I Ching

Reading from the I Ching:

How does one fulfill their spiritual potential?

Original hexagram is Thunder over Thunder; 51
The Expansion is Fire over Thunder; 21
The Kernel is Fire over Water; 64 BY WAY OF Water over Mountain; 39

The shock that comes once there is an understanding of more than the physical; that there is a spiritual, can be overwhelming. Once there is understanding of the depth of spiritual existence one can actually become afraid.  As we tap into the depths of a spiritual path, we begin to realize just how vast the journey might be.  While fear is the most common reaction among us humans, it doesn’t take long to realize that pursuing a spiritual path actually brings us a lot of joy.  Once we have learned truly what the fear and trembling might be; having a spiritual path and journey gives us assurance and the confidence to continue~ we sense success through the obstacles that lay ahead. Once this understanding of what the fear is about, what we want to pursue, and a method on how to get there, we get our lives in order and set our hearts in motion.

As we travel our spiritual journeys, we begin to encounter obstacles.  The text indicates that the best way to overcome these obstacles is taking a posture of firmness, yet gentle and “bite” one’s way through them.  What does “bite” mean? It’s an energetic term really. In other words, get out of the way of your own ego, search for the balance between the weaknesses and the strengths, travel a firm, but gentle order, and face up to the consequences of your actions. By this method, one gains inner and outer respect that is required to pursue a spiritual path.  Without respect and regard for the inner-nature of oneself (buddhanature), and respect for one’s spiritual master and path, it will be difficult to overcome the obstacles one is sure to face.  It’s about breaking through the obstacles.

Once we have traveled a bit on our path, there may come a time when what we see before us reminds us of an abyss of sorts, or a steep inaccessible mountain that we must cross.  Or, worse yet, the abyss before us and the mountain behind us with no observable method of escape or retreat.  These are obstructions, however if one can remain still enough there are implicit hints of appropriate, and successful travel. These hints appear in time, and should we choose to follow, we will find our way overcoming the obstacles.

The text indicates that it is important to surround yourself with like-minded people; friends and spiritual family, following one of great leadership that is equal to the situation~ thus a qualified Teacher.  With these conditions, one is sure to find their way across and through the obstacles.  However, it does requires one to focus on the inner purpose and the will to persevere.  This focus and will is sure to bring good fortune.  “An obstruction that lasts only for a time is useful for self-development.  This is the value of adversity.”

Difficult times forces one to look at themselves; their posture, their purpose, their faults and fears. The lesser person will place blame, bewailing fate while the superior person will seek error within oneself and through this introspection manifest the occasion for inner enrichment and learning. The conditions are difficult and the tasks are great, not to mention full of responsibility.  “It is nothing less than that of leading the world out of confusion…”  However, “it is the tasks that promises success, because there is a goal that can unite the forces now tending in different directions.”

This understanding of obtaining one’s spiritual potential is good for always, and not just for the day or the week or the month. Have a wonderful week pursuing your potential in all arenas of your life.  Pursuing the spiritual one will bleed into all other facets of your life, in a positive and beneficial way.  Happy New Year 🙂

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Does a healthy family mean living longer?

Original hexagram is Water over Heaven; 5
The Expansion is Lake over Heaven; 43
The Kernel is Water over Fire; 63 BY WAY OF Water over Fire; 63

Our families whether they be our birth families, spiritual families or immediate families, they are a part of our destiny.  It is best if we do not rush but rather allow the natural unfolding of our family, and family to be. Having family builds our character, and to a large degree dictates our moral compass.  And, family has a way of showing us our truth, bringing self honesty to the open.

It is with family that we gain a deeper understanding of union, and contributing toward the common good.  This understanding leads to progress and a shedding of ego, cultivating generosity and compassion for others. Having family is virtuous is many ways, and absolutely can contribute to living a long and healthy life, when the family is in harmony.

In life there are times when everything appears to be in balance, and then it flips.  Family helps us learn how to bite through obstacles and weather the storms of life.  Family helps us make difficult transitions, grow and develop, and ideally supports us with our journeys.

When the family, whether it be birth, immediate, spiritual or otherwise; whatever family is to us, when in balance and harmony, can be rewarding and bring a lot of joy to our lives, which lends itself to longevity.

