Today: Adopt a measured approach to hindrances – from the I Ching

New growth is initially beset by difficulties.  Just persevere, do not try to escape the hindrances.  Do not accept solutions offered by just anyone.  Do not go along with other people’s agendas.  They will only cause more harm than good.  Only ally with those of like mind who understand the goal.  Acknowledge the limitations and apply a measured approach to overcome the adversity.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“TIMES OF GROWTH are beset with difficulties. They resemble a first birth. But these difficulties arise from the very profusion of all that is struggling to attain form. Everything is in motion: therefore if one perseveres there is a prospect of great success, in spite of the existing danger. When it is a man’s fate to undertake such new beginnings, everything is still unformed, dark. Hence he must hold back, because any premature move might bring disaster. Likewise, it is very important not to remain alone; in order to overcome the chaos he needs helpers. This is not to say, however, that he himself should look on passively at what is happening. He must lend his hand and participate with inspiration and guidance.
In order to find one’s place in the infinity of being, one must be able both to separate and to unite.
We find ourselves beset by difficulties and hindrances. Suddenly there is a turn of affairs, as if someone were coming up with a horse and wagon and unhitching them. This event comes so unexpectedly that we assume the newcomer to be a robber. Gradually it becomes clear that he has no evil intentions but seeks to be friendly and to offer help. But this offer is not to be accepted, because it does not come from the right quarter. We must wait until the time is fulfilled; ten years is a fulfilled cycle of time. Then normal conditions return of themselves, and we can join forces with the friend intended for us.
Limitations are troublesome, but they are effective. If we live economically in normal times, we are prepared for times of want. To be sparing saves us from humiliation. Limitations are also indispensable in the regulation of world conditions. In nature there are fixed limits for summer and winter, day and night, and these limits give the year its meaning. In the same way, economy, by setting fixed limits upon expenditures, acts to preserve property and prevent injury to the people.
But in limitation we must observe due measure. If a man should seek to impose galling limitations upon his own nature, it would be injurious. And if he should go too far in imposing limitations on others, they would rebel.
Therefore it is necessary to set limits even upon limitation.   “

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Today: When you surrender your mind to your soul” Yogi Bhajan

“When you surrender your mind to your soul, then the soul will make God surrender to you.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Endure, do not give up – from the I Ching

Bringing order from chaos is a formidable task that requires strength, patience, endurance.  With every step completed a new challenge emerges.  Do not assume that you are done until you are done.  And, don’t give up.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“The conditions are difficult. The task is great and full of responsibility. It is nothing less than that of leading the world out of confusion back to order. But it is a task that promises success, because there is a goal that can unite the forces now tending in different directions. At first, however, one must move warily, like an old fox walking over ice. The caution of a fox walking over ice is proverbial in China. His ears are constantly alert to the cracking of the ice, as he carefully and circumspectly searches out the safest spots. A young fox who as yet has not acquired this caution goes ahead boldly, and it may happen that he falls in and gets his tail wet when he is almost across the water. Then of course his effort has been all in vain. Accordingly, in times “before completion,” deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.
The time of transition has arrived, but one lacks the strength to complete the transition. If one should attempt to force it, disaster would result, because collapse would then be unavoidable. What is to be done? A new situation must be created; one must engage the energies of able helpers and in this fellowship take the decisive step – cross the great water. Then completion will become possible.
Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by hindrances. It is not a state of rest, for mere standstill is regression. Duration is rather the self- contained and therefore self-renewing movement of an organised, firmly integrated whole, taking place in accordance with immutable laws and beginning anew at every ending. The end is reached by an inward movement, by inhalation, systole, contraction, and this movement turns into a new beginning, in which the movement is directed outward, in exhalation, diastole, expansion.
Heavenly bodies exemplify duration. They move in their fixed orbits, and because of this their light-giving power endures. The seasons of the year follow a fixed law of change and transformation, hence can produce effects that endure.
So likewise the dedicated man embodies an enduring meaning in his way of life, and thereby the world is formed. In that which gives things their duration, we can come to understand the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.   “

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Today: When you acknowledge your vastness” Yogi Bhajan

“When you acknowledge your vastness, you have manners. Your mind supports your projection. The evidence of that is love. Love is the living power of Infinity. Where’s there’s a love, there’s no question. Where there’s a question, there’s no love.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Thoughts on Keynsian Economics

Think about it.  When enough people are presented with opportunity, there are many who do not ignore it.  Under the right circumstances, they  cannot ignore it.  Statistically, this tends to cause a shift in whatever macro dynamics are in play.
An obvious case is the question of the implementation of Keynsian Economic Theory.  It was used, with impressive effects, to pull the world out of the great depression.  FDR was a skeptic of investing in “something for nothing”, but his gamble in creating the WPA paid off big time.  What really did the trick was the “forced” government investment in the war machine in the late 1930’s.  The tragedy of WWII also led to the greatest period of prosperity in modern history.  Investment in war is always questionable.  Investment in manufacturing infrastructure worked beautifully.

