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I Ching is one of the 5 classics of Confucius that is based on Zhou Yi, an ancient book that seeks to understand how masculine and feminine energies interact to manifest every phenomena that we see in life and how we could accord our lifestyle.

13/05/2020

Most of the time is not do (allow) or dont do (complete ban or abstinence), but to what extent you do.

This is the inspiration from the I Ching Hexagram 节。 to find the right degree of action or inaction, will allow your progress to be sustainable.

12/05/2020

如海龟从卵孵出就懂得爬向大海。 万象相生相吸，超越了思想逻辑能够明白的范围。

Just like the baby sea turtle know to crawl towards the sea the moment they emerge from the egg. Ants knowing where sugar is and bee knowing to go to flowers. The attraction, telepathic resonance of phenomenas and object in this universe goes beyond the realm of rational understanding.

人如果仁德，感应招来好的团队和趋向好的机遇，也是如此毫不刻意。

Inspired by these phenomenas, a man infers that, if he cultivates his morals, he would attract good people and opportunities to him, without contrive.

所以修德对于企业家，至关重要。否则聪明机关算尽也未必能比一个厚实的人成功。

Therefore cultivating morals is important for entrepreneur, otherwise even if one is calculative, one might not be more successful than one who is sincere, down to earth and magnimous and have depth in character.

这是易经咸卦给人，尤其是领导的启示。

This is the what the xian hexagram of I Ching inspires man to do.

22/04/2020

Summary of key learnings from I Ching.

In most situations, with minor exceptions, these qualities will help bring about auspice:

孚: Sincerity, truthfulness, honesty (With the exception of dealing with an unscrupulous enemy)

中： Middle, moderate, fair. Avoid taking extreme measures or taking a biased view.

正： Upright, aligned with moral principles and values. (No exceptions, except to practice in secret and hidden when evil forces are powerful and prevalent)

顺: Not to go direct against the flow of timings and conditions. You can always hold to a good nature, but you do not express them at the wrong times. Be like the trees that express themselves differently in different seasons without losing what they essentially are. (With the exception of going along with evil influences)

乾: To continuously seek progress and learning. Be like the sky which extends forever without limit. (With the exception when the path ahead is block and not to display strength when not ready)

坤: To bear and endure the different temperaments or opinions of people for the sake of nurturing people. Be like the Earth that bears and nurtures all beings in spite of their nature. .

明以动, 无妄 ： To act from good, thorough analysis, reason, knowledge and clarity, not recklessly, not based on falsehood.

兑： To create a happy and friendly atmosphere, which will cause people to forget the pain, risk and weariness to pursue purpose selflessly and without a care for survival. To make people feel comfortable and breath easy.

坎: to seek solution to obstacles like how water would meander but will not give up reaching the sea.

渐：Take sequential steps, build strong foundations before moving up. What appears as difficulties and danger to the immature, is not difficulties and danger to the one who know how to take sequential, gradual steps towards one's goals.

损益: cut that which needs to be cut and increase that which needs to be increase. To the right extent.
讼: Never pursue a fight and quarrel to the end. Seek peaceful mediation and end the fight early. There is no real winner in fights, not even for the "winner".

豫: Allow for leisure, but do not indulge in leisure.

谦: Regular self reflection. Where am I wrong? What do I need to correct myself? What can I do better? How can i improve?

咸: Birds of a feathers flock together. People of the same frequency resonates. The law of attraction. Be what you want to attract in your life. Some things are beyond words and expressions, but you can feel it.

遁: Do not show your true self in front of bad people who will harm you.

姤: Do not lend your power to help evil people grow.

震：To take precaution and be prudent, even during peaceful times. During difficult times, act calmly.

鼎： Balance stakeholder interests, rights and power. When things are imbalance, even great effort will still bring trouble.

节: To set the right point of restrain. To be too restrictive is unsustainable. To be too relax will have problem. To restrain oneself to prevent trouble but not too restrain will be favorable and sustainable. Study the nature of things and analyse the situation to decide the extent and the areas to exercise restrain and impose constraints.
Set the right scope for thinking and work, do not think or work aimlessly without boundaries.

涣: The importance of moral education to maintain peace in families and societies.