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To See the Future, Look to the Past?

Original hexagram is Water over Water; 29
The Expansion hexagram is Lake over Water; 47
The Kernel is Earth over Earth; 2 BY WAY OF Mountain over Thunder; 27

The text indicates that we live again and again because “Through repetition of danger we grow accustomed to it.” Further, that “…danger is due to a subjective attitude.” We are locked in our prisons and must be held accountable for actions of the past.  If we want to know what lies ahead, then looking back will give us an idea.  If we want to know how we lived in the past, then look at our lives now. The text speaks to our hearts being locked in the confines of reason, and that essentially in times of danger, “all that counts is really carrying out all that has to be done, thoroughness, and going forward, in order not to perish through tarrying in the danger.”

The text uses the analogy of water, indicating that water flows, filling all the depressions and cracks and crevices as it moves along. Further, “…it does not shrink from any dangerous spot nor from any plunge, and nothing can make it lose its own essential nature.”  It reaches it goal by “…flowing continually.”  Just as we grow accustomed to the “dangers” we can grow accustomed to what will enable us to escape the dangers. By being concerned about goodness and establishing attributes to carry out goodness, and through the power of repetition we can create better habits, thus creating lasting virtue. We have to start where we are, so no need to dwell on age or longevity of bad habits, rather, start today with sincerity and honest intention with consistency.

Remember that times of adversity “…are the reverse of times of success.”  Maintaining joy in one’s heart through the most difficult of times enables one to persevere and the source of success.  It also provides stability.  “He who let’s his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly has no success.  But if adversity only bends a man, it creates in him a power to react that is bound in time to manifest itself.”   (sounds like boot camp) It is important to take care of oneself, nourish the soul and focus on strengths. Taking care of oneself helps in taking care of others.

It’s important to cultivate good spiritual practices and friends.  This helps one further through the hardest of times, and in the end builds the character that allows sustainability so that one is able to bear all things.  It furthers one to comply with the laws of fate, and remain true to oneself.  In other words, there is no power in resisting or arguing your karma.  Accepting your karma, and pushing forward with virtuous activity, cultivating habits of sincerity, honesty and love through repetition and consistency is key to one’s progress.

Go forth today with a new outlook on life, and an attitude to persevere through the most difficult of times with breadth.  Cultivate new habits that lead to virtue and remember, you are in training for the future

Why bother with cultivating yourself spiritually?

Today’s Original hexagram is Mountain over Earth; 23
There is no expansion hexagram.  The expansion is part of the original hexagram.
The kernel (nugget) for today is Earth over Earth; 2

Becoming spiritually sound is like building a house. One needs a good foundation to build on and a secure roof on top.  When we build our spiritual path with a good foundation, we are sure to progress. It does not further one to run from their karma.  There is no reprieve in the mountains nor out in the ocean, because wherever you are, your karma rest with you. So, you might as well hunker down and get to work, changing and developing your moral compass. Keywords to spiritual cultivation include devotion, generosity, benevolence and stillness.

What we end up with through the process of spiritual cultivation, is a deep understanding of coexistence.  As with the laws of nature, there are the laws of living beings.  What this means is that there are hierarchical relationships, however when there is understanding, then there is receptivity and creativity, in balance and harmony.  We all can’t be superheros, but we all can live up to our potential and there is more benefit and sublime success in that than 100 superheros.

When we cultivate our spiritual path, we create spaciousness and expansion.  The stronger we become spiritually, the more balanced we become between swiftness and gentleness.  It offers discernment as to who to follow, and who not to follow with confident clarity.  The text indicates however that we must understand that we can not go it alone. We need the help of our Teacher and spiritual community because there will be times of toil, and our house will need the support.

Go forth today cultivating your Path, through the practices of devotion, generosity, benevolence and meditation.  When we grow spiritually, our environment grows and thus we become a  more advanced wholeness. Have a wonderful Friday.

What does love have to do with it?

Today’s original hexagram was Fire over Earth; 35

There is no expansion, rather the expansion is part of the original hexagram

The Kernel (nugget) for today is Fire over Water; 64 BY WAY OF Water over Mountain; 39

Love equals expansion, clarity, joy, and easy progress.  When we love, it frees us from our poisons. “In a single day he is granted audience three times.”  In practical terms what this means is that when we love, we spread forth and influence far and wide.  We receive many blessings and our lives become less arduous.  Our nature is essentially good, however as we grow we become “…clouded by contact with earthly things…” and need “…purification before (we) can shine forth” again.  Love is part of this purification.

