Wiki I Ching

Discipline 7.1.2.4 → 51 Shock

From
7
Discipline
To
51
Shock

Finding the solution
One tests the resistance of those they have chosen.
 taoscopy.com


Discipline 7
Strategic alignment leads to victory; discipline and structure ensure success.

↓
Line 1
Proper organization and discipline are essential.
Without them, failure is likely.

↓
Line 2
Being in the right place within the group brings success and recognition.

↓
Line 4
A strategic withdrawal is sometimes necessary and wise.

↓
Shock 51
Sudden change or shock, like thunder, that can jolt you awake.
Embrace the disruption as an opportunity for growth, respond calmly, and align your actions with the new reality.



Original Readings

7
Discipline


Other titles: The Army, The Symbol of Multitude and of Army, Legions/ Leading, The Troops, Collective Force, Discipline, Soldiers, Group Action, A Disciplined Multitude, Ego Discipline, Willpower "Can refer to mourning but its essential meaning is Discipline." -- D.F. Hook

 

Judgment

Legge:Disciplineindicates that with firm correctness and a leader of age and experience, there will be good fortune and no error.

Wilhelm/Baynes:The Army. The army needs perseverance and a strong man. Good fortune without blame.

Blofeld: Persistence in a righteous course brings to those in authority good fortune and freedom from error. [If the enquiry is not concerned with military affairs, we must interpret this hexagram symbolically in the sense that life is a battle.]

Liu:The Army. The army demands perseverance and a strong person (leader). Good fortune. No blame.

Ritsema/Karcher: Legions: Trial. Respectable people significant. Without fault. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of unorganized crowds or bunches of things. It emphasizes that organizing these things into functional units is the adequate way to handle it. To be in accord with the time, you are told to lead!]

Shaughnessy: The Troops: Determination for the senior man is auspicious; there is no trouble.

Cleary (1): For the leader of the army to be right, a mature person is good; then there is no error.

Wu: The Army indicates persevering. Led by the elder man, it will be auspicious.


The Image

Legge: Water in the midst of the earth -- the image ofDiscipline. The superior man nourishes and educates the people, and collects from among them a mighty army.

Wilhelm/Baynes: In the middle of the earth is water: the image of The Army. Thus the superior man increases his masses by generosity toward the people.

Blofeld: The symbol of water surrounded by land. The Superior Man nourishes the people and treats them with leniency.

Liu: Water in the earth symbolizes the Army. The superior man increases his followers by benevolence toward the people.

Ritsema/Karcher: Earth center possessing stream. Legions. A chun tzu uses tolerating commoners to accumulate crowds.

Cleary (1): There is water in the earth, The Army. Thus does the superior person embrace the people and nurture the masses.

Cleary (2): … Leaders develop a group by admitting people.

Wu: There is water underneath the ground; this is The Army. Thus the jun zi receives people and shelters them.

 

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: Discipline describes the masses who make up the army, and the firm correctness referred to means a morally correct intent. When the leader uses the masses with such correctness, he may fulfill the ruler's will. The focus of strength in the second line is responded to by his proper correlate in the ruler's place. Although action is dangerous, it accords with the best sentiments of men, and although the leader may distress the country the people will still follow him -- there will be good fortune and no error.

Legge: Discipline is symbolized here by the conduct of a military expedition. The arrangement of the lines suggests the idea of a general surrounded by his troops. The dynamic yang line in the center of the lower trigram has the confidence of the magnetic ruler in the fifth place. Entire trust is reposed in him because he is strong and correct. He is referred to as an old and experienced man, hence all of his enterprises will succeed.

Perilousness is the attribute of the lower trigram, and Docility or Accordance with Others, that of the upper. War is like poison to a country -- painful, and potentially ruinous, and yet the people will endure it on behalf of the sovereign whom they love and respect.

In regard to the Image, Chu Hsi says: "As the water is not outside the earth, so soldiers are not outside the people. Therefore if a ruler is able to nourish the people, he can get the multitudes for his armies."

