Keeping to a full accounting, instilling memories as we go. Who can know what actions both good and bad will have when consequences are yet to be seen or determined. There is a famous story about a young man who falls out of a tree and breaks his leg. The family laments at their misfortune. A war breaks out and all the young men in the village are forced to join the army, all die and none return. The young man with the broken leg stays home. After a year or two his leg completely heals. His misfortune is now the fortune for his family.
Often it is said that misfortune should not be allowed to linger. With releasing of events at hand, new ones are allowed to flourish and grow. Often thought of that when progress becomes difficult, we stop and change our ideas and adapt to the situation. Changing course, we can sometimes change what appears to be our greatest weakness into our greatest strength. That we are always coming and going, but it is our going that symbolizing an awareness of the river of time that flow as seeds, or events through us.
Some people only refer to the hexagrams, the arrangement of the eight lines into sixty-four different representations of the true meaning of the I Ching. After many years of study, for myself and my own understanding of the intent of the purpose of the I Ching, there must first be an acknowledgement of central themes that are applied universally. That vibrations both coming from the internal and external must find a commonality of purpose. The lines are important, but where we are coming from is essential to understanding them. Why our memories become central to whatever progress we make.
Number 40 of the I Ching
Keeping an Account of Things to Come
Keeping an account or journal helps to monitor our success and failure along the way reminding us that both are the same. Events unplanned for will spring forward into something unplanned for so be prepared regardless. While your path is ultimately a solitary one to find, the clearer the road ahead is to success the more people will be seen who may want to join a caravan.
Prepare for the worst but always plan for the best. Setting high standards for yourself and others. Expect only the best from others and bring them up to your expectations. Keeping an account of all those you are responsible to and responsible for and knowing what to expect from each.
Keep a close reign on your own thoughts and actions and find the clarity and focus of appropriate action. Preparing Master Plans and setting lofty goals both easy and difficult to achieve is critical to success and failure. Do your best, expect the best and know how the best must be accomplished and carried out to the fullest.
Understanding the consequences for all. Goals that are not to be fulfilled are bothersome, may soon be forgotten and should not have been established to begin with. Winning the day may bring hard-fought accolades and acclaim. However, success can lead to envy from those who would steal another’s thunder rather than finding their own. The Tao teaches to do the right thing, but to be ever mindful of things to come.
An original composition and interpretation of the Chinese Classic the I Ching (40 LETTING LOOSE / Thunder over Water). 3/8/94
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