WAITING
5. Hsü / Waiting
Top: Water | Bottom: Heaven
All beings have need of nourishment from above. But the gift of food comes in its own time, and
for this one must wait. This hexagram shows the clouds in the heavens, giving rain to refresh all
that grows and to provide mankind with food and drink. The rain will come in its own time. We
cannot make it come; we have to wait for it. The idea of waiting is further suggested by the
attributes of the two trigrams--strength within, danger in from. Strength in the face of danger
does not plunge ahead but bides its time, whereas weakness in the face of danger grows agitated
and has not the patience to wait.
THE SUMMARY
If you are sincere, you have light and success. Perseverance brings good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
Waiting is not mere empty hoping. It has the inner certainty of reaching the goal. Such certainty
alone gives that light which leads to success. This leads to the perseverance that brings good
fortune and bestows power to cross the great water. One is faced with a danger that has to be
overcome. Weakness and impatience can do nothing. Only a strong man can stand up to his fate,
for his inner security enables him to endure to the end. This strength shows itself in
uncompromising truthfulness [with himself]. It is only when we have the courage to face things
exactly as they are, without any sort of self-deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of
events, by which the path to success may be recognized. This recognition must be followed by
resolute and persevering action. For only the man who goes to meet his fate resolutely is
equipped to deal with it adequately. Then he will be able to cross the great water--that is to say,
he will be capable of making the necessary decision and of surmounting the danger.
THE IMAGE
Clouds rise up to heaven:
The image of WAITING.
Thus the superior man eats and drinks,
Is joyous and of good cheer.
When clouds rise in the sky, it is a sign that it will rain. There is nothing to do but to wait until
after the rain falls. It is the same in life when destiny is at work. We should not worry and seek to
shape the future by interfering in things before the time is ripe. We should quietly fortify the
body with food and drink and the mind with gladness and good cheer. Fate comes when it will,
and thus we are ready.
THE STRESSED LINES
Nine at the beginning means:
Waiting in the meadow. It furthers one to abide in what endures.
No blame.
The danger is not yet close. One is still waiting on the open plain. Conditions are still simple, yet
there is a feeling of something impending. One must continue to lead a regular life as long as
possible. Only in this way does one guard against a premature waste of strength, keep free of
blame and error that would become a source of weakness later on.
Nine in the second place means:
Waiting on the sand. There is some gossip.The end brings good fortune.
The danger gradually comes closer. Sand is near the bank of the river, and the water means
danger. Disagreements crop up. General unrest can easily develop in such times, and we lay the
blame on one another. He who stays calm will succeed in making things go well in the end.
Slander will be silenced if we do not gratify it with injured retorts.
Nine in the third place means:
Waiting in the mud. Brings about the arrival of the enemy.
Mud is no place for waiting, since it is already being washed by the water of the stream. Instead
of having gathered strength to cross the stream at one try, one has made a premature start that has
got him no farther than the muddy bank. Such an unfavorable position invites enemies from
without, who naturally take advantage of it. Caution and a sense of the seriousness of the
situation are all that can keep one from injury.
Six in the fourth place means:
Waiting in blood. Get out of the pit.
The situation is extremely dangerous. IT is of utmost gravity now--a matter of life and death.
Bloodshed seems imminent. There is no going forward or backward; we are cut off as if in a pit.
Now we must simply stand fast and let fate take its course. This composure, which keeps us from
aggravating the trouble by anything we might do, is the only way of getting out of the dangerous
pit.
Nine in the fifth place means:
Waiting at meat and drink. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Even in the midst of danger there come intervals of peace when things go relatively well. If we
possess enough inner strength, we shall take advantage of these intervals to fortify ourselves for
renewed struggle. We must know how to enjoy the moment without being deflected from the
goal, for perseverance is needed to remain victorious. This is true in public life as well; it is not
possible to achieve everything all at once. The height of wisdom is to allow people enough
recreation to quicken pleasure in their work until the task is completed. Herein lies the secret of
the whole hexagram. It differs from Chin OBSTRUCTION 39, in the fact that in this instance,
while waiting, we are sure of our cause and therefore do not lose the serenity born of inner cheerfulness.
Six at the top means:
One falls into the pit. Three uninvited guests arrive.
Honor them, and in the end there will be good fortune.
The waiting is over; the danger can no longer be averted. One falls into the pit and must yield to
the inevitable. Everything seems to have been in vain. But precisely in this extremity things take
an unforeseen turn. Without a move on one's own part, there is outside intervention. At first one
cannot be sure of its meaning: is it rescue or is it destruction? A person in this situation must
keep his mind alert and not withdraw into himself with a sulky gesture of refusal, but must greet
the new turn with respect. Thus he ultimately escapes the danger, and all goes well. Even happy
turns of fortune often come in a form that at first seems strange to us.