蛊： To cut out infestations (bad habits, bad influence) resolutely, decisively and early.

困 ： See the bright side of getting trapped in strengthening one's determination and refining one's thinking. Do not give up trying to get out of the trapping situation.

井: Follow through the good deeds, do not be careless and spoil all earlier efforts. Do constructive projects that will benefit a community.

履 : The importance of treading carefully with good manners in a less than friendly environment.

蒙 : The importance of sincerity in learning. The student must be the person begging to learn from the teacher, not the other way round.

同人: There is strength in unity, unity comes from similar aspirations, to see similarities in differences. Establish links across many facets. Birds of a feathers flock together, be mindful of who you are, don't attract the wrong people into your life by being the person you don't like.

Yin and Yang are complementary, but they can also be antagonistic. It is best when they are responding to each other and engaged. The worst comes when they are fighting each other or disengaged. Best that when they are position correctly relative to one another, unfortunate when they are positioned wrongly relative to one another)

By checking the arrangement and position of feminine and masculine energy in a setting, one can realize the situation and propose a remedy.

21/04/2020

64 - li 离 kan 坎 -weiji 未济
Fire water - not yet accomplished, difficulties not yet overcomed.

The hexagram weiji 未济 talks about the state of affairs before success is achieved. This hexagram comes after jiji 既济 which talks about the state after success is accomplished and relationship of fire and water is in exact reversed.

This seems to express that between the new era begins amidst the old process. Between the old and new there is no impassable abyss.

The hexagram 未济 symbolize not yet accomplished, possibly auspicious and successful. A little fox can only cross over a shallow river, now its tail is drenched, nothing favorable.

未济, not yet successful, auspicious because yin gentle is middle and unbiased. Because the position of yin and yang energy is incorrect in this hexagram but they are still responding to each other. A little fox cannot cross over big river, meaning a person who does not conduct himself appropriately may be able to overcome small difficulties but cannot overcome big difficulties.

Fire above water, mission not yet accomplished. A leader exercise caution in his analysis of the nature of things and events, and in the devising of solution so that everything get their roles, position and what they need.

1) wet the belt while crossing the river, regrettable.
This means that the person trying to overcome the difficulty does not understand the middle way (being moderate).

2) lifting the belt while crossing the river. Auspicious because one persist in the correct and middle path.

3) mission yet to be accomplished, dangerous to seek or pursue anything, not favorable for overcoming difficulties. It will be dangerous to be impatient in venturing into things.

4) able to persist in good moral paths and make continuous effort, unremittingly, not giving up therefore auspicious and unsatisfactory matters will disappear. Determined, enduring, persistent and excellent effort in a long term mission, eventually gaining recognition and reward.

Aspiration is in the process of realizing.

5)persisting in abiding by correct path is auspicious and will not lead to regret. A leader's halo comes from honoring what he said, therefore auspicious.

6) when one drink alcoholic drink but does not lose sincerity, integrity and honour, no fault. When one over indulge in alcoholic drink, smearing the whole head with alcohol and lose sincerity, integrity and honour, is losing manners and losing self control.

20/04/2020

63-Kan 坎 Li 离 - jiji 既济
Water fire - difficulties overcomed, mission accomplished.

The jiji 既济 hexagram talks about the state where difficulties were overcomed and mission is accomplished.

All six lines of this hexagram are getting their position and responding to each other. (Yin yang yin yang yin yang), symbolizing things and events in stable state. Worth noting however, while the hexagram talks about auspice, at the same time it talks about auspice in the beginning and chaos in the end.

This reflects the deep thinking of I Ching philosophy, recognizing that the end of a process does not equal to the stopping of evolution, therefore, in peace and stability hides chaos, there is danger hiding behind auspice and favorability. Applied to society and nation, it is what people used to say: building a business or nation is difficult, maintaining them as success is even more tough.

The jiji 既济 hexagram symbolize a state of success and peace, under this environment, even the weak and small can be successful in what they do and strive by abiding with correct principles. Favorable and auspicious now, but in the future there maybe chaos and disorder. This means it is important to be cautious to the very end.

Water above fire, symbolizing success, a leader must assess all the potential dangers and make preparations to prevent them. Water successfully puts out danger from fire.

