TAO The Naked Truth

ADAM AND EVE PAINTED BY PETER PAUL RUBENS 1597

At the start, Adam and Eve. What is relevant about this picture is that both people are naked, and this introduces a concept or idea, or a way of being in, or 'using', the world. At the same time, another picture shows Fu Hsi (pronounced "foo shee"), the first mythical emperor of China, at around 2852 -2738 B.C.He wears skins and furs to indicate that he has a background in hunting and agriculture, and 'uses' Nature. This is the start of History.

Prior to History, TAO existed, and still exists.

The first great idea that the Ancient Chinese had was that "There is a flow of energy running through the universe, that takes you and everything with it". They called it "TAO". By living close to Nature, and the elements, all the clues were provided. These days almost everything around us is 'man-made' in our modern civilization, but that close connection can be re-established by a walk in the country, or looking at the sky, and being exposed to the weather.

This flow of energy animates everything - all things, places, and beings. The energy flows through everything and everyone, and as it does so, it animates and gives life. Everything is alive when this energy passes through it. Stones, water, trees, animals, and people ! TAO is not exactly 'the life force', since that would preclude inanimate (non-alive) objects. TAO flows through everything. You could see this as 'consciousness', through the act of looking, hearing, moving, and, if you have a mind to, thought. Even the rocks and trees see and hear, and in a 'mindless' way "think", and are aware.

You don't need eyes, ears, or limbs, to travel distances, to be involved, to experience and appreciate, in your dreams (while you actually lie inert in bed). If you look with your heart (sensitivity, intuition, and feelings) and not only with your eyes, you will see and understand more. You can see, feel, and know, this for yourself by simply looking and listening (without mental judgements or comparisons). This period of looking, of quiet reflection, only lasts uninterrupted for up to 2 minutes, before the next wave of TAO energy rushes through you. Without this flow of energy, you are inert. That energy changes everything.

The second great idea that the Ancient Chinese had was that this TAO energy can go in two very different directions. That changes everything. It's a good thing that they left us with a book about all of this, and called it 'The I Ching The Book of Change'.

This version is called "The Book of Chance and Change" and explains everything.

www.taoiching.com

TAO UNPLUGGED

What happens if you unplug TAO ?

Don't touch that plug ! Only kidding ! You are plugged into the great flow of Tao whether you like it or not, and there isn't much you can do about it. Most just ignore it, or refute its existence. Well, it is only 'symbolic'.

The advice of the TAO I CHING can be similarly dismissed, unless you have a practical or spiritual problem to sort out. The reason for the advice is that, unless you were aware of it, there are a few general problems or conflicts that you could avoid at the start, to make your life a little easier.

DON'T REACT. Reaction causes, and fuels, conflict. Look at the facts first, then decide what YOU want to do. This should be part of your own plans, without the aid or discouragement of others.

DON'T FIGHT. The world appears to be full of 'other things' that need combating. If you fight you will stimulate an opponent (and reaction, or retaliation). Most of the time these other 'forces', people, or situations, will have nothing directly to do with you, but do exist to subvert and redirect your energy.

All of this suggests that an agreement or compromise can be reached, or an understanding achieved, either within yourself, or with others. But its not that straight forward, and the energy in the world won't let you get away with it that easily. TAO is the great flow of energy running through the universe, and it has two 'directions', 'forms', or 'aspects'. [Defining TAO is not an activity to be encouraged, for it takes us into explanation and description, rather than 'the thing' itself.]

An understanding of these flows of energy can be found in the book "Tao I Ching The Mystic Gateway". Basically, remember that (so-called) 'negative energy' has a stronger effect when expressed in the world in competition with 'positive' energy. Although, it is not necessarily 'stronger'. A bad word can ruin your day, or week. A good word can change your life. To 'combat' these 'darker forces', don't fight them, and certainly don't react, for this will only get you deeper into the situation.

So, if you shouldn't react or fight, what can you do ?

