Keeping Still — 三六

The Line

Interpretation

Here it is a matter of forced rest. The heart, which is in unrest, is to be forcibly subdued. But the fire that is forcibly pushed back turns into biting smoke, which spreads suffocatingly. In meditation and concentration exercises one must therefore not proceed forcibly. Rather, rest must develop quite naturally out of a state of inner collectedness. If calm is to be forced through artificial stiffening, meditation will lead to great inconveniences.