1:
Holding up the belt while crossing the river, but the back of the belt get drenched. No fault.

This means that one was unable to take care of both the front and back. He can ensure the beginning but not the end. He cant take care of both ends at the same time. It is not auspicious or completely favorable, but it is not due to his fault, because despite being careful, it is just something he would miss.

This means despite careful, mistakes can still happen. Because there are just too many areas where things can go wrong and one cannot prevent all of them despite exercising care.

2: The curtain of the chariot of a maiden is lost, no need to find, will be retrieved in 7 days.

This means that one will be restricted from going out to the world for a while because of reasons of modesty. However this inconvenience would not be for long because the person's behaviour is upright and moderate.

3. A king fights a difficult battle and finally have victory after 3 years. Not to assign small minded or weak people to roles.

4. A colourful dress is turning to a broken rag. One should exercise caution and prevention at all times. Cant let down one's guard or relax if you want to maintain the beauty of something that is made with care and delicate.

5. A huge celebration using many resources is not as good as a light celebration using little resource. For practical reasons to conserve blessings.

This means a prudent attitude. Not letting down one's guard and be too happy about what one has achieved. A victory is not the end, it is too early for celebration, one should celebrate lightly bearing in mind thw work is not done, not to be too happy and careless. Better to be careful to enjoy more lasting blessings.

6. Wet the head while crossing the river, dangerous. This means that the prosperous world would not last forever. To embrace this fact, to cherish one's blessings, be cautious and prevent bad things from happening will extend the period of prosperity.

20/04/2020

62- Zhen 震 gen 艮 -xiaoguo 小过
Thunder mountain - exceeding equilibrium or middle by a little.

The hexagram xiaoguo 小过 means one can over stretch, over extend or overwork the equilibrium in small matters, but the excess cannot be too much. It is ok to exceed by abit but not too much. Allowing people to exceed a bit, be flexible in small matters is important in management. If the control is too tight, the organization will be very rigid.
For eg. You will empower the customer service to give a bit of flexibility in appeasing the angry customer by allowing him/her to offer a bit of goody bags and vouchers but you will now allow him/her too much or unlimited authority to deal with things flexibility as it may go too wrong when all those variability add up on a organizational level. You also would not want to be flexible with high level strategy and principles, because when it translates downwards the swing/arbitrariness will be so much more magnified..

When people do things, sometimes by the force of circumstances, we really need to go over a bit in order to correct a problem or exaggeration in the opposite direction, go over the middle to achieve the middle. For example, normally people will listen if you just tell them nicely, but faced with a brutally stubborn person or insensitive person, if you were to go by the normal way, it would not work, so it is ok to go abit over in the extent of your measures to make the person listen. But not to go too much over is the advice.

However, two conditions have to be met before one takes slightly extreme measures: 1) one must not be self righteous and think one is always right, the action taken must be in accordance with how people will feel, generally accepted norms of proper behaviour, good reasonings and rationale. 2) such excess can be applied on small daily affairs but not suitable for national affairs and problems of a large scale, as small perturbations tend to be magnified with scale.

I Ching advocate principled living, however, one's action must not miss the suitability to context and times.

Xiao guo 小过 hexagram symbolize exceeding by a small amount. Auspicious and successful but must persist and abide by the correct path. Only applicable to daily small affairs, not suitable for national big affairs.

Xiao guo 小过 hexagram symbolize exceeding by a little in small matters. Exceeding by a little following correct principles, one must accord with time and reason.

Like the thunder above the mountain the sound is not loud, symbolizing exceeding by a little.

A leader's behaviour, whether is advancing or stopping, is a little bit off from the usual standard of showing respect (a little more or less)

During events of sorrow or disaster, he is abit off from the usual standard of sorrow, expressing slightly more or less sorrow. In expenses, he is abit off from the usual standard of thrift (spending abit more or less)

Like the thunder resounding in the mountain, triggering the echoes around the peaks and cliffs, slightly louder or blocked by the ranges, slightly softer. Whether is louder or softer, it is always different from the usual, therefore it is call exceeding the normal by a little.

A leader is slightly infront to lead the way, or slightly behind to restrain the team, but does not walk side by side with the followers, because he sees in advance of and more than the rest but is nearby to provide guidance and ensure the rest can follow.