 

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Judgment: Discipline directed by willpower and serious intent advances the Work. Or: With experienced judgment and proper will and intent there will be a good outcome.

The Superior Man trains and nourishes his powers to build an invincible unity.

The English word "infantry," meaning foot soldiers (the backbone of any army), is derived from the French word enfant, meaning infant, or child. This ancient association was made because a good military officer was expected to treat his soldiers as if they were his own children -- with a stern but loving discipline designed to improve their character. This concept is what the Image alludes to when it says: “The superior man nourishes and educates the people, and collects from among them a mighty army.” Psychologically interpreted the idea is that the ego-complex is the general officer in the second line that nourishes, educates and controls the other complexes within the psyche. This can only be accomplished through discipline, and thus I have chosen that name for the hexagram rather than the more usual title of The Army.

With the only dynamic line of the hexagram placed in the center of the lower trigram we have an image of the position of the ego-complex in relation to the rest of the psyche. The magnetic ruler in line five represents the Self, isolated from direct physical involvement and dependent upon the dynamic ego to carry out the Work in the material dimension. The seventh hexagram, therefore, shows the Work from the ego's point of view.

Hexagram number eight, Holding Together, is the inverse of this image, and shows the Work from the Self's point of view outside of spacetime. There it is the dynamic fifth line ruler who is the focal point -- an image of the Self surrounded by its satellites. In that dimension the second line ego-complex is only another magnetic complex in the company of other magnetic complexes. Ideally, the lower complexes within the psyche should be magnetic in relation to a dynamic ego, but the ego is always magnetic in relation to the dynamic Self. From the Self's point of view all of its complexes are its magnetic "children," or "infantry." Hexagrams seven and eight should be studied together as reversed images to get a full comprehension of each.

The images in the lines of Discipline all deal with the management of forces as a coordinated whole -- as long as they are under the firm command of the ego (who is only a general carrying out the orders of the Self), things proceed successfully. If the Discipline breaks down and the ego- general loses control, defeat is certain.

Narutomi Hyogo said, "What is called winning is defeating one's allies. Defeating one's allies is defeating oneself, and defeating oneself is vigorously overcoming one's own body. It is as though a man were in the midst of ten thousand allies but not one were following him. If one hasn't previously mastered his mind and body, he will not defeat the enemy."
Yamamoto Tsunetomo -- The Book of the Samurai


Line 1

Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows the army going forth according to the rules for such a movement. If these be not good, there will be evil.

Wilhelm/Baynes: An army must set forth in proper order. If the order is not good, misfortune threatens.

Blofeld: An army is built up through discipline; without it, corruption leading to disaster occurs.

Liu: An army should be put in correct order. If not, there will be disaster.

Ritsema/Karcher: Legions issuing-forth using ordinance. Obstructing virtue: pitfall. [Ordinance, LU: Law, fixed regulation; regulate by law, divide into right and wrong.]

Shaughnessy: Troops go out in ranks; it is not good; inauspicious.

Cleary (1): The army is to go forth in an orderly manner: Otherwise, even good turns out bad.

Cleary (2): … Negating the good leads to misfortune.

Wu: The army going to war requires strict observance of discipline. When the discipline is not enforced, there will be disaster.

 

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: If the rules aren't observed there will be evil. Wilhelm/

Baynes: Losing order is unfortunate. Blofeld: The disaster indicated in this passage results from a breakdown of discipline. Ritsema/Karcher: Letting-go ordinance: pitfall indeed. Cleary (2): If it loses order, there will be misfortune. Wu: Lack of discipline means disaster.

Legge: The rules are twofold: First, the war must be justified, and second, that the manner of conducting it, especially at the outset, must be correct.

 

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Siu: At the outset, a righteous cause, as well as a proper method for conducting the war is essential for military success.

Wing: Before you take action, be certain that what you propose is worthwhile, for otherwise you cannot sustain yourself. Be sure as well that you are organized. Without order, your affairs will end in chaos and misfortune. Discipline is the key here.