Simply do what you do, and if you are constrained in some way, do the smallest you can. It is that 'smallest thing' that grows and doubles in strength. If you need help, look to The Five Spiritual Additions (which require you to add them), Optimism, Enthusiasm, Encouragement, Generosity, and Humour. You can apply one or more of them at any time, and even just act them out if you are not 'naturally' drawn to one of them { and it may well be 'the job of the world' to keep you away from these qualities of change}. It is the addition of these that causes change in the world.

All the rest, the wars, the conflict, and the control, will only repeat or prolong the status quo.

The TAO I CHING suggests (read the introductory chapters) another course of action, which can be applied in all circumstances. This is a way, or "The Way", 'the way of actionless action', action without effort, and lots of other mystifying terms, used to express a particular philosophy of action. You could call it "letting go", or "acceptance", but this might lead you to think that you need to be more at ease or spiritually advanced than you are. Elsewhere I've tried to find a suitable translation, but, to cut through all the terms and definitions, you only need one little affirmation or saying, which, as you say it, you can put into practice . . . .

BE HERE NOW

You say this to yourself at any point, and at any time you get caught-up in too much concern and worry, and, most splendid of all, at any moment during your day when you are not doing anything in particular. This is simply looking and listening where you are now. This is an encapsulated version of the 2 minute exercise for seeing the energy of TAO for yourself, on my website http://www.taoiching.com/ . If you get this right you live in the present with inner peace, or you can remain plugged-in to the energy you are already using. That other energy that you are presently using will promise you everything, and a full life, or a life full of continual conflict. The alternative is quiet, still, and magical, and also very much in the world around you everyday, at every moment.

"Look

You won't see it.

Listen

You won't hear it.

Move one inch

And you miss it.

You looking, listening, moving

All the time

Is all it takes"

TAO TOM TOM

How to navigate the present moment

I was in the car the other day using our newly acquired Tomtom navigational aid on the dashboard. With the visits to MBS Fairs in different venues around the country almost every weekend, the Tomtom has taken the stress out of driving to unknown destinations. As I appreciated the amazing concept of a satelite navigational system available to the public, I also thought wouldn't it be wonderful to have a spiritual tomtom. This would be a moral, ethical, spiritual, and practical, device, making the right choices in every situation, and guided 'from above'.

Oh ! Oh ! I Thought. We already have this. The TAO I CHING and set of ELEMENTS do precisely this ! Instead of "After 800 yards take the next left" we have "After a little while take the next option" , or "Go left at the roundabout and take the first exit" is now "Look at your situation, and consider withdrawing as soon as possible". The selection and manipulation of the ELEMENTS provides this aspect of personal direction, rather than simply following a map or book with 'flat information'. The direction and guidance is offered to you, dependant upon where you are at any one moment. Once you have programmed-in your destination to the Tomtom, you really have no idea where you are in relation to the rest of the country around you. You have a close-up picture of where you are now, and a little of what lies immediately ahead. That momentary changing picture is all you need.

The final destination for each journey in the Tomtom is an address, postcode, or Home. In everyday life, once you establish your destination, desire, or ambition, you can let the hexagrams show you the way. The hexagrams are like stepping stones in every direction. Use your ELEMENTS to select the changing hexagram for information, direction, and 'speed'. The amazing thing about the Tomtom is that if you take a wrong turning, after 5 seconds, it recalculates your new position and a new course to get you to your destination. Once again, the parallels are remarkable. If you follow the information in the TAO I CHING your way ahead is calculated and shown to you. If you don't take the advice or ignore the information, your new situation is immediately recalculated with your next selection of ELEMENTS.

Actually, you are not 'going' anywhere. The car will only deliver you, and your stuff, to somewhere else. It's still you here, or somewhere, with stuff, or without stuff. By all means have an end in sight, or a direction, but this is only a material, physical, emotional, or spiritual, framework. Everything else is in the present. You see, unlike the crude sophistication of the Tomtom (which may be the scientific wonder of the decade), the TAO I CHING has a message that you can hear now, everyday, and at every moment.

" YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION "

We have already arrived ! That's the message, but of course, that conflicts with the notions future happiness, prosperity, ambition, desire, and the unfolding drama of creation (or destruction). Now that we are all here (whatever state, age, sex, each of us might be in), you only have to quietly 'navigate' the present.

No thoughts in a garden

How can we make it through life

Without knowing inner peace

That sublime inner quiet

Of complete affinity

With all things.

Utterly unknown to us.

To the clouds

And all things

We are utterly, completely, unknown

When you've finished looking at the clouds, the trees, and the wind, please read

THE SMALL PRINT OF YOUR CONTRACT

YOU ARE BORN INTO THIS WORLD AS A TOTAL STRANGER. YOU ARE WELCOMED BY PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LOVE YOU, AND OTHER STRANGERS. WHILE YOU ARE HERE, NOW, IN THIS PLACE, WHICH EXTENDS OVER THE WORLD, OVER YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN MAKE CONNECTIONS THROUGH YOUR HEART. THIS IS EASY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE HEART DOES, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS ARE THROUGH ENTHUSIASM, OPTIMISM, ENCOURAGEMENT, HUMOUR, AND GENEROSITY.

ACHIEVING INNER PEACE

" Achieving Inner Peace ". It's easy. Follow the diagram, read the instructions (not included), go to the talk, read The Book, and just accept the advice from the most reliable source (not included).

The other weekend I was at 'Quest' , a Mind Body Spirit Festival at Newton Abbot in Devon. I went to a free one hour lecture entitled "ACHIEVING INNER PEACE". "Balance, harmony and inner peace can be achieved if we observe and act on the universal principles that govern our lives. These Laws or Principles work unfailingly whether we know them or not. Harmonizing with these Laws brings inner peace." This sounds a little bit like the stuff I go on about, so I went to see what it was all about. The room was full ! A man in a smart suit gave a measured and ordered lecture on the topics of Truth, Justice, and Wisdom, but only after he told us that inner peace was out of the question unless we accepted The Creator. It occurred to me that I was in the wrong room. I was, perhaps, actually expecting inner peace right there !, but after an hour I went out the door I came in.

What is inner peace ? Where can you find inner peace ?

In the wisdom of the ancient Chinese TAO I CHING {AFFINITY HEXAGRAM} inner peace is a state of quietness, and inner strength, based on the cessation of thoughts and ideas, worries and concepts. These discursive thoughts about all sorts of things, memories, and notions, never cease of course, but 'gaps' can be found. Now you can't look for the 'gap' (well, you can, but that's meditation), and you can't apply effort, or reason. You can't try harder to be more at ease, and with no thoughts there is no reason or logic to this. So, if it's not or emotional/experiential or 'intellectual', and nothing to do with anything really, where can such a thing or state be found.
It's in your heart, Dude ! Don't look for it. You've got it with you all the time, but maybe you can't see it or feel it. Your heart is the centre of your awareness, sensitivity, and intuition, but most of the time there are more pressing activities to get on with. Inner peace is not a state exactly, more like a way, or flow of energy.The big secret is that inner peace is not static or still (although it can give that impression) but moving all the time. It is like a flow you become aware of. A flow from you, and from the world to you.The outpouring of the elements of the heart (awareness, sensitivity, intuition, and a kind of open trust), which you can do easily by simply observing what is around you, doesn't cause inner peace (it's not an exercise) - it is inner peace. Look out at the world and others quietly, without any thoughts or preferances, judgements or comparisons. Wow ! that's letting go of a lot of the stuff that maintains your identity and individuality, but you won't loose anything by just looking. If you now want to get involved, impress, or distract, you'll most likely step away from inner peace.
Use your sensitivity by 'looking with your heart, not your eyes'. The ancient Chinese would call this 'looking symbolically' (as close as I can get to a translation), and it takes in all the Elements of the world as a 'picture' of where you are. It doesn't take much to realise that the whole thing is on the move - not to anywhere, but here changing. From being relaxed and at ease with the world as it is, comes an inner quiet or peace, whatever your circumstances might be. It's a way of being in the world. That world doesn't stop moving, neither do you. Inner peace is a way through the world, and it's excellent for going through doors.