To love fosters “rapid and easy” progress.  When we can truly learn how to love, we can begin to move ever forward on the Path. When we love, it sets everything in motion for completion.  And, we can’t love at convenience.  When we love, we love genuinely and without hooks; this is the only way.  “…if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there is nothing that would further.”  In other words, we must love to the end and we must love equally.

Conditions for us to love can be difficult.  Often times requiring a lot of responsibility and commitment~ like leading a force through battle; the “…world out of (chaos) and back to order.”  However, this is what brings us enlightenment.  Love unites.  Learning how to love does not come without difficult tasks.  We often times feel surrounded by obstacles; mountains to climb, rivers to cross, hurdles to jump.  When we are in these moments and circumstances it is best to be with like minded people and friends.  It might be helpful to step back and pause and gain some perspective before continuing to march.  In the end, this is what will serve best.

On this wondrous winter day, be watchful of blame, look within to correct the inner compass, and step into the ocean of learning to love.

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Laughing offers us mini moments of retreat. Not to be confused with flight, they are rather moments of reflection, introspection, and joy. When we laugh, we offer joy through our smiles and become infectious. Like watching a fire grow, our laughter expands and spreads forth.  And like the wind, it drifts from place to place. It resonates between the earth and the sky.

There is a lot of hidden benefit in laughing. It can calm the upset, lighten the loads we bear, and foster love.

There is something powerful and respectful about someone who can laugh and truly bring joy to the group. And laughter often illuminates the middle way in a difficult situation.

Laughing enables us to make the long haul, and helps develop our inner strengths of clarity and understanding~ compassion.

Coming to a place of peace, joy and serenity requires surrendering: letting go of the tightness and allowing the ease. When we can laugh together, there is prosperity.

Laughing develops our inner growth~ and offers joy to the world. Have a wonderful Wednesday, and don’t forget to laugh.

Original hexagram is Heaven over Mountain; 33

Expansion is Heaven over Heaven;1

The Kernel is Heaven over Heaven;1 BY WAY OF Heaven over Wind; 44

See the I Ching page for more information and explanation.

Relationships are built upon inner worth. This inner worth is developed by us following what we know to be true and right for ourselves~ following our hearts and not being swayed or influenced off our paths.

Question for 12.08.09 was: How do I build better relationships with people?

Original hexagram is Thunder over Heaven; 34.
Expansion is Heaven over Heaven; 1.
The kernel is Heaven over Heaven;1 BY WAY OF Lake over Heaven; 43.

Relationships are built upon inner worth. When we feel “inwardly united with the fundamental principles” our inner power expands. That is, we feel confident and good about ourselves. When we possess this inner value then we are more likely to treat others well and with respect. This in turn offers harmony in our relationships with people. Furthermore, as we develop our inner worth, always cultivating it with compassion, we begin to have a deeper understanding in the meaning of all phenomena. In more practical terms, we have clarity about the overall picture of things.  In relationships, this means when there is conflict we have a better chance of understanding what is actually happening and we can have compassion for both ourselves and other.

This inner worth is developed by us following what we know to be true and right for ourselves~ following our hearts and not being swayed or influenced off our paths. When we are in harmony with what is right for us, then we feel worthy. This lends to good relationships with all living beings.

Cultivating inner worth poses tremendous power. This power can offer positive example for others. When people are around someone who has strong inner worth, then it influences that person to have direction for themselves; the old saying, lead by example comes to mind.

When one casts out what is degrading in their lives, and incorporates what is right, they feel good about themselves; they can have love and compassion for themselves, and in turn have love and compassion for others fostering good relationships with people.

Go forth today treating people well and with respect. Cultivate your inner worth by following what you know to be true and right for yourself, and you will find harmony in your relationship with others.

See the I Ching page for more!

Today is a good day to be united by fellowship and friends, to include the workplace. Perspective is important, and remembering more can be accomplished by the good will of people for a united cause versus independent selfish activities.   See our I Ching page for more!