益
GUA 42 · YI
INCREASING
Overall Image (大象)
The wind and the thunder
Increasing
The noble young one, accordingly,
When seeing the good, as a rule, makes improvements
When having transgressed, as a rule, makes corrections▼
Overall Image (大象)
The wind and the thunder
Increasing
The noble young one, accordingly,
When seeing the good, as a rule, makes improvements
When having transgressed, as a rule, makes corrections
The breezes seem to run errands for the young sprout below, bringing it windfalls, food and rain from afar, and later, distributing seed. Opportunities are everywhere. The tree reaches out at both ends, spreading its roots and its branches, gaining more access to more of the world. To grow we reach into something greater than we are. The wise will find plenty of options to build their lives out of choices. And since so much is available, they can even pick and choose. In growing a better life, they might even give up as much as they gain, pass by as much as they take, and settle for only the best, for a single gem instead of twelve rocks. The great cost is paying attention.
Main Judgment (Increasing) (卦辞)
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
Worthwhile to cross the great stream▼
Main Judgment (Increasing) (卦辞)
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
Worthwhile to cross the great stream
The air is full of clues to the meaning of life. Our cultures are full of clues to what we might do with this life. Your gifts will fall to your lot freely given, as if they had fallen from heaven. But they’ll have no value or meaning until they are wanted and taken, accepted and put to a use. To gain is to learn how to better receive, to take a gift with gratitude, to honor the gift by wanting what can be done with it. Growth does not need to mean that size changes: when we learn to unlearn what no longer serves us, we may even get smaller and better, do more with less and yet hold more of the world in our grasp. But our job is to give these gains value, and not merely learn they are there. Options, models, tactics, ideas and tools are all free, except for the effort of picking them up. Not everything has been thought, said or done yet, but our records keep getting better, so some of the things we could do, especially bad ideas, no longer need to be tried. The wise ones will move through their multiple choices with a healthy self-interest, just as unable as anyone else to give what they have not first taken. And several whole, wide worlds are out there just for the taking.
Key Words (关键词)
Extension, diversification, broadening, advantage, empowerment; gain, increase▼
Key Words (关键词)
Extension, diversification, broadening, advantage, empowerment; gain, increase
Enrichment, smiling fortune; enhancements, benefits, gifts, windfalls, gleanings New access, input, options, choices, alternatives; learning, accepting, growing Receiving generously, taking well, using the gifts, appreciation, blessings to count Positional advantage, leverage, purchase; to glean, profit, augment; faring well Gain also as an increase in sensitivity to signal strength, amplification, expansion
Structure & Connections
Structure Class
Xun-Zhen Family
This classification indicates the hexagram's role in the 12 Sovereign Cycle (Earthly Branches) or its structural family.
Astrology
note:Leo Ascending, Fixed Fire
element:Fire
Tarot
card:Prince of Wands
suit:Wands
Qabalah
note:Yetzirah of Atziluth
sphere:Yetzirah
The Lines
11st • YangWorthwhile and productive to perform great deeds
Excellent opportunity
Without errors▼
1
1st • YangWorthwhile and productive to perform great deeds
Excellent opportunity
Without errors
42.1x (An) excellent opportunity (to be) without errors:
(To be) humble regardless of weighty concerns
Looking up from nearsighted labor, he finds there is a better way, to do three times the work with only a third of the effort. The forest full of mighty trees turns out to be easy to plant: seeds and some water, humility, patience and time. At the bottom there is yet no great enterprise, it is not the place for greatness, although great things can begin here. Knowledge is power, but it costs so very little. The vision, the deed, and the energy used for doing the deed: all these are enabled by power from the sun. It is to this star that the deed is best dedicated. The light is the power, the author and glory, not us. Even our notions of greatness might not be all that mature: we seem to enjoy inflating these things and putting ourselves at the center. Greatness is there for the asking. But one who thinks himself mighty should try pulling oxcarts around.
22nd • YangSomebody grants one ten matched pairs of tortoise shells
One cannot refuse
Enduring commitment is promising
The sovereign presents offerings to the divine*
Promising▼
2
2nd • YangSomebody grants one ten matched pairs of tortoise shells
One cannot refuse
Enduring commitment is promising
The sovereign presents offerings to the divine*
Promising
42.2x Somebody grants this:
(It) comes from beyond
There is a resonance in this, a connection of the spirit, and even these special shells are entrained in the pattern. They have found their way into your hands as blessings, to count but not question. This wealth is a trust and one wants to be worthy. Even the king serves this process. Since each shell is used only one time for one question, you could use many shells up in just asking why, and still there might be no why. To question the rightness of this is to spend it on the past. Thus it is probably best to keep this increase going in forward directions - by asking questions of how and when best. A treasure map can be as good as the treasure, without having all of that weight yet. The sovereign will want his good name to have a respectable place on his ancestor’s shrine, but he doesn’t ask why it’s not there yet. This is for tomorrow.
