I own a copy of the Taoist book the I Ching and in preparing for this post briefly looked through it. The I Ching has spiritual meaning and importance when taken in as a reading, yet it is often used as a tool for predicting the future or seeking advice. This way this works is through a series of drawing bamboo sticks of varying lengths (or as the case may be in America; flipping coins) and it essentially works as a cosmic spiritual magic 8-ball. Oddly enough upon using it in the past I’ve had often startlingly accurate results (it called that the Steelers would win the Super Bowl in 06). It is in many ways looked at as a way of questioning the holy and being given an answer, from this answer we must find meaning and from this meaning we must make our resolutions. This has made me wonder though, is all communication with the holy really within us? Virtually any definition in the I Ching can be appropriated to fit circumstances and that is where its effectiveness lies. Maybe we are not communicating with the holy but instead communicating with ourselves. Furthermore what about the possibility that not only did man create the holy, but that man is the holy! While I do not necessarily believe these conclusions I do believe that they are all relevant in man’s search for answers.
Aaron Stein
No comments:
Post a Comment