No one told us it was going to be this easy !

"Allow TAO to change your routine, to challenge you, surprise you, and show you wonders. TAO will amaze, amuse, attract or distract, to engage you, one way or another. Chance and change affect us all. Now add your light into the world, for no reason at all. Just smile - "Shine out". When you are relaxed and comfortable in yourself, the world will talk to you everyday, like the clouds that protect and provide, and give form to light."

TAKEN FROM THE HEXAGRAM "INFLUENCE" OF THE TAO I CHING. THIS IS ONE OF A SERIES OF EIGHT CARDS CONTAINING THE EIGHT SPIRITUAL LAWS OF TAO.

Reality and Mrs Bear

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is a Mahayana Spiritual Guide and Tantric Master, and the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT).

"Well well" smiles Mrs Bear.

Great spiritual teachings are a little difficult to put across, and this Buddhist Teacher has "provided a complete re-presentation of the Buddhist path in accordance with the needs and inclinations of the modern world. His teachings are so clear and practical that anyone may gain authentic spiritual realization by putting them into practice."

The other day, whilst talking about business, and specifically about us in the 'spiritual trade', the opinion was voiced that whatever we may think and do to improve or enlighten anyone, we need to consider the fact that we are dealing with the world, and that the odds of anyone taking notice, or perhaps even benefiting from our enthusiasm, wisdom, service or product, are subject to the laws of inclination or indifference. The odds, or numbers involved, are not in our favour, and that due account, or wise acceptance, should be taken of this 'commercial risk'. Reality and reason take precedence over imagination, enthusiasm, and idealism.

We know all this. It's called 'the world'. Is what we do effective, or even commercially viable ? Can we show, prove, demonstrate, or impress ? Of course not, most of the time. We do what we do regardless of the world, and others. We do not do it for the world or others. There isn't any reward or recognition that can come from the world, or others, that we do not already possess in our own heart.

" He expects nothing, and he relies on nothing, and whatever he does such a man retains inner peace. He has no vain hopes, and spends his day in quiet activity. Only his body works. He is free from distracting thought, and his work does not bind him."

BHAGAVAD GITA

It is the empty heart and empty spirit that must rely on, react to, and reorganise, the profits and promotions of the world. Do we live in hope that recognition or reward, or even the enlightenment of others, will arrive one day ? Of course not ! We live each day, through optimism, enthusiasm, encouragement, humour, and generosity, regardless of the world. You can join in, or not.

But time is what we have, each day. You can spend that time fully immersed in the activities and involvements of the world, or you can 'look out' for a moment, for no reason at all, or sometimes talk to someone or give some other living thing your attention, just for its' own sake. This energy automatically changes your outlook and your life.

It is a strange way of looking at things, without the need for reward, but it changes, amazes and amuses, and provides adventures in the world, all the time. Don't know whether you noticed, but it is a very strange world.

I'm sure Mrs Bear would agree.

'The Way' is a wide road.

"There are many ways forward, and many choices along the way."

This weekend while at a MBS Fair I was showing someone the easier and more direct way to select the hexagrams of The TAO I CHING with a set of ELEMENTS. This person was not impressed, even though I could demonstrate a more dynamic flow of energy, and 'symbolic' manipulation of the hexagram, much more than using those coins. The two objections were that they preferred to use the yarrow stalk method ( I never thought of that; long winded, and they may have a certain rhythm to them when you use them properly), and that using the Wilhelm version they could read into the Readings what they wanted.

I replied by saying that I thought that this was a little pointless, since all the Readings would simply confirm, or strengthen, what they already knew. But they weren't listening.

