l I am the Gong! l

| February 24, 2004 || 1:09 p.m. |

Last I Ching consulting. A member in the Friends area suggested that I ask about the present situation & how to handle it rather then what the future shows.

So After asking "Show me an image of how I should handle my current relationship situation" Here is what I received:

6. Sung / Conflict

The Judgement

Conflict. You are sincere
And are being obstructed.
A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune.
Going through to the end brings misfortune.
It furthers one to see the great man.
It does not further one to cross the great water.

The Image

Heaven and water go their opposite ways:
The image of Conflict.
Thus in all his transactions the superior man
Carefully considers the beginning.

The Lines

Change in the second place means:
One cannot engage in conflict;
One returns home, gives way.
The people of his town,
Three hundred households,
Remain free of guilt.

Very often arguing is useless or a waste of time, even if you are right. Leave the place and go to your own people or business, it is the wisest thing to do.

Change in the fourth place means:
One cannot engage in conflict.
One turns back and submits to fate,
Changes one's attitude,
And finds peace in perseverance.
Good fortune.

Solve contention by dissolving: return to your fate and let loose - then you can find what you sought: agreement. Essentially contention is searching for the end of contention. Find it by not contending, which is a shortcut.

Change in the fifth place means:
To contend before him
Brings good fortune.

The only way to contend is by being an individual, independent. If you are true to yourself and correct to others, you are your own (and others) best advocate. You are the Gong.

It is not wrong that one should fight for one�s right. Sometimes it is necessary for making life possible. But the meaning of �right� is, that it makes life better, it should never make life less � or the spiritual values of life.
Every controversy can be solved by moving up a step. The best step is inside, in one�s own mind. Changing the common everyday personality into a better, wiser person. In doing so, the controversy will become smaller and smaller, moving away into a far-off distance.
If one is not able to do so, then find someone who is already higher, and whose words can bring a solution.
And always remember there is no such thing as being in the right. It is based on human truth and human truth is temporary. In the course of time, right and wrong change places over and over again.
Then there is the order of ranking, the pecking order. Some people have natural authority, they do not fight for it. They are the Gongs. The ones who fight for a rank usually are bad leaders.

23. Po / Splitting Apart

The Judgement

Splitting Apart. It does not further one
To go anywhere.

The Image

The mountain rests upon the earth:
The image of Splitting Apart.
Thus those above can insure their position
Only by giving generously to those below.

Lay bare what is in or behind things. It is dangerous when on the outside it seems all quiet and fine, and one does not know the inside. And when things do not work the way they should, then find out if there is something rotten behind the scene.
And also: the outside of things decays some day, but if there is a strong and true inside, this will survive and find a new form. The ripe fruit of the top line is not eaten, it will rot away. If there is a noble inside - the seeds - it is an improvement or progress. If there is no good inside - the small man, no seeds - it falls apart and nothing remains.