1. The bird flies upward at the wrong time, definitely dangerous. This emphasize the importance of time and context in making a move.

2. When walking, surpassing the grandfather but meet the grandma, not catching up with the king but meet a senior officer, no fault in all this.

This means that not all is lost by missing a bit. A grandma and senior officer can definitely help to pass on message or bring one to see the grandpa or king.

3. Not putting on additional defence or precaution and getting harm because of that, dangerous.

4. No fault in slightly deviating from normative ways, because the position is really awkward. However it is not the way to behave or do things in the long term, as verring from normative ways is unsustainable. The deviant behaviour must not be promoted without paying attention to context and situation. It is only tactical and the deviation must not be overboard..

5. The cloud is thick but there is no rain, like the dukes using arrows tied to ropes trying to retrieve a prey from a cave.

This means the status of the person is too high, or the stakes are too high, it is inappropriate to deviate from the norm, principles of correct behaviour.

6. Exceeding far beyond the normative principles in matters of importance, like the bird flying when it is inappropriate and got shot or captured.

Exceed a little in small matters is ok. To exceed too much or to exceed in big matters is dangerous.

19/04/2020

61 - xun 巽 dui 兑 -zhong fu 中孚
Wind pond - sincerity, truthfulness, trust, faithfulness

Zhongfu 中孚 hexagram talks about moral cultivation, it emphasizes the importance of honesty, sincerity and trust. Sincerity is the opposite of hypocrisy, it means being real and not deceiving; faith and trust, is the opposite of doubt and suspicion, it means faith/conviction is persistent and unwavering.

Sincerity/honesty and trust is at the same time a moral sentiment and also a valuation of character, when the two is blended, when behaviour and thinking is uniform, what is within is same as what is in appearance, it is what confucius defined as the highest level in moral cultivation, is a inner motivation for self realized obedience to society's regulation and defined boundaries. On this foundation, the hexagram praise sincerity, honesty, faith in effecting positive social outcomes, it recognize its power to transform people, and even move insensitive/insensible beings like fish and pigs.

The hexagram symbolize honesty, sincerity and faithfulness, able to move even small pigs and small fishes, favorable for overcoming great difficulties, and favorable for abiding by correct path.

Wind above pond, 中孚 zhongfu, symbolize honesty, sincerity and trust. Therefore a leader seriously and carefully investigate, analyze and discuss on cases, postponing the delivery of death sentence. This means that a sincere and honest person look at every issue with an honest heart and does not pass emotional or bias judgements on things. Will not do a personal attack that is based on personal dislike of a person.

1. Feeling peaceful and having good conscience is auspicious. If one has concerns that are other to ones duties and responsibilities then one cannot feel peaceful or happy.

2. A crane resting at a cool spot under the tree and making bird cries, its partner respond to it cry by cry, i have a good wine, wish to share it with you.

This means that one's speech comes from one's innate nature and express what one truly feels and thinks, therefore it invites things and people who resonate to come forward.

This means that sincerity, faithfulness and trustworthiness is the way to attract the response of things and people of similar nature and build worthy relationships.

3. Drumming or stopping, crying or singing.

This depicts the scenario where one feels unsettled at heart and one's action is inconsistent.

This is because one seeks friendship and status out of selfish interest, using flattery or bribery. Doing this invites enemies, or makes one feel unsettled or restless. One acts not out of sincerity or nature but out of interest for the reward.

One position is unsuitable for seeking what one wants.

4. Like the moon passing the 15th, like a good horse losing its partner, but no fault.

This symbolize a less then wholesome state of affairs. A person has humility and is trustworthy in character.
By the arrangement of the hexagram, it depicts the scenario whereby a person has to severe some friendships because of his higher duty and responsibility.

This is not because the person is not sincere or trustworthy as a friend, but precisely because he is responsible and trustworthy towards a higher purpose.

To severe friendships when it is neccessary to pursue a higher purpose and more noble duty is not a fault. It does not mean the person is not trustworthy.

5. Using sincerity to unite and bring together the heart of people. No fault..

6. The sound of the chicken's crow reaches the sky, how can it last?

This means that one cannot last in one efforts if one is not sincere or a fake facade cannot last long.