The “gilded age” of the 1920’s yielded to the “golden age” which lasted into the 1970’s.

It’s simple.  During the depression, what everyone wanted, and needed, was a job.  The WPA filled that need.  During WWII, all the stops were pulled, with seismic economic results.  it seems that when money is flowing, people cannot resist spending it, which is a direct stimulus to growth and prosperity.  Fear subsides and the economy soars.  Of course, it’s not a trivial problem.  Too much spending beyond growth can cause inflation, as was witnessed with “stagflation” in the 1970’s.

Rather than adopting sane fiscal safeguards against inflation, which are known to the Keynsian Economic model,  President Reagan chose to reintroduce fear into the equation with his “trickle down” proposition, which has been a persistent impediment to economic growth to this day.  “Trickle down” is not a theory, it is a voodoo trick intended to persuade people to believe that the monied interests will take care of everybody.  Just ask yourself which is more likely:  Will more people spend more money when they have more money without the fear of being destitute, or will wealthy people invest more of their wealth to build something for everyone’s benefit?  The former makes no assumptions.  It’s a fact, proven by history.

The latter is loaded with assumptions:
Wealthy people are philanthropic – some of them are
Big business is willing to put its wealth at risk without the assurances of a monopolistic sure thing – its stockpile of trillions of dollars shows otherwise.  Most recent investments have only gobbled up smaller enterprises and reduced competition, indicating one goal – a consolidation of wealth into fewer more powerful interests.  More cash in their pockets won’t change this.

President Reagan weaponized fear, and its legacy has been adopted by all of his followers and apologists.

We were privileged to see the Keynsian model at work again when President Obama and Congress passed the Recovery Act in 2009.  Its only problem is that it was an anemic gesture that should have been ten times bigger.  Of course, there was enormous opposition by the usual suspects.  It saved the world economy, but did not set us on a path to prosperity.  FDR experienced the same problem with his initial efforts to save the world from the depression.  It took the the War to seal the deal.

Other examples of public policy that have led to overall prosperity:

Mandatory free public education (mandatory that it must be offered) includes an enormous talent pool whose education has led to unprecedented achievement in all possible ways. Science, technology, arts, global relief from disease and other suffering and even diplomacy that has trumped tribal instincts.  Imagine a world where only Trumps are educated (54% of Republicans think that college education is a bad thing for the nation)

Investment in the humanities.  Where would we be without our culture and entertainment?  (No philharmonic, no Spiderman?)

Veterans Administration and the GI bill: the only real compensation given to veterans for their sacrifice.

NASA:Today’s private space enterprise and our private lives owe a debt to public policy (JFK’s moonshot, velcro).

What is common to all public policy is that everyone contributes to it, and everyone is the beneficiary.

Today: Choose carefully with whom you commingle and lend your support – from the I Ching

Choose carefully with whom you commingle and lend your support.  Living with people in close proximity is not the same as sharing their values.  Sociability without undue intimacy is graceful.  It is important to uncover where your associations are undermining your integrity and eradicate their influence.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“WHAT IS required is that we unite with others, in order that all may complement and aid one another through holding together. But such holding together calls for a central figure around whom other persons may unite. To become a centre of influence holding people together is a grave matter and fraught with great responsibility. It requires greatness of spirit, consistency, and strength. Therefore let him who wishes to gather others about him ask himself whether he is equal to the undertaking, for anyone attempting the task without a real calling for it only makes confusion worse than if no union at all had taken place.
We are often among people who do not belong to our own sphere. In that case we must beware of being drawn into false intimacy through force of habit. Needless to say, this would have evil consequences. Maintaining sociability without intimacy is the only right attitude toward such people, because otherwise we should not be free to enter into relationship with people of our own kind later on.
The weight of the great is excessive. The load is too heavy for the strength of the supports. The ridge-pole on which the whole roof rests, sags to the breaking point, because its supporting ends are too weak for the load they bear. It is an exceptional time and situation; therefore extraordinary measures are demanded. It is necessary to find a way of transition as quickly as possible, and to take action. This promises success. For although the strong element is in excess, it is in the middle, that is, at the centre of gravity, so that a revolution is not to be feared. Nothing is to be achieved by forcible measures. The problem must be solved by gentle penetration to the meaning of the situation (as is suggested by the attribute of the inner trigram, Sun); then the change-over to other conditions will be successful. It demands real superiority; therefore the time when the great preponderates is a momentous time.   “