Two thousand years ago (Chinese scholars will know this period of 200 B.C. - 200 A.D. as a great revolution, or a complete disaster of interpretation) the issue was clear enough. There were two flows of energy. One towards material involvement, and the other towards spiritual awareness, BOTH used in the world to full effect. Someone came along and put a label on these flows, and called them "Yin" and "Yang". The rest is a history of esoteric confusion. Because of this people will spend the next 2000 years pursuing one flow of energy, or another, to get the reults they want. This caused, and causes, a chain reaction and chain of events that alters the world. Here we are ! We can't change the past, and we can't change the world (people will do what they want), but we can change ourselves, to see, and feel, and use, a different kind of eneregy. An energy that we were told about two thousand years ago. The introductory chapters of The TAO I CHING explain it all. But they weren't listening.

But hey !, we can change our destiny.

Highway to higher awareness

The Royal Road to Consciousness

"There doesn't seem to be anyone about, and those steps are meant to be going somewhere because of that gateway. "

There was some discussion this weekend about the relevance of dreams. Infact it got a little 'over the top' with the claim of 'soul travel', but the free advice offered didn't exactly point the way to dream control, but more towards further speculation on the meaning of our existence. A bit presumptuous, I thought, since we can't really be sure of what we have at present, let alone higher conscious states. Dreams, we agreed, were a road to higher consciousness, even though, for those of us who dream a lot, it may seem like a step back into fantasy and imagination.

It's an awkward, and not very flattering, fact that our awareness in dreams (a sort of involved fantasy in an unfolding spontaneous play) is the same level as our waking life, and its all reduced to a memory. Such is our time here.

To develop our awareness we could seek-out spiritual guides, read books, do meditations, and experience psychic phenomena, or try a little experiment with our own dreams. Hence the notion of a royal, or important, road to discovery. There are a few 'rules', and the picture above to help you, and there is also the continued use of the hexagrams in The TAO I CHING to intuitively or easily guide you through daytime reality without emotion, involvement/reaction, and expectation (the producers of 'fantasy'). That's what all those hexagrams are for, but no one will tell you that because they are too busy producing more theory and practice to keep you busy. There is an interesting 'extension' to dreaming called "Lucid Dreaming". This is a state of hightened awareness while you are in a dream, only you are not dreaming, but awake. There is enough stuff on the web, and books too, about Lucid Dreaming to guide you in this direction, with tips on 'reality testing', daytime 'affirmations', etc. I've added a few notes of my own to the debate in my other blog www.tomleworthy.blogspt.com. The steps below will start off a process that will take you to where you are going, and a little further.

1. Determine to keep a journal of your dreams as the way to increased awareness.

2. As soon as you wakeup write down on loose sheets of paper everything you can remember in the order you remember it. Write it down verbatum, immediately. To delay this aspect, even for five minutes, will ruin the whole exercise. As you write down the episodes or events make a note of the order they occured in your dream (with linking arrows or numbering). You can put all the episodes in the proper order or sequence later. Do not write "I dreamed ...", but write as though these are real events that you experienced (which you did). How many accounts or dreams you record per week is up to you, so you don't have to do this every night, but it helps if you do.

3. At some later time copy your rough notes neatly into a proper journal or notebook, in the order they occured in your dream (but don't worry too much about this if it's a bit of a jumble). Give your dream an interesting title. All of this may seem a little long-winded, but the time you spend writing in your journal goes straight into your 'psyche' (awareness). Leave plenty of space between accounts of dreams (at least half a page) because you may add comments on them later. If you can illustrate an account with a picture, that may have a tenuous link with your dream, this is a bonus. Look for relevent pictures during the day.

4. At the end of each account write down your conclusions, insight, observation, or anything to further discuss the episode, and also where you could take this exercise next. Write something down, even if it's only a mark out of ten. This starts a debate between you and your subconscious (it'll be the only chance you get, until you hit Lucid Dreaming). Periodically read through your journal to see 'where it's going'. You are going to add these notes after you have completed the 'editing' (5,6,7) below.

5. With a felt tip marker pen strike out any emotion out of your account ! We don't want to know how you felt, or what concerned or worried you, or what guilt or elation you had. This is a statement of FACTS. After a week or so you will get used to, and develop a way to, just record these facts and not the whole 'emotional dream experience'.

