Reading
Judgment
Increase. It is favorable to undertake something.
It is favorable to cross the great water.
Through the sacrifice that is brought from above to increase the lower, there arises among the people a mood of joy and gratitude that is extraordinarily valuable for the flourishing of the commonwealth. When people are thus devoted to their leaders, then something can be undertaken, and even difficult, dangerous things will succeed. Therefore in such ascending times, whose development is attended by success, it is important to work and make use of the time. This time is like the time when heaven and earth wed, when earth partakes of the creative force of heaven and now shapes and realizes living beings. The time of Increase does not last, therefore it must be used while it is there.
Image
Wind and thunder: the image of Increase.
Thus the noble one: if they see good, they imitate it;
if they have faults, they lay them aside.
By observing how thunder and wind increase and reinforce each other, one learns the way to one's own self-increase and improvement. If one discovers something good in others, one should imitate it and so make all the good on earth one's own. If one sees something bad in oneself, one should lay it aside. Thereby one becomes free from evil. This ethical change is the most important increase of personality.
Commentary
The thought of increase expresses itself in that the lowest strong line of the upper half-hexagram has lowered itself and placed itself under the lower half-hexagram. The basic thought of the Book of Changes also comes to expression in this conception. True ruling must be serving. A sacrifice of the higher that effects an increase of the lower is called increase in the plain sense, in order thereby to indicate the spirit that alone is able to help the world.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means:
It is favorable to accomplish great deeds.
Sublime good fortune! No blame.
Commentary
When one experiences great furtherance from above, one must use the increase of strength thus received to accomplish something great, for which one might otherwise have found neither strength nor readiness for responsibility. By being free of selfishness, great good fortune is effected; and by bringing about great good fortune, one remains free of reproaches.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
Someone does indeed increase them.
Ten pairs of tortoises cannot resist it.
Lasting perseverance brings good fortune.
The king presents them before God. Good fortune!
Commentary
Real increase comes about when one creates in oneself the conditions for it: receptiveness and love of the good. Thereby what one strives for comes of itself with natural, lawful necessity. Where increase thus stands in accord with the highest world laws, it cannot be prevented by any constellation of accidents. Only, everything depends on one's not letting oneself be made frivolous by unexpected happiness, but on making it one's own through inner strength and constancy. Then one gains significance before God and humans and can accomplish something for the best of the world.
Line 3
A six in the third place means:
One is increased through ominous events.
No blame, if you are truthful
and walk in the middle
and report to the prince with a seal.
Commentary
A time of blessing and enrichment is so strong in its effect that even otherwise ominous events must serve the best of those affected by them. They become free of faults and, by acting according to truth, gain such inner authority that they exert influence as if they were confirmed by letter and seal.
Line 4
A six in the fourth place means:
If you walk in the middle
and report to the prince,
he will follow.
It is favorable to be employed
in the moving of the capital.
Commentary
It is important that there be people who mediate between leaders and led. These must be selfless personalities, namely in times of Increase, in which profit shall go out from the leader to the people. Nothing of the blessing may be selfishly held back; rather, it must really come to the benefit of those for whom it is destined. Such a mediating personality, who also exerts a good influence on the leader, is especially important in times in which great, future-deciding undertakings are at stake, which require the inner agreement of all involved.
Line 5
A nine in the fifth place means:
If you truly have a kindly heart,
do not ask. Sublime good fortune!
Truly kindness will be recognized as your virtue.
Commentary
True kindness does not reckon or ask about worthiness and gratitude, but works itself out according to inner necessity. Such a truly kindly heart also finds itself rewarded, in that it is recognized, and so the blessed influence will extend unhindered.
Line 6
A nine at the top means:
He brings increase to no one.
Indeed, someone strikes them.
They do not hold their heart lastingly firm. Misfortune!
Commentary
The sense of the situation is that the upper should increase the lower through renunciation. By neglecting this duty and benefiting no one, one withdraws oneself also from the furthering influence of others and soon sees oneself isolated. Thereby one draws attacks upon oneself. A disposition that is not continually in accord with the demands of the time will necessarily bring misfortune.
Confucius says about this line: "The noble one brings their person into rest before they move; they compose themself in their mind before they speak; they firm up their relations before they ask for something. By bringing these three things into order, the noble one is in complete security. But if one is abrupt in one's movements, people do not join in. If one is agitated in one's words, they find no echo among people. If one demands something without prior relations, people do not give it to one. If no one is with one, the harmers come near."