52.mycal8 -- Keeping Still

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Hexagram 52

By: James Byrd

I.The Oracle 

A. Hexagram 52 is Gen, or Bound. Further interpretations are Keeping Still, Mountain and Stilling. Its lower and upper trigrams are the same, gen: bound or  mountain.       

B. The Judgment

   1. Keeping Still. Keeping his back still
       So that he no longer feels his body.
   2. He goes into his courtyard
       And does not see his people.
       No blame.

C. The Image

  1. Mountains standing close together:
      The image of Keeping Still.
  2. Thus the superior man
      Does not permit his thoughts
      To go beyond his situation. 

II. My interpretation 

A. "Keeping Still"

Upon reflecting on this hexagram, meditation emerges as the sole precept. It signifies a period for tranquility and Zen. Indeed, to have one's face mirror a peaceful composure, such serenity must originate internally, akin to a lotus flower resting on the still waters of a pond, embodying both serenity and authenticity.

Now is an opportune moment to align your inner self with peaceful undertones, thereby mirroring tranquility in your outward demeanor. This practice of "as above, so below" ensures that, by preserving your inner essence, you will remain as stable as a rock.

In meditation, begin by calming your toes and gradually progress to quieting your racing thoughts. Remember, holding onto negative feelings about others will inevitably seep out over time, so it's best to avoid such thoughts entirely, whether in action or thought. Ultimately, the goal is to attain a state of 'No Mind' or Zen, fully immersing yourself in the practice.

"let a man meditate on Om". 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om#cite_note-maxmuller11-61

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References Byrd, James (2018) "The Future" Huang, Kerson, and Rosemary (1987). I Ching
Karcher, S. and Ritesema, R. (1995). I Ching: The Classic Chinese Oracle of Change [The First Complete Translation with Concordance]
Legge, James (2012). The I Ching: The Book of Changes (Sacred Books of China: The Book of Changes)
Reifler, S. (1974) I Ching: The World's Oldest and Most Revered System of Fortune Telling
Van Over, R. (1971), I Ching
Wilhelm, R., and Baynes. C.F. (1967). The I Ching, or, Book of Changes (Bollingen Series XIX)
Wilhelm, Hellmut and Richard Wilhelm (1995). Understanding the I Ching

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