Keeping Still — 四九

The Line

Interpretation

Keeping still of the back, as mentioned in the words of the whole hexagram, means that one forgets the ego. That is the highest stage of rest. Here this stage of rest is not yet reached. One can already, to be sure, keep the ego with its thoughts and stirrings still. But one is not yet wholly free of it. Still, the keeping still of the heart is an important function, which with time leads to the complete elimination of egoistic drives. Even though one does not yet remain free of all dangers of doubt and unrest, this attitude of mind, since it lies on the way to that other, higher one, is no mistake.