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CHAPTER 9
each one of the six lines ofers advice relating to the aspect associated with that particular line.
“Army” is the theme for all the text associated with Hexagram 2:Ø, as shown below:
Figure 9.1: Situation of Gary
Title Army indicates that Gary is the commander of one soldier, Walter.
hey are together in the battle against a common enemy, Alzheimer’s disease.
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General TextStay on the current course.
It is favorable to an older person.
here is no blame.
he general text describes the overall circumstances of the current situation and gives general advice to the subject for handling it. In this example, the “older person” refers to Gary, the subject, not Walter, who is literally the older person.
I Ching text is much more concrete and visual than the six-line symbols of the hexagrams but is still abstract and universal -- more like poetry
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than prose. hat is why in this text, the “old man” should not simply be interpreted as the one who is older than others -- in this case, Walter.
More interestingly, the original Chinese characters of the “old man”
is zhang ren, meaning father-in-law. If we are constrained by the very narrow meaning and interpret the sentence “it is favorable for the old man” as “it is favorable to the father in-law, Walter,” that would be an incorrect interpretation.
We must base our interpretation on the structure of the hexagram.
he sentence, “It is favorable to an older person” should not be simply interpreted as “the current situation is favorable.” Here is the structure of Hexagram 2:Ø:
Figure 9.2: The structure of Hexagram 2:Ø
In this hexagram, only two lines, yin 4 ( ) and yin 6 ( ), are in cor-rect positions. he others are in incorcor-rect positions. he two central lines are complementary to each other, but the two bottom lines and the two top lines are in conlict. he structure of this hexagram indicates that the current situation is less favorable.
In general, older people are usually more experienced, prudent, slower paced, rational, and in control of their emotions than younger people.
he text suggests that in the current circumstance, the subject (Gary), represented by the “older person,” should handle the problem expertly, prudently, and rationally. If Gary is not an expert on Alzheimer’s dis-ease, then in this particular instance, he should acquire the knowledge necessary to be a qualiied caregiver, the “old man” of the general text.
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Texts of LinesYin 1
Ater departure,
he army must be highly disciplined, Otherwise there will be tragedy.
Remember from Chapter 4 that yin 1 is the subject’s action line. he text of yin 1 is a suggestion regarding Gary’s action. His action is yin.
He is exhausted from taking care of Walter. his line is in an incorrect position and in conlict with yin 4, indicating that Gary’s yin action is unfavorable. Furthermore, the text suggests that Gary should overcome his feeling of frustration and reluctance: “he army must be highly dis-ciplined.”
Yang 2
During the expedition, he situation is favorable.
here is no blame.
he king assigns a mission three times.
he text of yang 2 is a suggestion regarding Gary’s essence. Gary’s es-sence is yang. He has an important role and the strength for taking care of Walter. his line is central and complementary to yin 5, indicating that Gary’s yang essence is favorable. he text suggests Gary uses his strength to fulill his obligations: “he king assigns a mission three times.”
Yin 3 Sometimes
When there are so many casualties,
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he soldiers’ bodies are removed with wagons.
It is unfavorable.
he text of yin 3 is a suggestion regarding Gary’s attitude. Gary’s attitude is yin. He is humble, agreeable, and kind, and he loves Walter. Normally this attitude is positive. In the current circumstance, it is not totally ap-propriate, however, because Walter’s behavior is abnormal. What if Gary is kind and does everything for Walter, including tasks Walter could do for himself? hen his father-in-law may feel the futility of his situ-ation. What if Gary is patient, teaching Walter to do something again and again? hen his father-in-law may feel frustrated by his inability to learn. his line is in an incorrect position and in conlict with yin 6, in-dicating that Gary’s yin attitude is unfavorable: “Sometimes, when there are so many casualties. he soldiers’ bodies are removed with wagons.”
Remember that lines 4, 5, and 6 refer to the object, Walter, and apply to his action (4), essence (5), and attitude (6).
Yin 4
he army retreats.
here is no blame.
he text of yin 4 suggests that Walter’s action is yin. he patient pas-sively receives help. At times he could be agitated or aggressive, but those behaviors are symptoms of his disease, not exhibited by choice.
his line is in a correct position but in conlict with yin 1, indicating that Walter’s action is neutral: “he army retreats. here is no blame.”
Yin 5
here is game in a ield.
It is beneicial to facilitate communication.
here is no blame.
While an older son leads the armies into the battle, A younger son removes the corpses with wagons.