6. Anything told to you, or said by you (usually indicated by quotation marks in your rough account) is a message for you. A message from your higher self if you like.

7. In your journal account look out for puns and double meanings, or similar sounding words. These are the hidden messages for you. Often unrelated objects appear, but may have similar sounding names to your topic. It is as if your brain doesn't want you to grasp the message consciously, so gives you a similar 'thing' (which, because you have written it all down, will have all the properties, qualities, and insights, you need on the subject). In your journal you will make a note of any of these findings.
THINGS WILL DEVELOP AT A PACE AND THE NATURE OF YOUR DREAMS WILL CHANGE. IT'S A STRANGE ROAD. JUST FOLLOW THE STEPS.

8. And if you get this far, and with your other daily involvements in the world handled by the hexagrams (or your understanding of a quiet way through the world), you will be ready for the quatum leap of awareness into Lucid Dreams. You see, the more 'involved' you are here in your thoughts and emotions, your past, and your future, the less you'll see and appreciate. Your dreams are full of this imaginative involvement (it's called "dreaming"), which is O.K., but it is 'fantasy'. There is a lot more to see here, and on 'the Otherside'. When you get there the rules change considerably, and also affect your daily perception of 'reality'.

You can Yin Yang it through life.

HEXAGRAMS are the stepping stones through life

Someone asked me the other day, what the Hexagrams actually teach us about life (that we didn't already know) and how could they improve our approach to life. I suppose that is the point, we already know what we know, and our approach can only, and perhaps should only, deal with that. Some people, who are sufficiently content with their veiw and approach, can label this as 'going with the flow'. But to answer the question, there are three main things.

DON'T REACT. Look at the facts, then you can do what you want. See the facts in a detached way as 'information only', then, if you want you can add in your stuff. However, if you react you will not solve the problem or situation, only fuel it (which may of course suit you and your energy).

DO NOT FIGHT OR BATTLE WITH FORCES, whether they be social, political, personal, health issues, or worldly problems. 'The world' , organised groups, social and political institutions, and all involvements, exist to use and 're-direct' your energy. You cannot win against stronger forces. Even if you 'win' you will still be in a position to be challenged (although this may suit you and your energy), to be constantly 'on your guard'. "Fate" you may be able to come to terms with, but be under no illusion, Chance and Change rule this world.

NEVER GIVE UP against the odds of the world. When you react you simply fight, when you battle you gamble, and 'take your chances', but your energy can overcome any situation. The Hexagrams reflect and empower this energy. Your energy can walk over, walk through, or walk around anything !, and you can always walk away. You can use this energy through the five spiritual weapons (in the analogy of a battle, which you won't be fighting), of ENTHUSIASM, OPTIMISM, GENEROSITY, HUMOUR, and ENCOURAGEMENT.

The rest is history, and isn't it time we thought of something else ?

"Going with The Flow"

LIVING IN THE PRESENT.

In those few seconds to two minutes is all you have of existence. However, your mind will repeatedly tell you that you have a past, a future, and lots of things to be doing now (usually to resolve those past and future notions).Your body is so closely inter-twined with the material world, with all its' delights and distractions, that you may never stand to one side just for a moment.Your brain will connect it all together to give you a bit more room to enjoy yourself, and give you the impression that things are a little more predictable, or uncertain. There is actually a 'still centre', and I guess trees live in this dimensionless timeless state, but your mind will tell you the opposite, and keep you involved and reacting right up to the last moment. It's O.K., since everything only happens in the present.

The rest is history.

A Way in the world.

Some of the maps are a little dated.

In my studies of The I Ching, like so many others, I was captivated by the mystery and the mechanics of all those charts and hexagram layouts. It was not until I understood a very basic concept that the whole system 'fell into place', and started to produce some strange and accurate results. It is not the hexagrams, the rituals, or the magic, but energy that makes it work.

That energy is volatile, and changing all the time. You can only guage it or measure it (take a Reading of it) in a very short space of time - in about one second to about two minutes (not withstanding the sometimes long rituals, or shorter time in coin throwing, to get there). It can only happen in the present moment.