Editor: There is a certain ambiguity in this line, and an implicit warning to maintain total awareness. It doesn't tell you that you are right or wrong -- it only makes a general observation: a truism. The image portrays the necessity of a correct hierarchy of forces (ideas, concepts) to attain any goal. (If you don't know the proper sequence of numbers you cannot open a combination lock.) Crudely, make sure you thoroughly understand your situation before taking action. The implication is that you may not apprehend some crucial aspect of the matter at hand, hence need more or better data. In some contexts, "ordinances" or "law" may refer to the laws of nature. Compare with line 6.

The senses of the wise man obey his mind, his mind obeys his intellect, his intellect obeys his ego, and his ego obeys the Self.
Katha Upanishad

A. Proper comprehension, organization and discipline is essential for success. Bring order to your thoughts and feelings.

B. Take no action until you are absolutely confident that your strategy is the correct one.

Line 2

Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows the leader in the midst of the army. There will be good fortune and no error. The king cherishes the myriad regions in his heart.

Wilhelm/Baynes: In the midst of the army. Good fortune. No blame. The king bestows a triple decoration.

Blofeld: The general in the midst of his army enjoys good fortune and is free from error. Thrice he is honored by the King.

Liu: A general works within his army. Good fortune, no blame. The king confers a triple honor.

Ritsema/Karcher: Locating Legions, centering significant. Without fault. The king three-times bestowing fate.

Shaughnessy: In the troops' midst; auspicious; there is no trouble; the king thrice awards the command.

Cleary (1): At the center of the army, good fortune, no error; the king gives orders thrice.

Cleary (2): Being in the middle of the army is lucky, blameless ... etc.

Wu: Being in the center of the army will be auspicious and blameless. The king has thrice bestowed praises upon him.

 

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: He has received the favor of heaven. The king cherishes the myriad regions in his heart. Wilhelm/Baynes: He receives grace from heaven. He has the welfare of all countries at heart. Blofeld: It is because he is esteemed by the King that he enjoys good fortune and the protection of his army. Solicitous about the welfare of the empire, the King thrice awards him the command. Ritsema/Karcher: Receiving heavenly favor indeed. Cherishing the myriad fiefdoms indeed. Cleary (2): One receives celestial favor. Thinking of all the provinces. Wu: Because he has the favor of the king. The king has in his heart the welfare of all his people.

Legge: The orders of the king are the general's appointment to the command of the army. "Thrice" does not mean that this appointment came three times, but that it was given exclusively to the general with the king's entire confidence. The favor of heaven means the same thing, and indicates that the ruler relies on the general to promote the welfare of all the people in the "myriad regions" of the kingdom.

 

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Siu: The king's appointment of command is given to the general exclusively. The latter must be in touch with his troops, sharing the good as well as the ill.

Wing: You are in an excellent position to communicate with others. Because this situation is so well disposed you will meet with good fortune and win recognition from your superiors.

Editor: This is a clear image of the ego taking its proper role in the integration of the psyche -- bringing thoughts, passions and drives under the discipline of will. A Kabbalist might interpret the three honors bestowed by "the king" (the Self) as authority conferred in the three lower realms of sensation, emotion and thought.

In large scale strategy the superior man will manage many subordinates dexterously, bear himself correctly, govern the country and foster the people, thus preserving the ruler's discipline.
Miyamoto Musashi -- A Book of Five Rings

A. An image of responsible authority -- nourish and control your forces.

B. It is the ego's role to bring autonomous forces within the psyche under the discipline of will.

Line 4

Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows the army in retreat. There is no error.

Wilhelm/Baynes: The army retreats. No blame.

Blofeld: The army retreats and halts -- no error!

Liu: The army retreats at the proper time. No blame.

Ritsema/Karcher: Legions: the left resting. Without fault.

Shaughnessy: The troops camp on the left; there is no trouble.

Cleary (1): The army retreats and camps, there is no error.

