Bob Schwartz

“There are two aspects of watching, subjective and objective. Subjective watching deals with one’s self; it is to examine one’s inner motives. Objective watching deals with others; it is to watch others’ reactions to one’s conduct. The wisdom of watching is like looking at a mirror, checking one’s original intention and outward conduct.”

The I Ching/Yijing can’t predict the election.

The pollsters can’t predict the election.

The political experts can’t predict the election.

The difference is that the I Ching embodies centuries of human affairs and history. Which makes it wise, wiser than the pollsters, the political experts, and us.

Primary is its wisdom that everything changes. One line changing to its opposite. Hexagrams changing one to another. Randomly but not randomly. People choose and change what happens. It begins with Creation (Hexagram 1). It almost ends with After Completion (Hexagram 63). But it ends with Before Completion (Hexagram 64). As if it is going to start all over again. Which it always has and will.

Q: What will be the outcome of the 2024 U.S. election?

A: Hexagram 20

Guan • Watching

NAME AND STRUCTURE

Guan means watching, observing, examining, contemplating….

Sequence of the Gua: When things become great, they require careful attention. Thus, after Approaching, Watching follows.

In China a Taoist temple is termed Tao Guan; literally it is “a place for watching the Tao.” The esoteric secret of Taoist meditation is watching—watching the breath, or the flowing of energy, or nothing. The purpose of watching is keeping alert. While chanting or reciting scriptures both Buddhist and Taoist monks beat wooden fish rhythmically. Because fish never close their eyes, the wooden fish remind one to stay alert. The Chinese name for Avalokiteshvara (an incarnation of the Buddha) is Guan-yin. Guan-yin means watching (guan) the sound (yin). To the Chinese, contemplation is watching; contemplative watching is focusing on one point and being attentive. During meditation, the sect that worships Guan-yin watches the sound either inside or outside the body. Watching the sound but not getting caught up in it, one is totally detached from the world. This gua not only sheds light on meditation but also expounds the truth that people should always keep their eyes open, watching the virtue of a leader. Thus a leader should always be sensitive to morality and justice and manifest these qualities to his people….

SIGNIFICANCE

The theme of the gua is to demonstrate the wisdom of watching. There are two aspects of watching, subjective and objective. Subjective watching deals with one’s self; it is to examine one’s inner motives. Objective watching deals with others; it is to watch others’ reactions to one’s conduct. The wisdom of watching is like looking at a mirror, checking one’s original intention and outward conduct. The ancient sages believed that inner sincerity is always revealed through one’s conduct.

The Complete I Ching: The Definitive Translation by Taoist Master Alfred Huang