I went to China a couple of years ago to study gongfu and taijiquan at a traditional wushu school in Wudangshan. I found the training where I was to be marginally beneficial, but also I visited a temple on a nearby peak where the abbot teaches gongfu, taijiquan, Daoist medicine, and internal alchemy. This really piqued my interest.
Since I've returned to the US, I've been thinking about going back. The fee is roughly $1000 per month for classes from mid-Spring to mid-Fall, and I just received an inheritance that would allow me to afford going for their full term (albeit at the cost of nearly half of the inheritance). Upon being notified of receiving the inheritance, I immediately thought about returning to this temple to study.
A friend of mine who is familiar with the Yijing suggested consulting it. I asked the question "Is it beneficial for me to return to the temple to study for a full term?". I received a response of Hexagram 13 with a mutating 4th line, changing it to Hexagram 25.
I've been having trouble separating my ego from this reading. If I were to dispassionately interpret this reading as I have come to understand it through research of these two hexagrams, I would say that this means that it would be more beneficial for me to keep spending time cultivating myself in society. It would seem that going to the temple now, for this length of time, would be considered an "error" and that there is another, more beneficial way to cultivate myself where I am now. However even though it is more beneficial for me to stay where I am, I must make great changes in my life (possibly by avoiding the "errors" from Hex 25).
I have several problems. First, it would seem to me that the best way to avoid "error" would be to study at a Daoist temple where one of the core teachings is distinguishing true from false on a profound level (but then again, what do I know?) Second, while I have found somewhat consistent translations and interpretations of Hexagram 13, I have found wildly different translations and interpretations of Hexagram 25. I've found some interpretations that simply relate it to choosing the correct path, and some that relate it to inaction for fear of choosing the wrong path (and boy, does that one hit home). Third, I have found vastly different interpretations for reading mutating lines in Yijing readings in general. Am I applying a sound interpretation in relating Hex 25 to Hex 13?
I understand that my desire to go to this temple clouds my judgement regardless. My body and spirit are all but broken and I feel that this could be an extremely beneficial outlet for me to heal on many levels. I'm almost 28 and I feel like this is a prime time to get serious about this kind of study. My friend who helped me with this reading seems to think that simply because Hexagram 13 references "crossing great rivers," that means that the temple is not an option of "error" and I should go. I'm not so sure, since Hex 13 is all about "assimilating with others", and I find it difficult to equate that reading to living on a mountaintop with a handful of generally like-minded people for the better part of a year.
I do think I should note that my life has become significantly more chaotic since my application for the temple courses was accepted (I haven't put down the deposit to go yet) roughly a month ago. I totaled my truck when I hit black ice on the road, my area has been hit by several debilitating freak winter storms causing widespread power outages and making travel difficult, and my best friend of many years doesn't want to be friends anymore for largely unexplained reasons after taking an impromptu cross-country trip (we're trying to work it out). I'm someone who tends to believe in coincidence over causation, but rarely has this kind of confluence of negative events occurred in my life and something in my gut says someone or something is trying to communicate with me. Going by Daoist principles, I suppose this would be my Higher Self.
I have thought on this reading for over 2 months and my vacillating hasn't gotten me anywhere. Does anyone think they have a solid interpretation of what's going on here?
I know that I may wander, but can never truly stray from my path. Thank you for taking the time to read, and double thanks if you reply!
Since I've returned to the US, I've been thinking about going back. The fee is roughly $1000 per month for classes from mid-Spring to mid-Fall, and I just received an inheritance that would allow me to afford going for their full term (albeit at the cost of nearly half of the inheritance). Upon being notified of receiving the inheritance, I immediately thought about returning to this temple to study.
A friend of mine who is familiar with the Yijing suggested consulting it. I asked the question "Is it beneficial for me to return to the temple to study for a full term?". I received a response of Hexagram 13 with a mutating 4th line, changing it to Hexagram 25.
I've been having trouble separating my ego from this reading. If I were to dispassionately interpret this reading as I have come to understand it through research of these two hexagrams, I would say that this means that it would be more beneficial for me to keep spending time cultivating myself in society. It would seem that going to the temple now, for this length of time, would be considered an "error" and that there is another, more beneficial way to cultivate myself where I am now. However even though it is more beneficial for me to stay where I am, I must make great changes in my life (possibly by avoiding the "errors" from Hex 25).
I have several problems. First, it would seem to me that the best way to avoid "error" would be to study at a Daoist temple where one of the core teachings is distinguishing true from false on a profound level (but then again, what do I know?) Second, while I have found somewhat consistent translations and interpretations of Hexagram 13, I have found wildly different translations and interpretations of Hexagram 25. I've found some interpretations that simply relate it to choosing the correct path, and some that relate it to inaction for fear of choosing the wrong path (and boy, does that one hit home). Third, I have found vastly different interpretations for reading mutating lines in Yijing readings in general. Am I applying a sound interpretation in relating Hex 25 to Hex 13?
I understand that my desire to go to this temple clouds my judgement regardless. My body and spirit are all but broken and I feel that this could be an extremely beneficial outlet for me to heal on many levels. I'm almost 28 and I feel like this is a prime time to get serious about this kind of study. My friend who helped me with this reading seems to think that simply because Hexagram 13 references "crossing great rivers," that means that the temple is not an option of "error" and I should go. I'm not so sure, since Hex 13 is all about "assimilating with others", and I find it difficult to equate that reading to living on a mountaintop with a handful of generally like-minded people for the better part of a year.
I do think I should note that my life has become significantly more chaotic since my application for the temple courses was accepted (I haven't put down the deposit to go yet) roughly a month ago. I totaled my truck when I hit black ice on the road, my area has been hit by several debilitating freak winter storms causing widespread power outages and making travel difficult, and my best friend of many years doesn't want to be friends anymore for largely unexplained reasons after taking an impromptu cross-country trip (we're trying to work it out). I'm someone who tends to believe in coincidence over causation, but rarely has this kind of confluence of negative events occurred in my life and something in my gut says someone or something is trying to communicate with me. Going by Daoist principles, I suppose this would be my Higher Self.
I have thought on this reading for over 2 months and my vacillating hasn't gotten me anywhere. Does anyone think they have a solid interpretation of what's going on here?
I know that I may wander, but can never truly stray from my path. Thank you for taking the time to read, and double thanks if you reply!