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50) Ding: The Cauldron

Hexagram:

• C: There is fire on top of wood, a cauldron; superior people stabilize life in the proper position.

• L: The cauldron is basically good; it is developmental.

• E: Refining illumination.

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Lines:

1 Yin:

• L: When the cauldron overturns on its base, it is beneficial to eject what is wrong. Getting a concubine, because of her child she is not faulted.

• E: When setting up the cauldron, in the beginning of self-refinement, it is necessary to decreasing the ignorant self, rather than increasing the illumined self.

2 Yang:

• L: The cauldron is filled. One’s enemy is jealous, but cannot get at one; this is lucky.

• E: The omnipresent fullness of the mind of Tao is free from human mentality.

3 Yang:

• L: The lifting hooks of the cauldron are removed; the activity is impeded. Rich meat is not eaten. When it rains, lack is regretted. It turns out well.

• E: Having strength without flexibility, or not knowing how to remain open-minded after the belly has been filled, one cannot grasp the essence of life that is similar to the essence of the universe, thus missing attainment. However, repentance can empty the human mind.

4 Yang:

• L: The cauldron’s legs are broken, spilling the food received for service. The physical being is enriched, but there is misfortune.

• E: After the formation of the golden elixir, if the strength is dragged by weakness, the human mind injures the mind of Tao.

5 Yin:

• L: The cauldron has yellow hooks with a gold handle. It is beneficial to be single-minded.

• E: If flexibility is correctly balanced, the human mind is empty and the mind of Tao is nourished. It is beneficial to stabilize the center with undivided attention.

6 Yang:

• L: The cauldron has a jade handle. This is very auspicious, entirely beneficial.

• E: When being and nonbeing revert to emptiness, awareness can penetrate without application. When firmness and softness are one, complete sincerity makes foreknowledge possible. This is the complete integration of the mind of Tao and the human mind.