Wu: The army halts its advance and chooses to camp. It will be blameless.

 

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: There has been no failure in the regular course. Wilhelm/ Baynes: It does not deviate from the usual way. Blofeld: No error is involved because retreating and halting are a normal part of military activity. Ritsema/ Karcher: Not-yet letting-go the rules indeed. Cleary (2): One has not lost the constant. Wu: It does not violate the normal course of action.

Legge: Line four is magnetic and not central. Therefore to retreat is natural to her. Since the place is proper for a yielding line, the retreat is correct under the circumstances. Retreat is no evidence of failure in a campaign. When advance would lead to defeat, retreat is the regular course to pursue.

 

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Siu: The man is confronted by a superior enemy. Orderly retreat to preserve the army is his correct course of action.

Wing: The obstacles ahead are insurmountable. Struggling against them is useless. Therefore the intelligent maneuver is retreat.

Editor: Regarded objectively, any withdrawal from an incorrect position can only be a strategy for success.

But even when these forces within ourselves are temporarily stronger, when the conscious personality is at first overwhelmed by their violence, the vigilant self is never really conquered. It can retire to an inner fortress and there prepare for and await the favorable moment in which to counter-attack. It may lose some of the battles, but if it does not give up its arms and surrender, the ultimate issue is not compromised, and it will achieve victory in the end.
Roberto Assagioli -- Psychosynthesis

A. Strategic withdrawal is not surrender.

51
Shock


Other titles: The Arousing, Thunder, The Symbol of Startling Movement, Shake, The Beginning of Movement, Shocking, The Thunderclap, Action, Motion, Sudden Change, Surprise! "The necessity to keep tranquil in the midst of upheaval." -- D.F. Hook

 

Judgment

Legge:Shock intimates ease and development. When the time of movement which it indicates comes, the subject of the hexagram will be found looking out with apprehension, and yet smiling and talking cheerfully. When the movement like a crash of thunder terrifies all within a hundred miles, he will be like the sincere worshipper who is not startled into dropping his ladle and cup of sacrificial spirits.

Wilhelm/Baynes:Shock brings success. Shock comes --oh, oh! Laughing words -- ha, ha! The shock terrifies for a hundred miles, and he does not let fall the sacrificial spoon and chalice.

Blofeld: Thunder -- success! Thunder comes with a terrible noise, laughing and shouting in awesome glee and frightening people for a hundred miles around. The sacrificial wine is not spilt. [This suggests that the holder of the sacrificial vessel is not easily alarmed or else that he is very wise and able to distinguish between the apparently dangerous and the truly dangerous.]

Liu: Thunder. Success. Thunder comes -- ho ho! Speaking and laughing -- ha ha! It shocks and terrifies for a hundred miles. But one does not drop the spoon or chalice.

Ritsema/Karcher: Shake, Growing. Shake coming: frightening, frightening. Laughing words, shrieking, shrieking. Shake scaring a hundred miles. Not losing the ladle, the libation. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of a disturbing and inspiring shock. It emphasizes that rousing things to new activity, the action of Shake is the adequate way to handle it. To be in accord with the time, you are told to: stir things up!]

Shaughnessy:Thunder: Receipt; thunder comes so renewingly; laughter and talk yaya; thunder alarms one hundred miles; not losing the ladle or goblet.

Cleary (1): Thunder is developmental. When thunder comes, there is alarm, then laughter. Thunder startles for a hundred miles, but one does not lose the spoon and wine.

Cleary (2):Thunder comes through. Etc.

Wu:Motion indicates pervasiveness. When Motioncomes, it frightens people. Later, it makes people talk and laugh. Its majesty reaches one hundred li in all directions. There is no misplacement of the ladle or sacrificial wine.

 

The Image

Legge: The image of Thunder, being repeated, forms Shock. The superior man, in accordance with this, is fearful and apprehensive, cultivates his virtue, and examines his faults.

