Reading
Development comes from measuring by the times rather than the patterns of mind—well-measured discipline leads to progress.
Yin and yang lines are balanced, with yang energy holding the central position—the strong pursues, supported by the weak, so limits are pushed, but not exceeded. Well-measured disciplines lead to progress and attainment. Too severe, and eventually they will need to be relaxed, before the joy of practice becomes toil. Awareness of life’s purpose brings pleasure, and there are naturally no restrictions. By proceeding from this firm and well-placed footing, action moves freely. Measure by proper standards, and there will be no injury. Let your calmness and adaptability bloom, without losing mindfulness, and falling into arbitrary ways, or restricting patterns, and you will find balance. This is going along with the times, rather than one’s own mind.
Translation Reference
Judgment
Limitation. Success.
Bitter limitation one must not practice perseveringly.
Limits are burdensome. But they accomplish something. Through economy in ordinary life, one is armed for times of need. Through holding back, one spares oneself humiliation. But likewise limits are indispensable in the order of world relations. Nature has firm limits for summer and winter, day and night, and through these limits the year obtains its significance. Thus economy serves so that, through firm limits in expenditures, goods are preserved and people are not harmed.
Only, in limitation too, keeping to measure is necessary. Were one to impose too bitter limits on one's own nature, it would suffer under them. Were one to drive the limitation of others too far, they would rebel. Therefore in limitation too, limits are necessary.
Image
Above the lake is water:
the image of Limitation.
Thus the noble one creates number and measure and examines
what virtue and right conduct are.
The lake is something finite; the water is inexhaustible. The lake can hold only a certain measure of the infinite water. Therein consists its individuality. Through distinction and erection of limits, the individual also gains in life their significance. Here it is a matter of establishing these distinctions, which are, so to speak, the backbone of morality, quite clearly. Unlimited possibilities are nothing suited to the human being. Thereby their life would only flow away into the boundless. To become strong, there is need of free limit-setting of duty. Only in that the individual surrounds themself with these limits and freely for themself establishes the command of duty do they gain significance as a free being.
Commentary
The lake has a limited space. If more water comes in, it overflows. Therefore one must set limits to it. In the image, there is water below and water above, between which the firmament of heaven is as limit.
The Chinese word for limitation actually means the firm joints by which the bamboo stalks are divided. In ordinary life, economy is meant, which has firm limits for its expenditures. In moral life, it is the firm limits that the noble one sets for their actions, the limits of faithfulness and unselfishness.
Changing Lines
Line 1: Not leaving home without punishment.
Knowing right from wrong, then acting; this is movement without leaving home—understanding when the path is free, and when it is obstructed. Careful in the beginning, and there will be no error.
Commentary
Often one would like to undertake something, but sees oneself facing insurmountable limits. Here it is a matter of having the insight as to where one must stop. If one understands this rightly and does not go beyond the limits set for one, one gathers a force that enables one to act energetically when the time for it has come. Discretion is of principal importance in the preparation of important matters.
Confucius says of this: "Where disorder arises, words are the step thereto. If the prince is not discreet, he loses the servant. If the servant is not discreet, he loses his life. If matters in their seed are not handled discreetly, this harms the completion. Therefore the noble one is careful in concealing and does not go out."
Line 2: Refusing to leave the home does not bode well.
Not moving beyond the boundaries, time and space to act is lost—refusal to act is without good. The weak leads the strong, so internal develops, without external being uplifted. Be effective by going outside yourself.
Commentary
When the time for action has come, it is a matter of quickly seizing. As water at the beginning gathers in a lake without flowing out, but opens itself a way certainly when the lake is full, so it is in human life. It is quite good to hesitate, as long as the time has not yet come, but not longer. When the hindrances are removed so that one can act, anxious hesitation is a mistake that certainly brings misfortune, because one has missed the opportunity.
Line 3: You will lament not having followed suitable disciplines.
Craving for happiness, without working with discipline—pushing to attain externals, without establishing correct internal measures; these lead to self-inflicted wounds, with no one else to blame.
Commentary
If one is bent only on joys and enjoyment, one easily loses the feeling for the necessary limits. But if one gives oneself to extravagance, one will have to experience the consequences under regret. One must not look for the mistakes in others. Only when one sees one's mistake oneself does one become, through such unpleasant experiences, free of mistakes.
Line 4: Disciplines are quietly and naturally attended.
Deference to the proper source of authority leads to progress and success. Moving forward in peace, even those who are undisciplined can follow correct regulation, because they do not exert themselves by force.
Commentary
Every limitation has its value. But if this limitation still requires lasting effort, then it is bound up with too much expenditure of strength. But where limitation is something natural, as it lies, for example, in the nature of water to flow downward, there it necessarily leads to success, because in this case it means a saving of strength. The energy that otherwise exhausts itself in a vain struggle with the object comes without remainder to the benefit of the matter, and success cannot fail.
Line 5: Disciplines are enacted with acceptance and contentment—there will be sweetness.
Inner mastery will lead to contentment, even in situations where suffering is great. Consistent measures and application, strong yet adaptable, will lead to good fortune, great progress, and positive affirmation. This is balance.
Commentary
Limitation must be carried out in the right way in order to work. If one wants only to impose limits on others and withdraw oneself from them, these limits are always felt as bitter and produce resistance. If, however, someone who is in a leading place begins the limitation with themself, demands little accomplishment from their people, and brings something about with modest means, this brings good fortune. Where such an example works, it finds followers, so that what one undertakes must succeed.
Line 6: The disciplines are too severe and difficult.
If the measure is over tuned, exhaustion and blame are the result. Fanatical adherence makes for strong but ineffective disciplines. Both the measures, and the negative outcomes, will eventually wear out. Do not be excessive.
Commentary
If one is too strict in limitation, people do not hold out. The more consistent one is in such strictness, the more evil it is; for a reverse reaction cannot be avoided in the long run. Thus too the tormented body takes revenge if one wants to proceed with too strict asceticism. But if this inconsiderate strictness is also not something that could be applied lastingly and regularly, there can yet be times when it is the only means to guard oneself from guilt and remorse. These are the situations in which inconsideration toward one's own person is the only means to rescue the soul, which otherwise would perish in half-heartedness and temptation.