When one undertakes a project such as this, one becomes enmeshed in a net of images that are so numerous and involved that it takes many, many lifetimes to complete the work. I am getting older, and even though very healthy, not able to carry out this work to the fullest no matter how hard I try. Nevertheless, I want to carry on the work as much as possible, and increase, redouble my efforts to make this a worthy project, and one that numerous persons will take a liking to and get significant benefit out of.
Not being able just yet to set up a true website, I am very restricted in what I can do. Otherwise, I would be working as well on my other site, regarding the I Ching in sequential order. I do have some workarounds though where I can at least write and get information out there and I hope to do that soon, although I am still looking at the possibility of a true website. It may appear an egotistical statement, but I don't think so. I am just stating the fact that I have tremendous knowledge and awareness of the spiritual message, and want so much to get it out there to everyone. Granted the work is too esoteric for many people to be able to handle. In any age there are only a select few who can really determine the deeper message in any deeply spiritual text. That being said however, it does seem the number of people visiting the site, though small, is increasing slightly. That encourages me to keep writing. I hope, even if the number stays small, that years from now, there will still be people reading, and gaining wisdom and understanding from these posts.
I, quite frankly, have had too many interests, and it keeps me from committing myself to one thing. I may find ways to cut down, but I do find that it is necessary to build a significant understanding of at least three different spiritual traditions. Of those, I recommend the Taoist, the Buddhist, and the gnostic, or better said, esoteric forms of Christianity. If you take the "tradition of religion" out of Christianity, you will find in its symbolism much esoteric wisdom, and even much conformity with Taoism, and Buddhism. Taoism explains the natural way. Buddhism explains the way of inner wisdom and meditation, and Christianity explains the way of sacrifice. It is almost like the neutron, electron, and proton of the atom. Much inner wisdom can be gained from these three pillars of wisdom. In terms of Christianity, I especially recommend the "Gospel of Thomas," which was not included in what became the Bible, but has tremendous value.
I do recommend a deep study of the first two hexagrams before getting too involved in a study of the rest of the Book of Changes. I then recommend a deep study of the last two, as the first set and the last set have an affinity that is not readily noticeable by the less adept student of the book. For those interested in relationships, I recommend a look at the timing aspects of the lines especially in hexagram one, and the relational aspects of the lines especially in hexagram two. Look at the relationships of the lines between hexagram one and two. First to first, second to second. Then look at them again comparing line one in one to six in two. Two in one to five in two. Three in one to four in two, and so on and so forth. Look for hidden meanings. Many, many meanings can be found in the esoteric commentary in the Wilhelm/Baynes version. There are two other commentators I would recommend beyond that. That of Alfred Huang, and that of Ni Hua Ching. Between these three I would offer that there are many lifetimes of study available, without ever attaining the depths.
Look at hexagram forty eight, and see how the I Ching is talking about itself, and our relationship to it, and how it offers us wisdom. Then carry that concept out to the rest of the hexagrams, and see how the I Ching relates to us. Look at hexagram ten line four, and recognize how the I Ching is saying that sometimes we tread on it, or neglect it, or are disrespectful to it, or misuse it, albeit all unintentionally, and how the I Ching overlooks our more naive faults, and only reacts to more intentional slights. When you get a yang line that is in a yang place, compare it to the same line in hexagram one,and see what that says about the timing. Or if you receive a yin line in a yin place, look about hexagram two, and see how it relates conceptually, or appears in space, or in the material world. If you receive a yang line in a yin place, or a yin in a yang place, compare it to the corresponding line in both hexagram one and two. Look for interlocking relationships. Look for how the I Ching relates to you. Look for the place on the sine wave. Look for its corresponding line in the other trigram. Look at its neighbors. There is far more to the I Ching than just looking for an answer to a problem, or than just to our spatial material world.
Thanks for your posts. I check for new ones all of the time. I am really resonating with what you are saying. Keep it up and let me know if you get a website.
ReplyDeleteI received Ni Hua Ching's book, The Book of Changes and The Unchanging Truth. I can tell having read only 5 chapters that this book is opening something up within. Thanks for the recommendation. You should write a book about personal relationships and the relationships of lines.
ReplyDeleteHi Courtney
ReplyDeleteI do plan to eventually make this information into a book once I have gotten so far. I do have a book on Esoteric Christianity out on Amazon.com kindle that I hope to eventually get published traditionally. It is called, "The Esoteric Gospel of John." But the information here needs to be cleaned up and put in a more consistent order, then I will try to get it published.
Gene