A Main Principle is Unity

I am struck how that in all my readings of late for personal development, the subject of unity, and gathering together keeps coming up over and over again with little in between. And that is why I keep harping on this subject in these posts. It is not that there are not other principles, but this one is important, and it affects so many levels. It affects us within ourselves and our own personality because for the most part we are all subject to moods, and have various little "I"s popping up within us, each with its own personal agenda, and it keeps us from staying on track with one united purpose, so that while we accomplish things, we do not achieve the great success we wish for. In the same way our relationships falter because our moods keep us from interacting with our partner in a consistent way and our partner does not know how to interact with us. We also must come to understand moods in our partner, and accept that in our partner, come to terms with it, and allow it. The same is true in our interactions with society as a whole. How do we interact with them. Also, unity or the lack thereof determines our success in connecting with the higher self within us.

Therefore, when I receive hexagrams such as fifty nine, though the topic is on disbursement, it really means dispersion of disparate elements which keep us from harmony and union. Often times there is nothing to be done but get out of the situation if we can. If we can't though, we are going to have to "bear with the uncultured in gentleness," (hexagram eleven line two). This often is an affront to our feelings of dignity and hurts us and we find ourselves wanting to strike back. This is not, however, the most advantageous position in the long run. If we strike back we perpetuate the situation and this leads to even greater warfare. The commentary on hexagram fifty nine line two says, "He must arouse himself inwardly, hasten to that which supports him. Such support is never found in hatred, but always in a moderate and just judgment of men, linked with good will." It is our ego which wishes to strike back. It is our ego which feels the hurt, and the immoderate judgment of us as individuals, for we know we meant well, regardless of the misperception or ill will of the person who has hurt us. We must always strive for union, whether it be union within our own personality, union with society in general, union with our partners, or union with our own higher self. Now that does not mean we have to be buddy buddy with everyone who comes down the pike, it means rather that we do not judge them harshly. It does not mean we have to make friends with everyone we meet. Some people were not meant to be together. That does not at the same time, mean they have to be enemies.

All too often we take an attitude of defense in regard to others. Hexagram thirty eight line six says, "One sees one's companion as a pig covered with dirt, As a wagon full of devils. First one draws a bow against him." So often our perception of others creates the manner in which they interact with us. When we truly see our companions as devils, they become that way for us. The old saying is, "I'll believe it when I see it." But more truly is it said, "I'll see it when I believe it." When we change our perception, when we change the way we see the world and others, in the same way, our world changes. The only way to change the world is to change ourselves, and the way we perceive the world. When we change our perception we realize that our companions are not "wagons full of devils, but are coming to us for the purpose of union. Unity is one major key in the I Ching. When we study the I Ching or the purpose of learning how to create unity, we understand ourselves in relationship to the cosmos much better. The cosmos is no longer a dangerous place, but is entirely beneficial.

In our relationships too. How often is it that we view our partner as "the enemy?" We tell ourselves that we are in love with them, and yet treat them as an enemy that is to be changed, that is not lovable "as is," but must be modified somehow, must have the rough edges knocked off, and learn how to act as we want them to act. When we create our partner as such we are "drawing the bow against them." And opposition only leads to more opposition. We are not "bearing with the uncultured in gentleness." Which really our attitude should be for we are all uncultured in relationship to the sage. We must at one and the same recognize our own weakness more so than that of others, and yet, just as we must maintain a moderate and just judgment of others, we must maintain a modest and just judgment of ourselves. For unity with others begins with unity with ourselves.