Hexagram 54 - Path of Joy

Path of Joy

Disciplining avoids pitfall.

Benefit from not imposing a direction on experience.

 

Structure:   Movement 2 over joy 8.  Inwardly joyful and outwardly moved, joy arising from action. 

We experience joy from following the spiritual path, an inherent joy which motivates us to deepen our harmony with it.  Our love and devotion for the spirit give us the power of joy we need to overcome the willingness to harm others for self-benefit and to live the ways of the spirit within the world.

The spirit loves the sage devoted to its ways and the efforts it makes to manifest the spirit within the world[1].  Being unites with the loving spirit and fulfills its path.

Our relationship with the spirit depends upon our joyful following the spiritual path and love for all.  When we live the Creative’s principles of moral discipline, wisdom, justice, and loving interbeing, we remain constantly mindful of them within our interactions and avoid the dangers caused by selfishness and hostility for others.

Commonly, people gratify themselves when they act in self-cherishing ways, even if that means they knowingly harm others and the Earth.  When we turn away from the spirit toward the worldly concerns of dominance, pleasure seeking, status, and wealth, our willingness to harm for self-benefit grows stronger. No enduring benefit comes from gratifying an urge that arises out of selfishness and hostility for others. 

When we have the capacity to patiently hold our feelings within presence, we can transform our self-cherishing and release that energy into the path. People have the power to get what we want, but the wise discern the consequences of their choices. While we have no control over what arises, we have responsibility for how we respond to what we experience. 

The sage enjoys following the inward path.  Manifesting the good within the world leads to joyful well-being.  The sage loves the spirit and gladly does what benefits all. 

 

Line 1:  When the time is not right to advance in the world, the line turns inward and perfects its capacities to benefit others. Worldly concerns do not influence the line.  The joy that comes from practicing the spiritual path never brings regret.

The line has partners more powerful than it.  The line accepts its status willingly and does not challenge others.  The line keeps tactfully in the background behind the recognized leaders.  This hampers it efforts, yet it can accomplish something at least indirectly through its devotion to the spirit.

Line 2:  When the time does not favor advancement, the virtuous line does not try to force the situation. It cannot complete its work because it has no trustworthy partners.  The line cultivates itself and faithfully carries out its duty, extending what benefits the world to a small degree.

Line 3:  The wise wait patiently for the time to accomplish their goal.  The impatient indulge their self-cherishing and rashly act without considering the consequences.  Their effort fails and prove themselves unworthy of leadership.

Line 4:  The time to act begins after the current cycle of events has come to an end.  The line deepens its spiritual path while waiting.  When the times change, wise partners will come and cooperate to bring forth what benefits all.

Line 5:  We should never lose our flexibility and willingness to cooperate.  The sage avoids drawing attention to what it does for others by not claiming credit.  The sage conceals its inner worth and makes little of it so it can remain empty, letting the blessings of the spirit flow through it to others.

Line 6:  Offerings to the divine that do not come from the heart merely fulfill a ritual.  They are irreverent and self-serving as they do not manifest devotion to the spirit.  The wise approach the sacred with gratitude for the many blessings they have received and offer their services to others so that their blessings can benefit all.

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[1] 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.