“Earlier today, a classmate asked whether divination and fortune-telling are truly accurate. What if the hexagram appears auspicious, yet the outcome turns out poorly? Without hesitation, I told them: That won’t happen to you. This wisdom comes from our ancient ancestors—stretching from Fuxi, who created the Eight Trigrams, to Confucius, who authored the Ten Wings (Yi Zhuan). Over a thousand years of accumulated insight separates them. This is absolutely not superstition.
This morning, I already discussed the relationship between science and superstition. I am not defending superstition—only humans are superstitious; I’ve never seen a dog steeped in superstition. Yet when we understand what superstition truly is, we learn to temper it. Without superstition, we lose our inner drive. In fact, superstition, viewed loftily, is faith; viewed crudely, it is delusion. Superstition is what Zen Buddhism calls ‘persistent delusion’—excessive, unyielding attachment. But the moment clarity emerges from delusion, it becomes enlightenment. We must transform superstition’s rigid convictions into enlightenment—that shift is profound and fascinating, isn’t it?
Ancient divination served to foresee our next actions—honoring Heaven’s will while fulfilling human duty. As stated in the Doctrine of the Mean and the Great Learning: ‘What Heaven imparts is called nature; to follow nature is called the Way; cultivating the Way is called education.’ Note this: Though the I Ching (Book of Changes ) is a Confucian text, it is the mother of all classics, the root of the Six Classics. Even Daoism later absorbed its teachings, especially the concept of Taiji (the Supreme Ultimate).
So, what principles govern divination?
1. No divination without doubt: Only when confused should one seek clarity through divination.
2. No divination without righteousness: Never divine for actions contrary to the Way (as Laozi defined it). For example, one must not divine about theft—that is perverse. Consider English: ‘Live’ is life; reverse it to ‘evil’—harm against life. Never divine for what harms life.
3. No divination without sincerity: Without an open, pure, and tranquil heart, divination is invalid. Impure intentions pollute the inquiry—this isn’t superstition; it’s simple logic. How can a clouded mind receive a clear answer?”
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