The Tao of Organization by Thomas Cleary

Author:Thomas Cleary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala Publications

35. Advance

People do not end up inactive when they have power; once they have become powerful, they inevitably advance. Therefore Advance follows Great Power. In the construction of the hexagram, fire is above earth, the image of light emerging from the earth, the sun rising over the earth. The more it rises the brighter it is, so this is called advance, which means progress and great illumination.

Advance: Secure lords are given gifts of many horses and are granted audiences three times a day.

Advance means a time of progress toward fulfillment. There is great light (fire) above, and the body below (earth) cleaves to it obediently. This is an image of feudal lords being faithful to their king; thus they are secure lords.

Secure lords are lords who keep the peace. When the rulership is greatly enlightened, those who can share in this quality through obediently cleaving to it are the lords that keep the peace. For this reason they receive the ruler’s favor and are not only given gifts but granted personal audiences. To be granted audiences three times a day means to be favorites.

In advance, a time of progress toward fulfillment, the leadership is illumined and the subordinates are obedient, so the directorate and the administration suit each other. In terms of the leadership, this is advance to fullness of illumination. In terms of the administration, this is advance to high distinction and glory.

First yin: Now advancing, now thwarted, be correct and you will be lucky. You have no trust, so be relaxed and you will be blameless.

The first line is at the bottom of advance, the beginning of progress. Now advancing means making progress upward; now thwarted means being stopped and falling back. Speaking at the beginning of progress, this means that whether or not one succeeds in getting ahead, one will have good fortune only if one is correct.

One does not have trust here, being at the bottom and at the beginning of progress. How could one be deeply trusted by the leadership already? When one has not yet won the confidence of the leadership, then one should remain calmly centered, inwardly maintaining a serene spaciousness, in no hurry to seek the confidence of the leadership.

If the feeling of desire for the confidence of the leadership is intense, then one will either lose self-control by trying too hard, or else one will fail in one’s obligations because of personal irritation. In both of these cases there is error and blame. That is why the text says “be relaxed and you will be blameless.” This is the way the enlightened deal with advancement and withdrawal.

2 yin: Advancing sadly, you will be lucky if correct. You receive this great blessing from the grandmother.

The second yin is below and has no appropriate helper above. It has the qualities of gentleness and harmony, representing those who are not strong in advancing. Therefore there is something sad in advancing, meaning that there is difficulty in making progress. Nevertheless, if one is steadfast and correct, then one should attain good fortune.

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