43. Kuai: Breakthrough Above; Tui: The Joyous lake Below; Ch'ien the Creative heaven |
21st Century |
Comparisons |
| Obstructions which have been barring your path may suddenly
give way. This can be opportune or perilous. A dam which bursts is all
danger. When setting out on an enterprise you must be certain you have
figured on everything. Precisely when such is new and untried a single
setback can kill it.
When a dam bursts it is because of the unremitting pressure of the water backed up behind it. Your own perseverance alone will be responsible for the obstruction clearing. But it requires discipline and steady organized approach. Preparation and steadiness are both fortuitous for this sort of advance. When you finally make the move the sudden change will be hard. But this will be mitigated by the mental and physical preparations you have been making. However situations throw up exigencies. Untoward circumstances. Hardness and dogma will be no of service. When you break dogma you bring upon your head the odium of dogmatists. This does not matter since your motives will be clear to you. If you are not resolved you suffer from agitation which clouds your thinking. You suffer from discomfort at the inner struggle perpetually being waged within. You must be firm and not allow bad habits to resurface since it is all too easy to do so. Bad habits are like weeds. They are hardy and multiply quickly. You think you have rid yourself of them when a single remaining seed will begin the whole cycle again. In weeding you have to be meticulous if you do not want another infestation. |
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Below are the comparative interpretations of a) Legge, b) Willhelm, c) Riefler, d) Crowley
a) in (the pride of) strength advancing with his toes. He foes forward but will not succeed. There will be ground for blame.
b) Mighty in the forward- striding toes. When one goes and is not equal to the task, One makes a mistake.
c) The man walks to the flood on tiptoes. Guilt and no success if you advance.
d) Lay well thy plans before the march begins.
a) full of apprehension and appealing ( for sympathy and help). Late at night hostile measures may be (taken against him), but he need not be anxious about them.
b) A cry of alarm. Arms at evening and at night. Fear nothing.
c) The man is apprehensive. He pleads for help. The flood rises in the middle of the night, but it will be controlled.
d) Seek loyal friend, and have no fear of gins.
a) (about to advance) with strong ( and determined) looks. There will be evil. (But) the superior man, bent on cutting off (the criminal), will walk alone and encounter the rain, (till he be hated by his proper associates) as if he were contaminated ( by the others). (In the end) there will be no blame against him.
b) To be powerful in the cheekbones Brings misfortune. The superior man is firmly resolved. He walks alone and is caught in the rain. He is bespattered, and people murmur against him. No blame.
c) The man is determined to control the flood. He is impatient and sets off to meet it by himself. When the flood strikes he is not there to give aid. For a while, the man is hated; eventually people take a more understanding attitude.
d) Fight on alone, persistent courage wins.
a) one from whose buttocks the skin has been stripped, and who walks slowly and with difficulty. (If he could act) like a sheep led (after its companions), occasion for repentance would disappear. But though he hear these words, he will not believe them.
b) There is no skin on his thighs, And walking comes hard. If a man were to let himself be led like a sheep, Remorse would disappear. But if these words are heard They will not be believed.
c) The flood has flayed the skin from his buttocks. the man can hardly walk. If he becomes sheep like he will be able to bear his shame. But he is deaf to these words.
d) Defeated, acquiesce - smiles conquer grins.
a) (the small men like) a bed of purslain, which ought to be uprooted with the utmost determination. (The subject of the line having such determination), his action, in harmony with his central position, will lead to nor error or blame.
b) In dealing with weeds, Firm resolution is necessary. Waling in the middle Remains free of blame.
c) Keeping the garden weeded requires determined vigilance. The man staves off mistakes and guilt by staying in the centre.
d) Uproot small men like purslane - tan their skins:
a) without any (helpers) on whom to call. His end will be evil.
b) No cry. In the end misfortune comes.
c) There is no one he can call on. Ominous.
d) Cut off his he - and evil his end be.