Selfless.
Spiritual influence nourishing all.
A sage possesses completing.
Structure: Mountain 4 inside; the Receptive, the Earth 5 outside. Inwardly firm while flexible outwardly.
Image: When clouds and rain gather at the
mountain’s summit, the mountain dispenses the blessings of water to all that
have found refuge on it. Afterwards, the
sun shines forth, radiant with heavenly light.
As the Mountain is within the Earth the spirit is within life.
Life comes to an end and a beginning at the sign
of the Mountain, and the Earth supports all life. The sage is as unmovable as a
mountain and as selfless as the Earth.
In this hexagram, the Earth is above the Mountain, exalting the selfless
qualities of the Earth.
The sage transforms its self-cherishing and
hostility for others that block its connection with the spirit. Once free of the self, the sage returns to the
spirit and manifests within the world[1] what
benefits all. We show our selflessness by
living the Way of humanity[2] and
by our love for others.
Selflessness embraces the other, the knowing of the
sameness of all. A sage knows that to
truly benefit the other actually benefits it as well. Thus, sages willingly offer their kindness,
generosity, just action, and all the other beneficial practices. Sages are not weak or subservient. On the contrary, they act resolutely and
effectively to benefit all.
Devoting ourselves to the spirit is the moment to
moment choice to benefit all rather than to willingly harm others for self-benefit. The choice to benefit others and the Earth strengthens
our spiritual path. It is the refusal to
disrespect and harm others even when under great stress, the true test of our
practice. Yet it is these most
challenging moments that our choice for selflessness has the greatest potential
for beneficial transformation within our being and in the world.
As in any practice, we make mistakes and
falter. Yet, any true virtuoso knows how
to learn from a mistake and to focus their energy on mastering the lesson that
mistakes offer. Sages open to and
explore situations because they do not approach challenges as a threat to their
identity nor react self-righteously.
Because they do not understand devotion to the
spirit nor the sameness of all, the self-cherishing cannot harm the sage. The ignorant express selflessness as
demeaning subservience or by declining responsibility to avoid prominence. Without a self-image to protect, the wise make
it difficult for others to disturb them.
They know that self-cherishing and ill-will for others, our greatest
vulnerabilities, lead us to impulsively react to the negative actions of
another.
The wisdom of selflessness alone gives the proper standpoint
to weigh and balance situations without preference or prejudice. The selfless compassionately dispense the
blessings of heaven and thereafter shine forth radiant with heavenly light.
They remain selfless despite their merit, making themselves beloved and winning
the needed support of others to carry their work to its end.
We live within the great flux of Creative
energy. Sages apprehend the laws of the
spirit, the living Earth, and humanity.
Through devotion to the spiritual path and cultivating what benefits all,
the sage acts according to these laws. The creative sacred energy flows through
us, and, according to our capacities, we manifest its ways, bringing to
completion our purpose and moving others to do the same.
The selfless:
Seek and submit to wisdom.
Rest in the highest good and do not move.
Respect and live simply within the laws and limits of Earth, interbeing, and humanity.
Accept and adapt to whatever they experience.
Respond in ways that benefit all.
Exalt and lift up the oppressed
Possess the blessings of devotion without dwelling on them.
Lovingly harmonize with others.
Manifest the spirit within the world, giving credit and honor to others.
Line
1: The selfless sage approaches the
sacred realm of the Earth. Because of
its selflessness, great things can be done, the impossible made possible.
The selfless line knows the sameness of all. Thus, it remains true to the Way in good
times and in adversity, bringing about good effects in every case. The wise line has many blessings which it shares
with others to avoid dangers and manifest the Way of humanity in the world.
Line
2: The sage’s selflessness expresses
itself in outward behavior and exerts a lasting influence, an unstoppable
effect that arises of itself.
Line 3: The strong and positive line at the top of
the mountain trigram is at the place where the end and beginning meet. The selfless sage works tirelessly to achieve
its aim to benefit all and completes what it has set out to do. The people yield to the sage.
Line 4: Sages extend selflessness to the utmost in
all situations. Selflessness shows
itself by an interest in benefiting all.
Devotion in movement beckons others to movement. The line works for the spirit and lifts up
and cooperates with worthy partners and the excluded.
True selflessness thrives on pouring the energy of
life wholeheartedly into the now.
Line 5: The line attracts the support of others
through its trustworthiness and receptivity.
The selfless remains firm in their resolve and efforts to adhere to the
spiritual path for the benefit of all.
The line does not confuse selflessness with weak
good nature that lets things take their course but acts to improve the
situation. In a responsible position, a
sage must at times resort to energetic measures, not to boast of superiority
but to make certain of those around it. Its
compassionate actions extend to friends and strangers alike, benefiting
all.
Line
6: Selflessness comes to
expression. Sages act selflessly and
effectively in the world, moving others to follow their example.
The selfless have unyielding strength to reduce confusion by first correcting themselves and then those within their circle of influence. Only the selfless can manifest the spirit within the world and bring forth the new era.
[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.
[2] The Way of humanity shapes our behavior, aligning us with the spirit. The Tao brings forth the good and great, which we experience as love. The Tao causes all life to develop and flow within natural limits, regulating and organizing love, which we call conduct that benefits all. The Tao transforms life so that each attains its true nature and achieves its potential according to its being, which we call justice. The Tao perseveringly brings all beings into the great harmony of interbeing, which we call wisdom, and separates what endures from what perishes. The sage finds enduring joy in obeying the sacred commands to overcome their conditioned tendencies and to manifest the sacred within the world. Suffering ends when we have the lived experience that our being and the other are the same and that all experiences emerges from the sacred mystery.
