I Ching 43 Hexagram guài (Displacement)

I Ching 43 Hexagram guài (Displacement)

I Ching 43 Hexagram guài (Displacement)

Keywords
Determination. Revelation. Resolve.
Short Interpretation of Hexagram 43 – The Overflow
Have the courage of your convictions, carry them forward with tenacity. Make the necessary decisions. Problems and stagnant situations also need to be addressed firmly.

I Ching – General Description

On the one hand, the sign signifies the overflow after a long accumulated tension, like the overflow of a swollen river that breaks its dams, like a storm. Transferred to human situations, on the other hand, is the time in which the ignoble are gradually disappearing. Their influence is diminishing and with decisive action a change in the situation is finally making its way. The sign is coordinated with the third month.

I Ching – Comment on sentence

The overflow. I decided to make the matter known to the king’s court. According to truth it must be proclaimed. Danger! You have to notify your city. It is not propitious to take up arms. It is propitious to undertake something.

When even a single ignoble remains in a dominant position in a city, he is able to oppress the nobles; when even one passion still lurks in the heart it is capable of obscuring reason. Passion and reason cannot coexist, which is why a fight without quarter is necessary if we want to bring good to domination. For the decisive struggle of good in order to eliminate evil, however, there are certain rules that must not be neglected if you want to be successful: 1) The decision must be based on the union of strength and kindness. 2) A compromise with evil is impossible; it must be openly discredited under all circumstances; so even one’s passions and mistakes must not be masked. 3) The fight must not be conducted directly with violence:where evil is branded, it devises new weapons, and if we give it the pleasure of fighting it blow by blow we are defeated, because by doing so we ourselves become involved in hatred and passions. Therefore it is appropriate to begin in one’s own home: to be personally on guard against reproved defects; with this the weapons of evil are blunted by themselves not finding an opponent to hit. Thus even one’s own mistakes must not be fought directly; as long as there is a fight with them they always remain victorious. 4) The best way to fight evil is to progress vigorously into good.

I Ching – Image

The lake has risen to the sky: The image of the overflow. Thus the noble spreads wealth downwards And is shy to linger at his virtue.

When the water of the lake has risen to the sky, there is a storm to fear. The noble considers this as a warning and takes timely measures to prevent a catastrophic collapse. Anyone wishing to accumulate wealth only for himself without thinking of others will certainly have to witness his own collapse. For every accumulation is followed by a dissipation. Therefore the noble, while accumulating, dissipates. Likewise, in the formation of his character, he is careful not to stiffen in stubbornness, but to maintain himself, constantly carrying out a severe examination of himself, welcoming towards external impressions.

I Ching – Series

When the growth continues unabated, there is certainly an overflow. For this follows the sign: the Overflow. Overflow means decision.

I Ching – Single Lines

Analytical description of each individual line

I Ching – First line:

Nine at the beginning means:
Powerful in the preceding toes. Going there and not being equal to the task You make a mistake.

In times of marked progress, the first start is particularly difficult. One feels enthusiastically driven to proceed with determination. But the resistance is still very strong. Then it is advisable to measure your strength and to commit only as far as you are still sure of success. Blind recklessness is bad, because at the very beginning an unexpected reversal can have the worst consequences.

I Ching – Second line:

Nine in the second place means:
Alarm. In the evening and at night, weapons. Don’t fear anything.

Being ready is everything. The decision is indissolubly linked to prudence. Being accurate and sensible, there is no need to be frightened or agitated. By abiding continuously vigilant until there is still no danger, one is armored when danger approaches, and there is no need to be afraid. The noble is on his guard in front of what is not yet visible, and is in thought in the face of what cannot yet be heard; for this he dwells in the midst of difficulties, as if these were not difficulties. If one’s character is educated, men obey spontaneously. When reason wins, the passions withdraw on their own. Be sensible and don’t forget the armor, here is the right way to safety.

I Ching – Third line:

Nine in the third place means:
Being powerful in the cheekbones brings misfortune. The noble is firmly determined. He walks alone and ends up in the rain. He gets smeared with it and rumors against him. No stains.

The situation in which we find ourselves is ambiguous; while everyone is fighting resolutely against what is ignoble, only we are in a certain relationship with an ignoble. If now we wanted to show ourselves strong on the outside, and to turn against him before the situation has matured, we would only endanger the total situation; since the ignoble would then resort to countermeasures before us. The task of the superior man is extremely difficult here. Within himself he must be firmly resolved, yet keep away from any sharing in the rudeness of the ignoble while still attending him. Of course it is ignored. It is thought that he too belongs to the party of the ignoble. He remains completely alone because no one understands him.His dealings with the ignoble foul him in the eyes of the multitude, and she turns against him murmuring. But he endures misrecognition and makes no mistake, as he remains true to himself.

I Ching – Fourth line:

Nine in the fourth place means:
There is no skin on the thighs And walking is difficult. If we let ourselves be led like a sheep Repentance would vanish. But when these words are heard they will not be believed.

You suffer from an inner turmoil, so that you cannot stay still. One would like to progress at all costs, and encounter insurmountable obstacles. Thus one finds oneself in inner conflict with one’s position. This comes from the stubbornness with which one would like to make one’s will triumph. If this stubbornness were abandoned, everything would be fine. But this advice, like so many good advice, will not be heeded. Because stubbornness means that even if you have ears you don’t hear it.

I Ching – Fifth line:

Nine in the fifth place means:
In the face of weeds, strong decision is needed. Walking in the middle remains free of stain.

Weeds always grow back and are difficult to eradicate. Thus the fight against an ignoble in high position requires firm decision. One is in relationship with him, and therefore there is to fear that the struggle will be abandoned, considering it desperate. But this doesn’t have to be. We must continue determined and not be misled. This is the only way to remain free from stain.

I Ching – Sixth line:

Six above means:
No recall! In the end, disaster comes.

Victory seems to have been won. There remains only a remnant of the evil that it is now time to eradicate. Everything seems so easy. But the danger lies precisely in this. If one is not well on guard, the evil becomes unattainable by hiding itself, and as soon as it has escaped a new calamity arises from the remaining germs; as evil does not die easily. Even in the evil of one’s character, one must work hard. If even a little neglect of it were to be neglected, new evil would arise from this.