19/04/2020

60 -Kan 坎 dui 兑 - Jie 节
Water pond -restrain, limit

The hexagram 节 jie means limitation, control and restrain. Rhythm, pace, limit and constraint are the common laws, regularities and pattern in progress and evolution of things and events.

In accordance with such patterns, human self realise the need to regulate their own behaviour with various regulations/laws/social contracts to ensure the smooth progress of society.

Self regulation, control and restraint must be suitable and not overboard. Suitable self restrain and control is sweet and the effect/outcome is good. Overbearing self control and restrain is bitter, and the effect/outcome is poor.

Therefore, one must have restrain over the extent of restrain, have control over the extent of self control.

Throughout history, there are plenty of negative examples of going overboard in imposing constraints and restrictions. Therefore the hexagram emphasize the need to accurate decide the boundary/line/point to place the restriction or constraint basing on practical considerations, only then can we guarantee that the regulation/control/restrictions can be implemented successfully.

The Jie 节 hexagram symbolize control/restrain/constraint/limit, it is auspicious. However, overbearing control/limit/restrain is unsustainable.

Restrain can result in auspice and success, the ratio between yin and yang is suitable and yang sits upright in the middle position not slanting to the side. Overbearing restrain cannot be sustainable, this means overbearing restrain defy the the essential idea of restrain by not putting restrain on restrain.

To put a restrain on the element of fear introduced by restrain will help in delighting the hearts of the people and make them willingly abide by the imposed restrains.

Therefore one must carefully choose the degree of restrain and accurate lay the limits, making sure the limits and restrains imposed are suitable and not pass beyond the moderate or middle, only then can one smoothly and favorably persist.

The heaven and earth progress, revolves and evolves in a way that is moderate and restrained, therefore the seasons arrive at the right time and stay for the right duration. When the nation imposes limits and restrains through a system of checks and balances, then it will not waste resources and finances, and also not result in violence, cruelty and harm on its citizens.

Like water continuously flowing into the stream(pond), this symbolize restrain, a leader hence fomulate rites/manners/law and limits. Investigate, test, debate, discuss and finalize on the rules and regulations for moral behaviour.

1) not stepping outside of the inner yard, no fault.

This is not literally asking people to stay in the inner yard but means that if one clearly knows when paths are block or accessible, able to restrain oneself within defined safe boundaries and not cross boundaries recklessly, like obeying regulations for good behaviour. And that the boundaries are well set and people can stay comfortably and safely in their boundaries without feeling trapped or oppressed because they own and agree to those boundaries, as if they are im their own inner yard, then such restrains will not be mistaken.

2) not knowing how to be thorough in implementing restrictions and implementing restrictions appropriately. Dangerous.

3) proud, excessive and unrestrained, however, if know to repent and regret, then able to prevent mistake.

4) able to abide and feel peaceful with various moral restrains, social restrictions, social norms, etiquette, systems of law, auspicious and successful. Able to accord with the orders of kings and leaders.

5) a restrain that is suitable and appropriate, auspicious, should persist in it forever.

6) overbearing restrain. Overly restrictive. Persisting in such ways is dangerous. Danger will disappear if one removes such restrain on others or self.

18/04/2020

59 xun 巽 kan 坎 - huan 涣
wind water - Bathing, washing in moral education

Huan 涣 hexagram talks about moral education, especially moral education initiated by leaders of society.

Huan, 涣, symbolize moral education. Smooth and auspicious. The king visits the temple and prays to the ancestors, moved the spirits, favorable for overcoming danger and obstruction, only by persisting in the correct path will it be favorable.

Huan 涣 hexagram symbolize moral education, auspicious and successful, this is because masculine yang enters danger and transforms danger into safety, feminine yin energy is in the right position and same in aspiration and virtue with above. Kings and leaders are in the best position to promote moral education. If moral education is successful and followers respectful and faithful to the education, then it is possible to do a lot of good.

In ancient times, kings and leaders would build temples, pray to the Gods and ancestors, to set example so as to promote moral education. If the kings and leaders are themselves respectful of morals, the followers would also learn to be respectful of morals.

1) Needs powerful support in moral education, auspicious. The reason for auspice is because one is able to accord with and adapt to circumstances.