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Today: Problem is not whether you will live and how rich you can be” Yogi Bhajan

“Problem is not whether you will live and how rich you can be. The problem is how much impact you have, how many legacies you leave, how much grace you show, and how much vastness you experience.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Drink from the well – from the I Ching

You may drink from the well unhindered. It is there for all to partake as long as the rope and jug are still in place.  The well precedes and endures beyond all forms of social organization and governance that come and go in time because it serves the deepest needs of humanity.

At the same time, care must be taken that the jug is not broken.  This can happen when artificial constraints are formed and get in the way.  The most common instance is where the few deny access for the many.

It is important at this time for people of great inner wealth to step up and be a conduit for others to tap into that wealth.  If this happens, then abundance is multiplied, serving everyone, including the one who is the conduit.  The path of abundance is the path of a snowball that starts rolling and grows to enormous proportion.  That is the nature of abundance.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“In ancient China the capital cities were sometimes moved, partly for the sake of more favourable location, partly because of a change in dynasties. The style of architecture changed in the course of centuries, but the shape of the well has remained the same from ancient times to this day. Thus the well is the symbol of that social structure which, evolved by mankind in meeting its most primitive needs, is independent of all political forms. Political structures change, as do nations, but the life of man with its needs remains eternally the same-this cannot be changed. Life is also inexhaustible. It grows neither less nor more; it exists for one and for all. The generations come and go, and all enjoy life in its inexhaustible abundance.
However, there are two prerequisites for a satisfactory political or social organisation of mankind. We must go down to the very foundations of life. For any merely superficial ordering of life that leaves its deepest needs unsatisfied is as ineffectual as if no attempt at order had ever been made. Carelessness-by which the jug is broken-is also disastrous. If for instance the military defence of a state is carried to such excess that it provokes wars by which the power of the state is annihilated, this is a breaking of the jug.
The well is there for all. No one is forbidden to take water from it. No matter how many come, all find what they need, for the well is dependable. It has a spring and never runs dry. Therefore it is a great blessing to the whole land. The same is true of the really great man, whose inner wealth is inexhaustible; the more that people draw from him, the greater his wealth becomes.
It is not given to every mortal to bring about a time of outstanding greatness and abundance. Only a born ruler of men is able to do it, because his will is directed to what is great. Such a time of abundance is usually brief. Therefore a sage might well feel sad in view of the decline that must follow. But such sadness does not befit him. Only a man who is inwardly free of sorrow and care can lead in a time of abundance. He must be like the sun at midday, illuminating and gladdening everything under heaven.  “

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Today: There are two special time zones” Yogi Bhajan

“There are two special time zones, when you have to enrich your mind: one in the morning, from 4am to 8am, and one in the evening, from 4pm to 8pm. These are the natural moments that have a tide of energy within you and without. The sun and Earth have a special relationship and angle at those times that affect your mind and your energy.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Completion – from the I Ching

This is a time of completion.  A delicate balance has been achieved which has been sought for a long time.  With new things that must be done, be careful to enlist only worthy helpers so as not to revert to the old ways.  Do not overreach. Appreciate the joy of this time and let it inspire others to take on the responsibility to stabilize further a newfound equilibrium.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“The transition from the old to the new time is already accomplished. In principle, everything stands systematised, and it is only in regard to details that success is still to be achieved. In respect to this, however, we must be careful to maintain the right attitude. Everything proceeds as if of its own accord, and this can all too easily tempt us to relax and let things take their course without troubling over details. Such indifference is the root of all evil. Symptoms of decay are bound to be the result. Here we have the rule indicating the usual course of history. But this rule is not an inescapable law. He who understands it is in position to avoid its effects by dint of unremitting perseverance and caution.
The situation described is as follows. After times of completion, when a new power has arisen and everything within the country has been set in order, a period of colonial expansion almost inevitably follows. Then as a rule long-drawn-out struggles must be reckoned with. For this reason, a correct colonial policy is especially important. The territory won at such bitter cost must not be regarded as an almshouse for people who in one way or another have made themselves impossible at home, but who are thought to be quite good enough for the colonies. Such a policy ruins at the outset any chance of success. This holds true in small as well as in large matters, because it is not only rising states that carry on a colonial policy; the urge to expand, with its accompanying dangers, is part and parcel of every ambitious undertaking.
The joyous mood is infectious and therefore brings success. But joy must be based on steadfastness if it is not to degenerate into uncontrolled mirth. Truth and strength must dwell in the heart, while gentleness reveals itself in social intercourse. In this way one assumes the right attitude toward God and man and achieves something. Under certain conditions, intimidation without gentleness may achieve something momentarily, but not for all time. When, on the other hand, the hearts of men are won by friendliness, they are led to take all hardships upon themselves willingly, and if need be will not shun death itself, so great is the power of joy over men. “

