Hexagram 42 - Increasing Others

Increasing.

Benefit from having a purpose.

Benefit from moving toward that great purpose.

Structure: 

·          Wind above 6 and thunder below 2 increase each other. 

·          Outer influence, inner movement.  Movement that influences.

·          A line from the top trigram has moves to increase the one below. 

Time: The hexagram marks the first month of the ancient Chinese calendar, February to March, the time when the receptive and the creative powers unite to bring forth the new. 

All regularly recurring processes in nature alternate through cyclic courses of change: the growth and decline of plants, the waxing and the waning of the moon, the changing of the seasons.  This fundamental universal law requires that decrease leads to increase and that increase turns into decrease. A continuous decrease finally leads to a change into its opposite, an increase.

Sages reduce their faults to increase their virtue.[1] The way to dissolve the seeds of self-cherishing and hostility for others depends on a firm resolve and a dedicated effort within hardship and difficulty.    When we reduce our self-cherishing and hostility and increase what we do to benefit others, our spiritual path deepens. In this time of successful progress, the wise make the best use of their time.  As this time does not last, the wise use it wisely.

Furthering what benefits all signifies an increase. When the powerful decrease their self-cherishing and hostility for others, it increases the stability of the community, which benefits all. The willing decrease of the powerful shows a selflessness born of clarity.

A fundamental principle of the Book of Changes is that sages and the wise serve.  They extend their many blessings they have received to others without limit or preference, removing the excess of the high and caring for the needs of all.  Community stability increases through the equitable distribution of resources, just action, and impartiality.  The sharing of blessings reveals the nature and manifests the spirit, which alone has the power to save the world.[2].

Decreasing self-cherishing and hostility for others increases our harmony with the spirit, which then furthers decreases selfishness, and the virtuous cycle continues. community benefits. Living this way dissolves dangers and benefits all life. When people devote themselves to the ways of the spirit, they can do great things and even take on hardship if necessary.If in a low position, the wise can still accomplish great deeds through small efforts, adapting to the situation and following the path.  Servant leaders seek out the wise and capable.  The wise connect and cooperate with those with more power to extend their blessings.

Sages use the blessings bestowed upon them to achieve something great for which they otherwise may not have had the energy or the readiness to take upon themselves.  In the time of increase, the new era emerges. 

 

Line 1:  The virtuous line vigorously activates the great purpose to benefit all by reducing the self and receives spiritual blessings.

 

Line 2:  The sage seeks a world that follows the ways of the spirit, which comes of itself with the inevitability of natural law.  Increasing what benefits the oppressed aligns with the highest laws of the cosmos, the sacred universe, and nothing can prevent this ultimate success.  The line receives many blessings because of its inner strength and steadfastness in serving the spirit.  Thus, it acquires meaning before the sacred and humanity and can accomplish the highest good within the world.

Line 3:  A time of great blessings and beneficial growth has such powerful effects that even unfortunate events have beneficial outcomes.  People free of error and who act in harmony with truth gain such an inner authority that they exert an influence upon situations as if sanctioned by letter and seal.

Sages do what is beneficial in difficult times.  They intuitively put into action what is needed to protect the people, even when it is not their proper place to do so.  Because they act to protect others in a centered way, they are blameless.  The line acts effectively, firmly, and decisively.

Line 4: The line knows that it lacks the balance to face inner and outer changes on its own and openly admits its dependency upon the spirit for strength to carry out the ways of the spirit in the world. Its success emerges from working with those wanting release from oppressive conditions.

Line 5:  There is no question that the line has a benevolent heart, and it completely conforms with the spirit. The line actualizes its benevolence within the world and acquires its purpose, living in ways that benefit all. 

Line 6:  The line resists any moral influence and has no interest in benefiting others.  Such a one-sided and arrogant attitude evokes its own suffering as the time demands increasing those with less.  Others despise those who focus only on benefiting themselves.  In losing our virtue, we lose both our shield and sword.  If we do not benefit but attack, then others attack us.

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[1] Virtue is the vitality of our inner spiritual being animating our actions. The virtues of the Book of Changes are caring for all, moral behavior, justice, and wisdom.

[2] World does not refer to nature but to how people live within nature.  The world –  civilization, culture, history, society, beliefs, worldly influences – is embedded as a subsystem within the natural system.