#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