Inner Truth – The Judgment

Upon reading the judgment, we also find there are at least three point regarding this hexagram which we need to pay attention to.

The Judgment itself is as follows:

Inner Truth. Pigs and fishes.
Good fortune
It furthers one to cross the great water.
Perseverance furthers.

And in the commentary we find at least these three points.

1. It is necessary to find the right way to approach
2. It is necessary to establish communication.
3. In developing mutual confidence we can undertake extreme difficulties.

We cannot influence others, nor even approach them, if our method is not agreeable to them. The text here once again speaks of ridding oneself of prejudice. It can be said again and further that a prejudice keeps us from seeing the truth. Prejudices can be preconceived ideas that we have formulated that are probably operating beneath the level of full consciousness. We have prejudices against another if we do not see them as a fully functioning child of the universe no different and not separate from ourselves. We are functioning with prejudices when we look upon another as lesser, weaker, or less spiritual than ourselves. We have prejudices against another when we judge them, when we focus upon their wrongdoings, upon their idiosyncrasies, All these things, while not consciously known by the person we are focusing upon, will nevertheless, play havoc unconsciously, with the person we are trying to influence. And here is a very special, a very pertinent, and a very important point. What we are consciously aware of is only a small portion of what actually exists. Influence works silently, works secretively, and is not subject, normally, to conscious control. I want to emphasize this point, because it is pertinent to most, if not all, of our discussion of the I Ching, or any sacred scripture. There are things going on beyond the level of conscious control. But the Chuang Tzu, or superior man, in the I Ching, or the man who has put on Christ, in the New Testament, or the Atman, or the Buddha, is one who has integrated consciousness with subconsciousness, and is a fully aware, fully awakened individual.

In finding the right way of approach, we must accept others on their own terms. We must accept them as they are. We must recognize their right of independence, and, as hexagram forty says, we must “pardon mistakes, and forgive misdeeds.” When we are required to judge, it should be only a discernment, without the emotional content, otherwise we unwittingly injure on an unconscious level. These judgments and discernments, however, should be a quickly passing matter. Hexagram fifty six tells us that “penalties (judgments) should be a quickly passing matter, and must not be dragged out indefinitely.” Hexagram six tells us that inner conflicts, (negative thoughts about another) inevitably bring about conflict, in one form or another. It also says here that “to avoid it, therefore, everything must be taken carefully into consideration in the beginning. It is therefore wise for the superior man to have an understanding of the nature of human follies, (hexagram four) and take them into consideration, as hexagram four line two tells us, “To bear with fools (the immature) in kindliness brings good fortune.” And in hexagram eleven, line two, “Bearing with the uncultured in gentleness.” We cannot have a good influence on others unless we have an equitable understanding of their nature. And finally, the image in hexagram sixty one tells us that the superior person “delays executions.” When we feel attacked, our nature, our tendency is to attack back. We find ourselves wanting to retaliate, to justify and vindicate ourselves. This is tantamount to creating an “execution.” We execute the person for their behavior. We vilify them and reproach them for their behavior. Instead, the superior man is “slow to wrath,” Much more could be said about this, but this is a dialogue, a discussion, within itself and will be saved for a later time, how much later, I do not know. The discussions of the I Ching are infinite in possibilities.

The text goes on to tell us that after having rid ourselves of prejudices, judgments, and condemnations of another, one must let the psyche of another act on oneself without restraint. This means one must be open to and uncritical of the psyche of another. It is only by being open ourselves that we can expect others to be open to us. We cannot receive unless we are receptive. We cannot expect another to be open if we are closed.

As this is starting to get long, I will follow up with the second two points shortly.