2) Moral education is swift and does not invite resistance, regret (things that are not according to one's wishes, unsatisfactoriness) disappears.

3) The water of moral education washes one's own body, no regret. This means one starts moral education with oneself.

4) Water of moral education washes over masses of people, very auspicious. The rushing water causes the hills to collapse, unimaginable for normal people.

Hills represent people of high status or stubborn and conservative organizations.

That moral education would have such power over resistance is unimaginable. And the person is very successful with moral education.

5) one sweat profusely and scream loudly, water floods the palace, no fault.

This means that moral education is undertaken at the leadership. Corrupted ways are facing attacks and corrupted people are in pain. When transformation of corruption is completed, there will be no fault.

6) bleeds profusely, banish to far away places.

This means those who stubbornly resist moral education and insist on doing evil must be punish. The severity of the punishment must be in accordance with the crime. The purpose of capital punishment is to maintain lasting order and peace in the country.

Punishment and moral education should come hand in hand to maintain peace and moral in the country.

17/04/2020

dui 兑 dui 兑 - dui 兑
pond (joy, maiden), pond (joy, maiden) - harmonious and joyful social interactions.

The dui 兑 hexagram talks about joy, in reality, it talks about how to relate with people. The principle is ensuring emotions are comfortable and easy and the atmosphere be harmonious. Even this point is not easy to accomplish, there must be foundation, and the hexagram propose correct principle or virtuosity （贞） as the foundation. in ancient times, zhen （贞） mainly means moral boundaries and behavioural standards. Express on the individual, that is firm in principles within and gentle without. Firm within, means there is autonomy in how one see things, personal view and principles within one's heart; gentle without means humble and harmonious in expression, respectful of others. Humble in chinese is made up of two letters, 谦 which means being reflective and open minded to learn, 虚 which means the void, a vacuum or the capacity to accommodate different ideas and opinions.

The dui hexagram symbolize feeling easy and comfortable in one's gut, heart or chest, breathing easy, feeling relaxed. That will lead to auspice and success. However, feeling easy and comfortable must be aligned with moral standards. It does'nt mean going easy or going along with immoral people.

The dui 兑 Hexagram talks about joyful feeling within the heart. Firm within and gentle without, character that is strong, principled and healthy, honest and sincere and friendly and harmonious in treating people. This kind of joyful and easy feeling is in accordance with the correct path, and utmost favorable. The correct way of feeling easy and comfortable in one's heart is at the same time, both in accordance with correct principles and in accordance with human relationships and the feelings of people. To make people feel emotionally comfortable and breathing easily, then when they work they will forget tired, when ask to take risk (for example in defending the nation at war) they will forget life and death.

If one promotes and implements these principles of making people feel comfortable emotionally at heart and easy in breathing in human relationship, people will motivate and encourage themselves to do good when they face issues in life, they will be enthusiastic in making progress.

Therefore, a governor will pay attention to ensure people are feeling happy with their daily lives and livelihood.

Like two ponds linked to each other, symbolizing good easy relaxed happy mutual feelings, a leader hence value the discussion of principles between friends, study, investigates and practice knowledge together.

Two linked ponds mutually penetrating and enhancing each other, exchanging ideas and information, liking and feeling good about each other. this is the meaning of dui 兑.

1) Harmonious energy forming harmonious relationship, auspicious.

Because of treating people with good manners and friendliness therefore forming good relationships, auspicious. This means that the behaviour of someone is upright and appropriate therefore people do not doubt or distrust him. And therefore easy to form harmonious trusting relationship with him.

2) honest and trustworthy, auspicious, even if there is regret they will disappear. One's aspiration is worthy of trust.

3) to seek harmony by flattery or bribery, dangerous. Using the wrong means to achieve harmony, dangerous.

4) Trying to negotiate for harmony but unable to achieve peace at heart, to be adverse to evil and observe moral integrity is a cause for happiness.

5) to talk trust and sincerity with someone who seeks to harm the nation or poses a danger to the nation, this is too dangerous.

This means that one should think about who one should confide in and support, not to confide in and make friends with someone with bad morals.

6) seeking to form harmonious relationship using seduction and temptation, this type of behaviour is not upright or honourable.

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