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The greatest thing you can do is rise in the early morning” Yogi Bhajan

“The greatest thing you can do is rise in the early morning and do a sadhana – a practice to energize the body and refine your mind. Most of us rebel and go crazy rather than get up early.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Proceed with consistency, perseverance and devotion – from the I Ching

Proceed with consistency, perseverance and devotion.  These qualities will lead to sublime success.  The course has been charted.  Don’t try to change anything.  Be receptive.  Everything will come in its own time.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Only because nature in its myriad forms corresponds with the myriad impulses of the Creative (1) can it make these impulses real. Nature’s richness lies in its power to nourish all living things; its greatness lies in its power to give them beauty and splendour. Thus it prospers all that lives. It is the Creative (1) that begets things, but they are brought to birth by the Receptive (2). Applied to human affairs, therefore, what the hexagram indicates is action in conformity with the situation. The person in question is not in an independent position, but is acting as an assistant. This means that he must achieve something. It is not his task to try to lead – that would only make him lose the way – but to let himself be led. If he knows how to meet fate with an attitude of acceptance, he is sure to find the right guidance. The superior man lets himself be guided; he does not go ahead blindly, but learns from the situation what is demanded of him and then follows this intimation from fate.
Since there is something to be accomplished, we need friends and helpers in the hour of toil and effort, once the ideas to be realised are firmly set.

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“Your mind is designed as a preparatory system” Yogi Bhajan

“Your mind is designed as a preparatory system to guide and aid your life. It is a power to gather your resources and shape your behavior.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Meditation: A Prayer for Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

Background

Today: Adopt an attitude of simplicity – from the I Ching

Adopt an attitude of simplicity.  Serve where it is needed.  In so doing, you do not deprive yourself nor compromise your dignity.  Abandon mindless consumption in favor of a judicious application of your faculties toward your own nourishment and care for others.  Give attention to what is important.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad. Increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretence. If a time of scanty resources brings out an inner truth, one must not feel ashamed of simplicity. For simplicity is then the very thing needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings. Indeed, there need be no concern if the outward beauty of the civilisation, even the elaboration of religious forms, should have to suffer because of simplicity. One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to compensate for what is lacking in externals; then the power of the content makes up for the simplicity of form. There is no need of presenting false appearances to God. Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed.
A high-minded self-awareness and a consistent seriousness with no forfeit of dignity are necessary if a man wants to be of service to others. He who throws himself away in order to do the bidding of a superior diminishes his own position without thereby giving lasting benefit to the other. This is wrong. To render true service of lasting value to another, one must serve him without relinquishing oneself.
In bestowing care and nourishment, it is important that the right people should be taken care of and that we should attend to our own nourishment in the right way. If we wish to know what anyone is like, we have only to observe on whom he bestows his care and what sides of his own nature he cultivates and nourishes. Nature nourishes all creatures. The great man fosters and takes care of superior men, in order to take care of all men through them. Mencius says about this:
If we wish to know whether anyone is superior or not, we need only observe what part of his being he regards as especially important. The body has superior and inferior, important and unimportant parts. We must not injure important parts for the sake of the unimportant, nor must we injure the superior parts for the sake of the inferior. He who cultivates the inferior parts of his nature is an inferior man. He who cultivates the superior parts of his nature is a superior man.

A simple Prayer
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“Your faculties are the functions…” Yogi Bhajan

Your faculties are the functions, aspects and projections that give you abilities. To excel and enjoy life you need to enrich your mind. You must blend and use different combinations of your mental facets to support you and your intentions. When your faculties support your mental fashion and your fashion supports you, you become effective and share a legacy that inspires others.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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