment
离 : 离为火 离上离下
This hexagram is made up of two Fire trigrams. It presents fire, brightness, beauty, clarity, brilliance, sun, and middle daughter. It also means clinging together, a strong relationship and I use the word empowerment in the business context.
The word 离 means to depart or divide at present. By shining light on an issue, we get clarity and are able to discern and divide the finer points. It is in the darkness that we don’t see and fall into the pit (29th Hexagram). But with the light, we can see the way, dividing the path and the pit.
离 has the same sound as 丽。The complex form is 麗 which is a picture of two deers clinging to each other signifying beauty. The beauty is in the close relationship between the deers. So, this hexagram also means clinging and helping each other. Another explanation is Fire does not exist by itself, it requires an agent like wood, oil, petrol, or even dynamite! Fire clings onto inflammable materials.
Description:
- 利贞，亨。Good to persevere in righteousness. Smooth flow and success.
- 畜牝牛，吉。 Taking care of a cow (mother bull) is good fortune or a blessing.
Textual Commentary:
彖曰：离，丽也；日月丽乎天，百谷草木丽乎土，重明以丽乎正，乃化成天下。 柔丽乎中正，故亨；是以畜牝牛吉也。
离 is the beauty of togetherness (丽). The sun and moon cling to the sky. The vegetation and valleys grow from the earth, and the continuous (literally double) adherence to the righteous way shapes the world throughout. Adhering to the middle path of righteousness is accepting and loving first and then correcting and hence the path is smooth. This is illustrated by the behavior of the motherly cow that we keep. Such is good fortune.
Pictorial Commentary: 象曰：明两作离，大人以继明照于四方。
Brightness is doubled up. Great man continuously shines his light throughout the four directions of the earth.
Moral Teaching:
- Light and brightness come from righteous behavior.
- Light will reveal and divide the truth from the lies, the good from the evil.
- The greater the light, the greater the power of discernment.
- The light must come out of love – partnership – relationship.
- Have love first and then earn the right to be heard and to correct with the light of the truth. Only then will this correction be effective.
- The light must be continuous. It is not a one-off. It perseveres, once and again. It must be repeated.
Stage 1 Begin Nine: The steps crisscross one another. Handling with respect will have no fault. 初九：履错然，敬之无咎。
The pictorial commentary emphasizes the need for respect to handling confusion to prevent committing errors. 象曰：履错之敬，以辟咎也。
At the start of anything, we will run to and fro, forward and backward, and busily do all things that we think will lead to success. Our minds are confused and stressed. It is important that we sit down and reflect, to learn, to get mentors, and to gain clarity of the mind. We need the light of understanding and insight. Then we can have clarity and focused actions to success. Continued activities will lead to nowhere.
Stage 2 Second Six: Yellow light. Great fortune. 六二：黄离，元吉。
The pictorial commentary explains that you got the bright yellow light is because you got the right middle path. 象曰：黄离元吉，得中道也。
Getting clarity and light allows one to grow fast and gain more light. From the morning of weak light, we now have the bright noon-day light. We understand the business and the right ways of doing things, the market, the suppliers, the competitors, and the other factors well. We scale the business to reach higher ground. Don’t hold back. Ride the growth.
Stage 3 Third nine: In the light of sunset, there is no music and songs, resulting in the sighs of old age. This is dangerous. 九三：日昃之离，不鼓缶而歌，则大耋之嗟，凶。
The pictorial commentary explains that sunset will not last long and will bring forth the night. 象曰：日昃之离，何可久也。
The cycle of life is could not be prevented. Old age will come. Our business will mature and then be obsoleted. If we don’t change, and let things progress as it is, then the end result will be obvious – death. There is no point in regretting old age. This key is to prepare for it. At the time of our youth, we accumulate savings to take care of ourselves when we grow old. We can have businesses that are renewed and revitalized through learning and innovations, businesses that survive our old age. A wise CEO said that when he was young, he was the leader running the business. Now that he is coming to senior age, he becomes the coach to the younger people who are running the business. He just cheers them on or guides them to bypass the dangers on their way. He is aging happily and fruitfully.
If one is worried about life after death – an issue not handled by I-Ching, then I will like to recommend the Bible, and in particular, Jesus Christ the incarnation of the Way shared in the wisdom of I-Ching.
Stage 4 Fourth Nine: Sudden Fire. It burns. It dies off and the remains are cleared. 九四：突如其来如，焚如，死如，弃如。
The pictorial commentary explains the sudden arrival is due to a lack of containment. 象曰：突如其来如，无所容也。
Don’t be caught by surprises. We can prepare for them. The damage caused by them is dependent on how much we had prepared for them. We must list down the critical factors that affect our lives or businesses and work out contingency plans for them. Many people’s risk analysis only highlights the area of risks but does not go one step further – to contain the damage. I-Ching teaching is very clear on this – the sudden damage is because we do have not the space to contain them. Firemen chop down trees to create space to prevent the forest fire from spreading. I was told a story that businessmen selling fried chicken successfully went bankrupt because of the bird flu. On the other hand, I had a good friend in the meat supply business who survived the swine flu well. His secret – He has long foreseen this and had already set up multiple supply points. So when Country X’s pig supplies were cut off due to swine flu, he continued to get his supplies from Country Y and Z. In fact, he went to the extent of having a joint venture in Country Z in pig farming. Have you done your disaster recovery plan yet?
Stage 5 Fifth Six: Tears flow like the rivers, sounds of lamentations. It is good! 六五：出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。
The pictorial commentary explains that goodness comes from help from those with power (literally Kings) 象曰：六五之吉，离王公也。
If failure brings forth tears and awakens our realization of our mistakes, then we are set up for recovery and growth again. Continuing in the mourning of our failures is no good. We need to make a U-turn. We must face up to our failures and learn from them. It is time we seek help and wisdom from those who know and with resources. This reminds me of the story of the Prodigal Son in the Bible. When he had burnt all his money from his father and ended up in the pig sty, he suddenly realized that he could go back to his loving father for help. God has provided people to help you. Go and seek them out.
Stage 6 Top Nine: King stages a war to conquer. Killing the leader is good. Capture his followers. There is no fault. 上九：王用出征，有嘉折首，获其匪丑，无咎。
The pictorial commentary explains the purpose of the conquering – it is to make sure the country is run with righteousness. 象曰：王用出征，以正邦也。
Recovery from failure allows one to grow up in strength. We can work with other influential leaders (the kings) in fields to establish righteous conduct and remove evil practices. There is wise teaching – the purpose is to capture the leaders and not the followers. It is not an exercise of eradication but of converting the masses by removing the bad leaders first and putting wise and righteous leaders.
Summary:
Have the light of righteousness first. Develop close relationships through love. Show the light in love and gain followers. Repeat this, again and again, to spread the influence throughout the world.
Wisdom from the lines:
- Stop trying. Get light & clarity of mind.
- Get the light, ride the growth, and don’t hold back.
- Prepare for old age. From leader to coach.
- Have a contingency plan for critical success factors.
- Wake up and learn from your failures. Get help.
- Remove the bad leadership and the masses will change accordingly
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