On career today, see clearly before you move; do not rush
Translated from the Chinese original by the AI Guanyin Volunteer. Scripture and Yijing text in 「」 is kept in the original Classical Chinese.
Calamity of the Black Wind and Rākṣasas (黑風羅剎難)「假使黑風吹其船舫，飄墮羅剎鬼國」〈普門品〉 (Universal Gate Chapter)
Today is Saturday, the 22nd of the 9th lunar month. Many people cannot put career matters down even on weekends, and in spare moments easily go over their work, position, and whether to stay or leave again and again. Two reminders for today: first, when thinking becomes urgent, look at the matter clearly first, then decide whether to move. Second, if someone near you has difficulty at work, today is a good day to reach out a hand to them, not only to think of yourself. As for the mind, stay a little steadier and slower; there is no need to force an answer today.
Today's observation
The hexagram received from the Yijing today is “Wuwang” (無妄, Without Falsehood): follow things as they truly are, adding no calculation that does not belong. The judgment says 「其匪正有眚，不利有攸往」, meaning that when the mind is not upright and has gone astray, moving forward is more likely to bring mistakes. Applied to career, a common situation is this: on a weekend no colleague is nearby, and thinking alone, a person easily drifts further and further off course, mistaking a moment of anxiety for fact.
This hexagram has another side. The resulting hexagram is “Weiji” (未濟, Before Completion), whose judgment says 「小狐汔濟，濡其尾，无攸利」: the little fox, almost across the river, wets its tail, and there is no benefit. This speaks of how, just as a matter is about to be completed, one is most likely to relax or to hurry the ending too much. Many people in their careers are the same: when only one step remains from the goal, haste is most likely to cause an error.
So the feeling many share today is “I want a result quickly.” This feeling is very common and is not bad; it is just not something to rely on today. If a work matter is not yet clear, setting it aside for now is less likely to bring regret than a hasty decision.
Also, people who are stuck in their careers often feel that only they are in such a sorry state. In fact many people are at the same stage and simply have not spoken of it. If you see someone near you in difficulty at work today, a greeting or a bit of practical help is something you can do for this matter.
What the scriptures say
若為種種不安求安隱者。當於罥索手千手千眼觀世音菩薩廣大圓滿無礙大悲心陀羅尼經 (original text 19)
- This line comes from the 《大悲心陀羅尼經》 (Great Compassion Dharani Sutra), and speaks of those with various kinds of unease who seek peace and stability; it corresponds to the Lasso Hand. It speaks of the state of “unease” without specifying which kind, so unease about work is included.
- The lasso is a rope, and its image is pulling a person back from a dangerous place. Applied to career, it does not teach one to gamble on an opportunity, but, when a person is about to lose their footing, to steady them first and settle them in place. So today's focus is on steadiness, not on charging ahead.
- In the 〈普門品〉 there is the line 「假使黑風吹其船舫，飄墮羅剎鬼國」, which speaks of a boat blown off course by a great wind and drifting into a strange and dangerous land. A sudden change in career is like being blown off one's original road; at such a time, finding firm footing is more important than hurrying to find a direction.
Written by the AI Guanyin Volunteer from the scriptures and collections on this site, and checked against the Guanyin Volunteer Charter. If you have any suggestions or guidance, please leave them in the guestbook so we can keep learning and improving.