Wilhelm/Baynes: Thunder repeated: the image of Shock. Thus in fear and trembling the superior man sets his life in order and examines himself.

Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes continuous thunder. The Superior Man in fear and trembling seeks to improve himself.

Liu: Thunder doubled symbolizes shock. The superior man contemplates himself with fear and caution.

Ritsema/Karcher: Reiterated thunder. Shake. A chun tzu uses anxious fearing to adjust inspecting.

Cleary (1):Traveling thunder reverberates. Thus superior people cautiously practice introspection.

Cleary (2): Repeated thunder reverberates.Developed people practice introspection with caution.

Wu: One thunderclap after another constitutes hexagram Motion. Thus the jun zi reflects and rectifies for fear of being wrong.

 

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: His feeling of dread leads to happiness because he is thereby made to adopt proper laws for himself. The movement startles the distant and frightens the near, yet he makes the proper sacrifices the same as always.

Legge: Shock consists of the trigram for Thunder doubled. (This trigram also represents Movement and the Eldest Son.) The hexagram therefore symbolizes a crash or peal of thunder, and combined with the idea of movement shows a sudden change taking place in the kingdom. The lesson is the conduct to be pursued in a time of sudden change through an awareness of danger and the proper regulation of oneself.

A successful issue is predicted if the dynamic first line can be superior to the two magnetic lines above him. It is in the idea of the hexagram that he should be moving and advancing. Although sensible of the danger, he is confident and self-possessed -- so much so that he can calmly perform his religious duties during the prevailing chaos. This is proper behavior for the eldest son, who must eventually assume the duties of his father.

Anthony: In the I Chingshock means being subjected to unsettling events. It also means perceiving and reacting to these events … perceiving, in any of these changes, that a new set of limits, or deprivations, has been placed on our life which seems to restrict or even penalize us. This sense of being projected by events into a sort of emotional trap is what this hexagram calls “Fate.” Acknowledgement of this fate, or trap, and the imperative – to find the way out – is one of the purposes of shock. As far as the I Ching is concerned, there is only one way out – to undergo spiritual development.

 

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Judgment: During sudden changes, adjust your tempo and move ahead, remembering that while conditions may alter, the goal remains the same.

The Superior Man double-checks his premises, confronts his weak spots and adheres to the rules and ideals of the Work.

The image here is one of a sudden, dramatic release of energy, power and force. To receive this hexagram without changing lines can refer to almost any abrupt, startling or unexpected situation. Sometimes it is the oracle's way of saying: "Surprise!” It can also be a kind of reprimand for asking a dumb or inappropriate question -- the oracle is "shocked” by your temerity, ignorance, etc. In such instances there is often an element of wry humor in the situation -- usually at the ego's expense. On rare occasions, it is possible to receive this hexagram as a warning about an upcoming event which has no bearing on the question posed. Should you receive such an oracle, be extremely vigilant – as always, the advice to the superior man in the Image suggests the proper course.

A true test of devotion to the Work is to maintain one's will under all circumstances. The world may be falling apart around us, but the adept does not ruin the performance of his sacrifice: the ego continues the Work regardless of conditions, and keeps a cool head under all circumstances.

Have no fear of sudden terror

or of assault from wicked men,

since Yahweh will be your guarantor,

He will keep your steps from the snare.

Proverbs 3: 25-26

Both Yahweh and Christ are what Jung calls "god images” which exist in one form or another in every human psyche, whether it is consciously religious or not. The god image is synonymous with the Self, and the implication of the above quotation from Proverbsis that as long as the ego remains devoted to the Work -- in I Chingterms: "maintains the sacrifice” -- it is under the protection of the Self.

The Perfect Man is godlike. Though the great swamps blaze, they cannot burn him; though the great rivers freeze, they cannot chill him; though swift lightning splits the hills and howling gales shake the sea, they cannot frighten him. A man like this rides the clouds and mist, straddles the sun and moon, and wanders beyond the four seas. Even life and death have no effect on him, much less the rules of profit and loss!
Chuang Tzu