Hexagram 19 Lin - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Approach
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BY NICOLE LAU
Hexagram 19 Lin - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Approach
Lin’s six lines tell the complete story of genuine approach — from the joint approach of the two yang lines at the beginning, through the great approach of the person who has not yet found the right way, to the knowing approach of the person of genuine wisdom, the great prince’s approach of genuine benevolence, and the magnanimous approach of the person who has transcended personal advantage. The journey of Lin is the journey from the beginning of genuine approach to its supreme expression.
Line 1 — Nine at the Bottom: Joint Approach
Joint approach. Perseverance brings good fortune.
The first line of Lin describes the beginning of genuine approach — the joint approach of the two yang lines that together create the genuine inner energy of genuine drawing near. Joint approach: the genuine approach of Lin is not the approach of a single person but the joint approach of genuine inner energy — the growing, expanding force of genuine benevolence that draws near to the people together. Perseverance brings good fortune: genuine approach is not a single act but a sustained quality of genuine inner virtue that perseveres through the natural cycle of drawing near and withdrawing.
- Stage: The beginning of genuine approach — joint approach with genuine inner energy
- Action: Approach jointly; persevere in genuine inner virtue
- Wisdom: Perseverance brings good fortune — genuine approach is sustained genuine inner virtue in action
When this line appears: Approach jointly. Persevere in genuine inner virtue. Good fortune.
Line 2 — Nine in the Second Place: Joint Approach — Good Fortune, Everything Furthers
Joint approach. Good fortune. Everything furthers.
The second line of Lin describes the fullness of the joint approach — the two yang lines together at the height of their joint energy, finding good fortune and everything furthering. This is the most auspicious line of Lin: the joint approach of the two yang lines at the height of their genuine inner energy, finding the good fortune of genuine approach and the furthering of everything. The genuine approach of Line 2 is the approach of the person who has found the genuine inner energy of genuine drawing near and is expressing it in the genuine joy of the lake and the genuine receptivity of the earth.
- Stage: The fullness of joint approach — good fortune, everything furthers
- Action: Maintain the joint approach at the height of genuine inner energy
- Wisdom: Good fortune, everything furthers — the fullness of genuine approach
When this line appears: The joint approach is at its height. Good fortune — everything furthers. Maintain the genuine inner energy of genuine approach.
Line 3 — Six in the Third Place: Comfortable Approach
Comfortable approach. Nothing that would further. If one is induced to grieve over it, one becomes free of blame.
The third line of Lin describes the comfortable approach — the approach of the person who has become comfortable in their position and has lost the genuine inner energy of genuine drawing near. Nothing that would further: the comfortable approach — the approach of the person who approaches from comfort rather than genuine inner virtue — finds nothing that furthers. If one is induced to grieve over it, one becomes free of blame: the recognition of the comfortable approach — the genuine grief over the loss of genuine inner energy — is the beginning of the return to genuine approach.
- Stage: Comfortable approach — the loss of genuine inner energy
- Action: Recognize the comfortable approach; grieve over the loss of genuine inner energy; return to genuine approach
- Wisdom: Grief over comfortable approach becomes free of blame — recognition is the beginning of return
When this line appears: Examine whether you have become comfortable in your approach. If so, grieve over the loss of genuine inner energy and return to genuine approach. Free of blame.
Line 4 — Six in the Fourth Place: Complete Approach
Complete approach. No blame.
The fourth line of Lin describes the complete approach — the approach of the person who has found the genuine completeness of genuine drawing near. No blame: the complete approach of Line 4 is the approach of the person who has nothing to defend, nothing to protect, nothing to hide — the approach of genuine completeness that finds no blame. The complete approach of Line 4 is the approach of the person who has moved beyond the comfortable approach of Line 3 and found the genuine completeness of genuine drawing near.
- Stage: Complete approach — the genuine completeness of genuine drawing near
- Action: Approach with genuine completeness; have nothing to defend, nothing to protect
- Wisdom: No blame — the complete approach of genuine drawing near
When this line appears: Approach with genuine completeness. No blame — the complete approach of genuine drawing near.
Line 5 — Six in the Fifth Place: Knowing Approach
Knowing approach. This is right for a great prince. Good fortune.
The ruler’s position in Lin — the knowing approach of the great prince. This is the most philosophically rich line of Lin: the great prince who approaches the people with genuine wisdom — who knows the genuine needs of the people, the genuine state of the situation, and the genuine good that genuine approach can create. Knowing approach: the approach of the great prince is not the approach of comfortable habit or personal advantage but the approach of genuine wisdom — the knowing approach that understands the genuine needs of the people and draws near with the genuine care and genuine attention of genuine wisdom. Good fortune.
- Stage: Knowing approach — the great prince’s genuine wisdom in drawing near
- Action: Approach with genuine wisdom; know the genuine needs of the people
- Wisdom: Good fortune — the knowing approach of the great prince
When this line appears: Approach with genuine wisdom. Know the genuine needs of the situation. Good fortune — the knowing approach of the great prince.
Line 6 — Six at the Top: Magnanimous Approach
Magnanimous approach. Good fortune. No blame.
The supreme line of Lin — the magnanimous approach of the person who has transcended personal advantage and approaches with the genuine magnanimity of genuine inner virtue. Magnanimous approach: the approach of Line 6 is the approach of the person who approaches with the genuine magnanimity of the earth — the genuine receptivity that receives all things without discrimination, that supports all things without demanding recognition. Good fortune. No blame: the magnanimous approach of Line 6 finds good fortune and no blame as the natural consequence of genuine magnanimity.
- Stage: Magnanimous approach — the supreme expression of genuine drawing near
- Action: Approach with genuine magnanimity; transcend personal advantage
- Wisdom: Good fortune, no blame — the magnanimous approach of genuine inner virtue
When this line appears: Approach with genuine magnanimity. Transcend personal advantage. Good fortune, no blame.
The Complete Journey: A Summary
- Line 1: Joint approach — perseverance brings good fortune
- Line 2: Joint approach at its height — good fortune, everything furthers
- Line 3: Comfortable approach — grief over loss of genuine inner energy; free of blame
- Line 4: Complete approach — no blame
- Line 5: Knowing approach — the great prince’s genuine wisdom; good fortune
- Line 6: Magnanimous approach — good fortune, no blame
The consistent theme: genuine approach is not the approach of comfortable habit or personal advantage but the approach of genuine inner virtue — the joint approach of genuine inner energy (Lines 1–2), the complete approach of genuine drawing near (Line 4), the knowing approach of genuine wisdom (Line 5), and the magnanimous approach of genuine inner virtue (Line 6). The journey of Lin is the journey from the beginning of genuine approach to its supreme expression.
What Is Next in This Series
- Part 1: The Symbol and Structure
- Part 2 (This Article): The Six Lines — Complete Line-by-Line Commentary
- Part 3: Divination Guide — How to Read Lin in Practice
- Part 4: Philosophy — Lin in Confucian, Taoist, and Political Thought
- Part 5: Practical Applications — Leadership, Teaching, Mentorship, Genuine Presence
- Part 6: Modern Interpretations — Servant Leadership, Proximity Management, Presence Science
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