When you see the energy - something like the flow of energy in Feng Shui - you understand that it is symbolic, elemental, and powerful. It is a Way through the world. To use The I Ching you need to pose a question, and select a hexagram, but The TAO I CHING goes a little further in not only providing an instant and easy access, but in using the energy of these hexagrams to reflect, and change, your energy. When you see the flow of energy through yourself, through your thoughts, feelings, and reactions, you'll see the connection between you and TAO.

TAO is that great flow of energy that runs through the universe, that takes you and everything with it. You can continue to use The I Ching to ask questions about your busy life and prospects. I certainly do. You can also slow down the whole process by observing your situation, and assimilating the energy, as recommended in The TAO I CHING. www.taoiching.com When you continue to do this you start to live in the present.

IF YOU SEE BUDDHA

"If you see Buddha in the street, kill him !"

I always thought that the irreverent Zen saying "If you see Buddha in the street, kill him !", was, perhaps, a warning not to worship spiritual leaders or follow spiritual doctrines without question.

'Life on the street', indeed your life, is not static, an ideal, or a set of rules to follow, but a direct daily involvement. To be 'aware' there should be a sense of alertness, in a wake-up call that could happen any time. (The urgency in the quote above).

If you see someone in the street, or anywhere, studying 'The I Ching' (about as likely as meeting Buddha), approach them, point directly behind them, or to the sky, and shout ! "LOOK OUT !"

Chance and Change rule, and the energy is volatile, shifting, flowing, and moving everyone and everything. The TAO I CHING will tell you what (to do about it), and why, but don't hang-around too long.

Hexagrams in the Process of Change.

Order any number on the Chinese menu 1 - 64.

That's quite a few hexagrams, but Wang Pi has put them all into a nice arrangement for you. He did this in 246 A.D. , and called it "The Map of Life", but you may not have seen this before {unless you've downloaded 'The I Ching The Book of Chance and Change' from my website http://www.taoiching.com/} . Infact the few who have seen it couldn't make much sense of it, unless they had the key. That 'key' is of course energy.

That's a lot of hexagrams, but you needn't get confused because you'll only select one at a time. The HEXAGRAM is a strange symbol, packed with information. It looks like a simple diagram of six lines, but it is quite dynamic and has the potential to change. The hexagram has a meaning which you can consult in The I Ching, but if you looked into The TAO I CHING you would also see that it is a state of awareness - to live in, to reflect on, and to use. It is your life right now, or an aspect of it, or a pressing question you have, presented to you in an 'energy picture'. The piece of energy you have chosen reflects and changes, as though it had a life of its' own. All of this energy is moving and changing all the time. As soon as you form a question, and select a hexagram, you actually take part in this process of change. Through regular use, or whenever you have a question, the hexagrams of The Tao I Ching will change your energy (if you want to), and strangest of all, you will notice a lightness, or ease, in your mental state (of awareness), as it guides you towards a sense of harmony and inner peace. The rest is history.

The I Ching

The Ultimate Calculation

Only 64 situations, or events, can happen to you, or be experienced by you, in this life. This is the basic notion or conclusion of The I Ching or 'Book of Changes'. 'Book of Changes' because you can never be sure of what will hit you next, or what changes lie ahead. This is a complicated system of 64 hexagram symbols, each with the capacity to change into any of the other hexagrams. You can select a hexagram to show you 'what's up', and what this might change to. The ancient Chinese, who invented this system, based it on another idea they had about the way energy flows through everything, Man, Nature, and the universe. This energy, or the two aspects of it that cause change, came to be known as 'Yin' and 'Yang'.

The fun started when every permutation, state, action, and reaction, was calculated (producing 4029 combinations of hexagrams) based on the presence of Yin/Yang energy. After a thousand years or so messing around with bones, shells, and bamboo strips, they wrote it all down in 'The Classic of Change'. This in turn led to even more speculation, insight, symbolism, mysticism, and 'spirituality', which was added to The Book in ten wings or 'additions'. Today, of course, we have the profound mystery, that funny, half black half white, round symbol, and that great saying 'Going with the flow' , which everyone misunderstands to their great misfortune. You could find out what 'went wrong' by going to www.taoiching.com but you're probably happy enough not to bother. Either way, Chance and Change rule !

