Hexagram 28 - The Great Exceeding

 

Great exceeding.

The ridgepole sagging.

Benefit from possessing directed going.

Spiritual influence benefiting all.

Structure:

·          Lake above, joyful, 8. Wind below, penetrating 6.  Yielding to what arises internally, delighting in externals.

·          The hexagram has four strong lines in the center and weak lines at its beginning and end.

·          Great strength within.  The weak outer ends are not equal to the weight of the inner strong lines.

Image:  The sagging beam sags to the breaking point because its weak supporting ends cannot bear the heavy load. The exceptional time and situation demands extraordinary measures.  We must quickly find a way of transition and take action, which promises success.

The creative spiritual process has accumulated the knowing and joy in following the spiritual path.  Through gentle penetration of the dynamics of the situation, we have gained a clear vision of the new era and have discerned a path toward it. 

We must find ways to apply this accumulated knowing into our lives and in the world[1] to avoid the imbalance of releasing its great potential in an uncontrolled manner.  This momentous time demands extraordinary measures to rebalance the forces in play. The heavy weight represents the great burden of responsibility for the accumulated spiritual energy. We must find a way to transition as quickly as possible and take action without using force. Then the change to the new conditions will succeed.

Nourishing and shaping accumulated spiritual energy without putting it to use creates an imbalance, a constrained tension that seeks release through movement.  Acting on what we know completes our knowing of it.  If, however, we continue to deepen our understanding without acting within the world to benefit all, our understanding may collapse and only make the situation even more dangerous.  By movement one gets out of the abnormal condition. Gentleness and joyousness, attributes of the hexagram’s trigrams, indicate the way for successful action.

Sages collectively respond to the urgency of the time by pushing a guiding idea beyond ordinary limits and accepting the results of acting upon it.  To be in accord with the time, the wise greatly exceed.  We must act to transform the trajectory of our time because of the grave consequences if we do not.  We must resist the great temptation to stay within the apparent safety of what we know. Only movement will get us out of the abnormal conditions.  By succumbing to the temptation of doing nothing or not enough, we lose all the fruits of past efforts.

Even though the hexagram depicts an over-weighted condition, the situation contains within it the possibility for renewal.  By partnering with the vulnerable to benefit all, we can master the situation and renew ourselves.  In uncertain times, if we give up alliance with the less powerful and keep up only the relationships with people of higher social rank for personal benefit, we create an unstable situation that benefits none.

Though great, the wise have the capability of smallness and can flexibly fulfill their responsibilities.  The image of standing tall has the sense of not yielding to temptations or succumbing to despair. In a time of surpassing greatness, nothing but firm inner strength will do.  Those who promote force within the world do not understand the time.  Sages move forward by harmoniously adapting to changes, balancing firmness and gentleness.

Whenever the tension of an over-weighted situation drives great human creativity and accomplishment, we find at its root the hidden influences of Creative.  We need to fearlessly show the world what we have developed.  We cannot let our fears and weaknesses block us. 

The wise believe in their creative efforts to benefit all and do not worry about the reactions of others.  Those blocked by their inner fears and weaknesses will regret missing the opportunity to achieve their goals.  We must have faith in the transformative power of the good to transform ourselves and the world.  Just do it!

 

Line 1:  The sacrifice is placed on a straw mat of white thatch-grass.  The sage makes its sacred offering by gently fulfilling its responsibilities to benefit all. 

Line 2:  When a willow withers yet then resprouts at its root, this shows that the life process has not reached its end but renews the path of growth. 

An extraordinary reanimation of the growth process occurs when in exceptional times one joins with the oppressed.  The strong line completes the work of great exceeding by balancing its strength with yielding and flexibility. 

Line 3:  Plunging willfully ahead in times of overweighting only hastens catastrophe.  The line accepts no spiritual guidance or advice from others, who in turn become unwilling to lend their support.  The burden of responsibility grows until the line can no longer bear it on its own.

Too much firmness leads away from balanced harmony as the line discounts the wishes of the group.  Such people cannot work with others because of their unyielding attitudes and opinions.  Nobody can stand alone even in ordinary affairs and especially in efforts of surpassing greatness.

Line 4:  When the great have the capacities of smallness, a calm mind, and harmony with others, their actions benefit all.    The line has reached the point of greatness capable of smallness, using that skill appropriately and not excessively.  The line stands tall and undisturbed by the self and worldly concerns. 

Through friendly relations with the powerless, responsible leaders receive support. However, if they use such support to obtain personal power and success, it would lead to humiliation. 

Line 5:  The line has responsibilities, but in times of adversity, it gives up alliance with those below it and seeks only to relate with those of higher rank.  This creates an unstable situation.  Without help and support from those below, a leader cannot achieve much. 

Line 6:  The unusual time has reached its climax.  This weak line at the culmination of excessive smallness wants to accomplish its task no matter what, which leads it into danger.  The water rises over its head. 

The line represents the weak going excessively beyond the ordinary, beyond reason, represented by getting too far into the water.  The weak bring disaster upon themselves by their desperation.  They do not consider the danger nor the consequences of their actions. 

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[1] World does not refer to the Earth but to how people live on Earth.  The world – civilization, culture, history, society, science, economy, education, technology – is embedded as a subsystem within the natural system.  People create their world through the choices they make.