33rd • YangIncrease comes by way of unfortunate events
Avoid errors
Hold true and focused in conduct
Report to the prince, offer the jade credential▼
3
3rd • YangIncrease comes by way of unfortunate events
Avoid errors
Hold true and focused in conduct
Report to the prince, offer the jade credential
42.3x Increased by way of unfortunate events:
Certainly hold this (in mind)
The good doctor earns his wealth and repute by taking a sort of advantage of the ill fortunes of the sick and the dying. The advocate thrives on misunderstandings. The hero will launch his reputation on somebody else’s mishap. The heir will take advantage of death in the family. But this does not soil their characters, until they begin to encourage the illness, feed the strife, cause the disaster or do harm to the rich, old uncle. Misfortune creates real needs for somebody to take care of, and to salvage a bad situation merits a reward, a finder’s fee or a bounty. But wherever this might be abused, the public asserts a right to preserve its level of trust. It only takes one fireman starting one fire to put a noble profession under a harsher light. Trust and respect aren’t easy to add to. Much decrease grows from small doubts.
44th • YangCentered in conduct
Advise the prince to comply
It will be worthwhile and practical to perform reliably
in moving the capital▼
4
4th • YangCentered in conduct
Advise the prince to comply
It will be worthwhile and practical to perform reliably
in moving the capital
42.4x Advising the prince to comply:
In order to further the purpose
He approaches his prince with the purest intentions, as though he too were a noble. He proclaims himself a reliable fellow, as an excellent choice for a helper in matters important to state, such as moving this kingdom’s capital, and guarding the wealth on the way. He asks, in effect, to borrow a little political power, to further his own aims in life. His levelness and candor do more than amuse the prince. Great doors may open up, including the door to the vault. He will be given his chance to back up his claims. It would take a very pure fool indeed to plan any crafty or ugly surprises. Both the rewards and the punishments are proportionate to each other, yet both are out of proportion to the smaller acts which precede them, the acts which will lead to great increase in one or the other. Nearer the throne, they say, is nearer the gallows.
55th • YangBe true and kind-hearted
Do not question sublime opportunity
Be assured that kindness is our worth▼
5
5th • YangBe true and kind-hearted
Do not question sublime opportunity
Be assured that kindness is our worth
42.5x Be true (and) kind-hearted,
Do not question this at all
* Kindness (is) our worth:
A well-earned objective
One’s hunger for reassurance might only complicate things. If you want to know whether or not you tread the proper path, try asking yourself when your mind isn’t listening in. Especially when your luck has turned to good. Do you really deserve to seize this day or this fortune? Who are you to judge your own worth or merit? If rewards are offered, collect them. And then, if they do not belong in your hands, just spread that good stuff around. Sometimes to take the thing well is the best gift to give to its giver, for those who must quantify gratitude. But to seek answers and confirmation returns us to doubt and self-conscious discomfort. The generous heart is in the right place and the purpose is already gained. Defining the gifts will only contain them and take them from circulation. The pipe carries more than the bucket.
6Top • YangNobody increases this one
Somebody assaults this one
Adopting an inconstant heart
Disappointing▼
6
Top • YangNobody increases this one
Somebody assaults this one
Adopting an inconstant heart
Disappointing
42.6x Nobody increases this one:
One-sided expression
* Somebody assaults this one:
(This) comes from beyond
Not only does his one-sided taking bring no increase to him or to those around him, many will take great delight in crossing a distance through hardship, for the pleasure of punishing him. And even this far out of their way they might call it self-defense. It may be a kind of increase to have such a strange and intense popularity. It may be a kind of gain to attract some attention this way. It might be a kind of a power to put distant folks into such a bad mood. His reputation precedes him. This is the sort of person who, when seeing error, adopts it, because it can add to his size. This is not profit, only gross income - the bottom line is the net, but less all the damages done. This sort of thing gives a bad reputation to selfishness. But in fact, if done correctly, a more prosperous self will be a more generous self, and yet it won’t be diminished.
Reference in Original Text & Resources
This content is derived from Bradford Hatcher's THE BOOK OF CHANGES: Yijing, Word By Word.
Original text for Hexagram 42 begins on Page 312-320.
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