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Above; mountain,
stillness
Below; mountain, stillness
In this hexagram
the male principal, represented by the yang lines
is striving upward, and the female principal, represented
by the yin lines moves downward. The inaction results
from the fact that these movements have come to a
conclusion in each trigram.
Keeping the back
unmoving so that one no longer feels one’s body,
and walking out into the courtyard without noticing
the people there brings no blame.
This alludes to the practice of Taoist meditation.
In what has come to be known as the ‘spiritual
alchemy’ of Tao. The spine is thought of as
connecting three ‘crucibles’ or pools
of energy. One is located at the base of the spine,
known as the Lower Dantian, the 2nd is located at
the level of the solar plexus behind the stomach,
and the third is located in the head, between the
eyes, known as the Upper Dantian. By meditation and
breathing the sexual energy of the pelvic region is
gradually distilled ever upward. Gradually the initiate
is filled with nothing but spiritual energy and is
in a state of oneness with the energies of the universe.
Ultimately, the point of the practice is to achieve
immortality.
Gen signifies
resting, desisting, coming to a stop. When it is time
for inaction, that is the time to stop. When the time
comes for action… then act! By action and inaction,
each at its appointed time, a man makes glorious progress.
The inaction represented by Gen means inaction in
its proper place and time. The upper and lower trigrams
exatly correspond to each other, but do not interact,
hence the wording of the judgement.
The mountains standing
together is the image of Gen. The Superior Man, accordingly,
does not move in his thoughts beyond the position
in which he finds himself.
Line 1
His toes are still.
No blame. Righteous persistence is advantageous.
As in the texts
for hexagram 31 (Xian) and 34 (Da Zhuang), the toes
represent the simplest sort of movement. By keeping
the toes still one stops even before one has begun
to move. A man who knows the importance of inaction
at the beginning will eventually find the right way.
Perseverance is essential to keep him from drifting
without purpose.
Line 2
His calves are
still. He cannot aid the one he follows and is disquieted.
The feet and legs
have begun a movement, as in the instinct to follow
someone more powerful than oneself. But the movement
is suddenly halted. he who is moving may fall, like
one who discovers almost too late that the course
he is pursuing is wrong. The man he is following is
evilly disposed.
Line 3
His loins are still.
His spine is stiff. Danger. The heart is suffocated.
He who endeavours
to stifle sexual desire when his mind is not prepared
for it will suffer painful results. But he who understands
the true purpose of Taoist meditation and practices
it correctly will feel inspiration in his heart.
Line 4
His trunk is still.
No blame.
Inaction at this
time is appropriate. The initiate is well on the way
to spiritual enlightenment even though he is not yet
free from all dangers of doubt that he is right in
his policy of inaction.
Line 5
His jaws are still.
His speech being ordered. He has no cause for regret.
To know when to
speak and when not to speak is the way to true wisdom.
Line 6
He is noble in
his inaction. Good fortune.
This is the goal
of inaction; spiritual nobility, which brings nothing
but good fortune.
© 1979 Neil
Powell
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