Staying on this course is unfavorable.
he text of yin 5 suggests Walter’s essence is yin. He is sick. his line is in an incorrect position but complementary with yang 2. Walter’s yin essence is neutral; the situation depends on how Gary approaches the care-giving.
Walter has lost much of his short-term memory and his ability to reason and use language properly. Communication becomes an extremely im-portant issue between the men. If Walter wanders, Gary might wonder if his father-in-law might be feeling bored or looking for something, such as a glass of water or the bathroom facilities. If Walter yells at a visitor, Gary might wonder if his father-in-law might feel frustrated because he cannot remember the newcomer’s identity. Gary must try to understand what message underlies Walter’s behavior and do something about it:
“While an older son leads the army into the battle, a younger son re-moves the corpses with wagons.” he two brothers symbolize a lack of communication. “Staying on this course is unfavorable.”
Yin 6
he great leader taught, hat to create a new country, or To build an inherited family, Never use an unqualiied person.
he text of yin 6 is a suggestion regarding Walter’s attitude, which is yin.
Because of the impairment in brain functions, his attitude is indiferent.
his line is in a correct position but in conlict with yin 3. Walter’s yin
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attitude is neutral. Since caring for a patient with Alzheimer’s disease is a very complicated issue, Gary should seek help from professionals, as the text suggests: “Never use an unqualiied person.”
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Seeing the Possible ChangesGary cannot manipulate Walter’s action, essence, or attitude. Even though these circumstances seem bleak, the text clearly suggests that Gary can improve the situation by changing some of its aspects. He does not have to change his own essence, but he can change his action and attitude, the two unfavorable aspects under his control.
If he changes his action from yin to yang, the consequence hexagram is 6:Ø, Approach, as shown below:
Figure 9.3: The consequential hexagram, Approach
his change makes the irst line yang, in correct position and comple-mentary to yin 4. he title of hexagram means that the situation is ap-proaching a better prospect. he general text of this hexagram reads:
hings are going very smoothly.
It is beneicial to stay on the current course.
here will be an unfavorable time ater eight months.
his hexagram is more favorable than Hexagram 2:Ø, although it men-tions “an unfavorable time ater eight months.” Eventually Walter’s illness will enter the last stages. For now “hings are going very smoothly;”
and Gary should “stay on the current course.”
Let’s say that instead of changing his action, Gary changes his atti-tude from yin to yang. he consequential hexagram is hexagram 3:Ø,
“Rising,” as shown below:
Figure 9.4: The consequential hexagram, Rising
his alteration makes the third line favorable, in correct position, and complementary to yin 6. he general text of hexagram 3:Ø states:
hings are moving very smoothly.
It is beneicial to visit a great person.
Do not worry.
Expedition toward the south is favorable.
he text states, “hings are moving very smoothly” and suggests that Gary should consult with professionals to take care of Walter appro-priately.
If Gary changes his action and his attitude from yin to yang, the con-sequential hexagram is 7:Ø, which we have discussed in the earlier chapters. his hexagram, “Peace,” is very favorable, a combination of the trigrams Heaven and Earth.
All three possible changes -- his action, attitude, or both -- would result in favorable consequences. Gary should be able to improve his situation, regardless of how helpless he may feel. his example demonstrates the abil-ity of the I Ching text to help us look beyond our current diiculties and view the situation as a whole, with all its possibilities for positive change.
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Verbatim TranslationIf you want to verify the translation of the I Ching text or wonder about your own interpretation, you will ind the verbatim translation in Appendix 3. he material comes from the very concise ancient texts engraved on bones or strips of bamboo.
Let’s look at the text of the ith line of Hexagram 2:Ø, used for Gary and Walter’s dilemma. he verbatim translation of the irst half of the text of yin 5 is composed of eight Chinese characters: ield, have, bird, beneit, execute, word, no, and blame.
In this book, you will ind these characters translated as:
here is game in a ield.
It is beneicial to facilitate the communication.
here is no blame.
Can you see how amazingly well it its with Walter’s losing the ability to express his thoughts with language and rely on his behavior for com-munication? Gary should carefully observe Walter’s actions and strive to understand their underlying meaning. If Gary’s interpretation is correct, then he and Walter will improve their situation in spite of the incurable condition. Similarly, to maximize the possibility of success, hunters in a ield must carefully observe their prey’s behavior.
When the Alzheimer’s disease progresses to its inal stage, Gary should not be blamed. Following the advice of I Ching, Gary will able to be a qualiied caregiver.