Hexagram 47 Keeping a Glad Mind
Oppressive situation.
Blessings.
Proving the sage.
Be trustworthy.
Words untrustworthy.
Structure:
· Lake 8 over water 3. The lake dries when its water drains downward.
· The top weak line holds down two strong lines. In the lower trigram, two weak lines hem in a strong line. This represents oppression.
· Joyful (upper trigram) in the face of danger (lower trigram.)
Image: A tree grows in a deep ravine within a restricted space.
The forces of worldly concerns[1]
shape values, beliefs, and morals. Worldly success depends upon a person’s
willingness to harm others for their self-benefit and then ignore the suffering
they cause. Those on the spiritual path
fulfill their lives by bringing to life the ways of the spirit within the world[2]
to benefit all. They are in the world
but not of it.
Inner path
Self-cherishing and hostility for others confine and bind us to worldly concerns because we have insufficient capacity to free ourselves from them so that we can live in ways that benefit all. Many practice in easy circumstances, but their resolve wavers when in difficulties. The petty and selfish easily ignore the path when things do not go their way, and they complain about how things are and blame others. Some stumble further into the ignorance of darkness when they use force against what they want to overcome. The weak fall into despair and doubt the path.
Sages gradually undo their faults and root themselves in the spiritual path. They find release from adverse situations by cultivating within their hearts and minds what benefits all through patience and by turning to the sacred. When challenged by danger, they deepen their spiritual path to discern the way forward. The wise alone can endure an adverse fate without losing their creative powers to benefit all.
Outer path
Everywhere the wise are oppressed and held in check by the
ruthless. The time restricts their outside influence as their words have no
effect. Such times of adversity can lead
to success for sages, however, as their inner stability allows them to
withstand the difficult situation and act in small ways that benefit all.
The undeveloped and the sage differ in how they relate to their
situation and how they find joy. If
adversity only bends us, this strength and adaptability gives rise to a power
to react in ways that benefit all when the changing times again create
opportunities to do so.
Glad mind
The effectiveness of our practice is measured by having a
glad mind from following the spiritual path.
Throughout the whole process of transformation, the sage always has an
inner joy that supports both staying present to the moment and bringing the
ways of the spirit to life in the world.
Whatever comes up, sages remain cheerful and calm, the sign
of a good practitioner. They respond with good humor and persevere, knowing
that the outcome of challenges is not in doubt for they have prepared
themselves thoroughly to choose ways that benefit all. Even when oppressive situations encroach on
their spirit, sages use joy to resolve their exhaustion, producing joy within
the midst of danger from following the path. When we seem to have no
options, the wise rely upon their faith in the path to get through the dark
night of the soul.
If the situation does not exhaust the will’s adherence to
the ways of the spirit, the path continues.
Pleased with their lives and joyful in living in ways that benefit all,
the wise fulfill their purpose. True joy
always emerges from benefiting others and following the ways of the spirit. Times
of adversity can lead to success if we keep a glad mind despite all danger and
a trust in the path which is stronger than any external condition.
Line 1: Despair
overcomes the weak, who fall ever more deeply into despair and gloom. This only makes the situation more
hopeless. Such a dangerous attitude
comes from a self-delusion that we must struggle inwardly to overcome. When the
weak resign themselves to despair by making a great adversity out of a little
one, they do not get out of danger for a long time.
Line 2: When an
oppressive situation prevents the wise from acting the in world, they hold to
the spirit and further develop their spiritual path. The situation does not
exhaust them, and they never forget the great purpose. The line overcomes a disagreeable situation
by developing patience by abiding with the spirit. In this way we develop the
capacity to move through hardships and find ways to benefit all.
Throughout history, good and wise people have found
themselves limited by obscure and remote positions, but by clarifying their
virtues others come to recognize their way of life. At last, they can use what they have
accumulated to manifest the spirit sincerely and truthfully within the world in
ways that benefit all.
Line 3: The line, restless and indecisive in time
of adversity, pushes ahead but then encounters an obstruction of the line’s own
doing, which oppresses only when recklessly managed. Those who exhaust themselves struggling
against their own conditioned projections cause an even more dangerous
situation for themselves. Then the line retreats but no longer can find
a place to rest. The ignorant line acts rashly
and forgets the teachings and practices, striving for externals and losing the spiritual
path. The line accomplishes nothing.
Line 4: The wealthy and privileged line wants to meet
the needs of others, but instead of proceeding with speed and energy to address
injustices, the line begins in a measured and hesitant way. Then obstructions arise when the powerful and
wealthy draw this line back into their circle.
The line has to do as they say and cannot withdraw from them. Yet this trouble is transitory as the line
reaches for wise guidance.
Line 5: In times of oppression, those responsible for
others remain mindful of the people’s suffering and seek out the assistance of
the wise. In this instance, both the
leadership and the wise are strong and would not naturally attract each other.
The wise and strong intentionally seek each other out and cooperate based on
duty and justice. They share the same
path, and their virtues combine. By cooperating,
they alleviate injustice within the world.
Their sincerity for the common good makes possible this partnership,
which leads to blessings.
Line 6: When oppressive power over others reaches
an extreme, it changes. This line finds
itself at the extreme of oppression, the most dangerous place. It fears that its resistance will bring even
more oppression, which robs its resolve to act.
Once we end our yielding to oppression and end our complicity, we
discern the path to effectively act within the world to overcome the oppression
for the benefit all.
[1]Worldly concerns are the amoral ways in which the selfish willingly harm others for self-benefit and then ignore the suffering they cause. Selfish individuals seek power and domination over others and willingly use violence to do so. The selfish accumulate wealth through the unlimited exploitation and ultimate destruction of people, other life forms, and the Earth. The selfish seek the attention of others. The selfish consume as much as they can and seek constant distractions to avoid facing the harms they cause others, all life, and the Earth.
[2] World does not refer to nature but to how people live within nature. The world – civilization, culture, economics, history, society, beliefs, worldly influences – is embedded as a subsystem within the natural system.