The I Ching is a pretty big book

"When struck by a thuderbolt

it is unneccesary to consult

'The Book of Changes' as to

the precise meaning of the omen"

ANCIENT CHINESE PROVERB

Signposts.

How often is it that you come across this ?

HEXAGRAMS are not really destinations, but more like signposts - to an answer, a different state, condition, or aquisition, or potential. The hexagram won't actually give you everything you ask for, but it might 'literally' do so. You see, hexagrams only show you your present position, or the present moment. The hexagram is a sort of destination that you have already arrived at - the present moment. You may not like this, seek to overlook it, or look instead to the future, or the past, but here you are !

Within the six-lined hexagram symbol are three line combinations, called TRIGRAMS. The top half, or top three lines, of the hexagram is a trigram, and so is the bottom half (and there are two more in the centre of the hexagram if you care to look). It is these trigrams that help, or hinder, you on your way to your destination. The trigrams show your strength, speed, and direction, and you could be going in the wrong direction, or at the wrong speed, hence the idea of 'hinder'. Actually it's all there to give you information. The hexagram will show you where you are starting from, and some of the potential.

The next time you come across a signpost, it's not so much the places that you could go to, but the choice you have. That choice, determined by your circumstances and where you think you want to go, is represented by a hexagram. All the time you are making decisions, and some of the time not quite sure which way to go, so using the TAO I CHING is like using signposts to get you where you want to be. Now, if that signpost had no place names on it, what would you do ? See where you actually are, look around you, and make a choice. Welcome to the TAO I CHING.

The Path Beyond.

'The Path Beyond The Meaning of Life'
Rachael Wilmot. Oil on canvas 36" X 36"

This is a painting by Rachael Wilmot. She of course went on to actually paint the destinations she hinted at in this painting, and you can catch-up with those at http://www.illustriousartworks.com./

The scene is the crossroads at Neuadd Chapel above NANTERNIS village, a few miles South of New Quay on the West coast of Wales (U.K.). This ordinary view is a metaphore for a metaphysical situation, as suggested by the title of the painting, and the destinations on the signpost behind the self portrait of Rachael.

She occupies the foreground, and certain states of awareness are visually aligned to the body. The cat (Mutti) is a symbol for 'gut' instinct, and level with the stomach. The heart is level with the signpost, and ones' direction in life. A set of choices presents itself when we arrive at the crossroads. That signpost has 'philosophical' directions. Turn right for PURPOSE (Nanternis), take the left for KNOWLEDGE (Llwyndafydd), and straight on for MEANING (Cwm Tydu). The route we are on is AWARENESS (Caerwedros, and ultimately Carmarthen, Swansea, and the rest of the world). Rachael stands at the present moment.

If we take the road to MEANING, we immediately pass the chapel and cemetry, which is aligned to the head and thoughts. If we follow the lane we end up on the horizon, and probably 'out on a limb'. The path beyond The Meaning of Life is indicated by a simple visual trick.

I wonder if the HEXAGRAMS are a similar 'simple' visual trick ?

Hexagrams 'aint what they used to be.

Hexagrams 'aint what they used to be, and here we are talking pre-1120 B.C. It all started with the creeping awareness of some sort of movement in the world, followed by a slow flow through the universe, and then the rush of energy through history. The ancient Chinese got a taste for history and started to record it all, but, somwhere along the line, cast the 'Classic of Change' in cement. Well, not cement exactly, but on bones, the backs of tortoise shells, bamboo strips, and in the Great Books.

Who writes this stuff ? If they look like this, can we really trust them ?
Maybe we should just check-out Tom Leworthy on Blogspot. We expect the image to match the mysterious and profound content, and we expect our hexagrams to be authentic, but something else has been going on.