Peter MullerThe Book of Changes, Troubles, Problems, Lightness, and Calm
The I Ching as Oracle and Teacher
Peter Muller has been a dramaturg at the Madách Theater in Budapest for sixty-four years. Winner of the Onassis Award for drama, his plays include Gloomy Sunday, Doctor Heart, God’s Money, The Brothers Karamazov, Gospel of Mary, King David, and Shadow of the Vampire, which have been produced worldwide. He has written many novels and books of spiritual essays and this I Ching, originally written in his native Hungarian, has sold nearly one million copies.
INTRODUCTION
Reflections on the Oracle
PART ONE
HELPFUL SPIRITS
1 The Book of Fate
The Origins of the I Ching
2 Change, Trouble, Problem,
Lightness, Calm
3 Divination and Fortune-Telling
Framing the Question
What the Oracle Will Reveal
4 Thoughts of God
The Great Ancient Beginning
The Significance of 64
5 The Art of Life
Fundamental Principles of Practice
PART TWO
HOW TO MAKE DIVINATIONS
Practical Advice on Using the Oracle
6 Secrets of the I Ching
Changing Lines, Changing Signs
Calculating the Numeric Base of the Lines
7 Creating an Oracle
Using Coins to Create the Oracle Sign
Identifying the Oracle Sign: Basic Sign or Direction Sign
8 The Oracle Sign
Code Structure of the Oracle Signs:
Drama in Two Acts and Six Scenes
The Pa Kua Trigrams
9 Interpreting the Oracle Signs
How to Ask the Question
How to Listen to the Divination
10 Reading Your Oracle
The Significance of Basic Signs, Changing Lines,
and Direction Signs
Interpreting an Oracle Sign Both Inwardly and Outwardly
Different Meanings of the Oracle
Predictions Near and Far
11 Meditations on Chance
Preparing for Divination
Why Do the Coins Fall This Way and Not That Way?
PART THREE
ORACLE SIGNS
1 ䷀ Ch’ien • Creative
2 ䷁ K’un • Receptive
3 ䷂ Chun • Difficulty at the Beginning
(Sprouting)
4 ䷃ Meng • Immaturity
5 ䷄ Hsü • Waiting
6 ䷅ Sung • Conflict
7 ䷆ Shih • Army
8 ䷇ Pi • Holding Together
9 ䷈ Hsiao Ch’u • The Collection of the Small
10 ䷉ Lü • Treading Carefully
11 ䷊ T’ai • Blossoming (Harmony)
12 ䷋ P’i • Stagnation (Disharmony)
13 ䷌ T’ung Jeng • Fellowship with Men
14 ䷍ Ta Yu • Great Harvest
15 ䷎ Ch’ien • Modesty
16 ䷏ Yü • Enthusiasm
17 ䷐ Sui • Following (Adaptation)
18 ䷑ Ku • Work on the Spoiled
19 ䷒ Lin • Approach
20 ䷓ Kuan • Clear Sight (Attention)
21 ䷔ Shih Ho • Confrontation (Biting Through)
22 ䷕ Pi • Beautification
23 ䷖ Po • Splitting Apart
24 ䷗ Fu • Return (Rebirth)
25 ䷘ Wu Wang • Spontaneous Action
26 ䷙ Ta Ch’u • The Collection of the Great
27 ䷚ I • Nourishment
28 ䷛ Ta Kuo • The Preponderance of the Great
29 ䷜ K’an • Conquering Difficulty
30 ䷝ Li • Enlightenment
31 ䷞ Hsien • Harmonizing
32 ䷟ Heng • Persistence (Permanence)
33 ䷠ Tun • Retreat
34 ䷡ Ta Chuang • The Influence of the Great
35 ䷢ Chin • Progress (Emergence)
36 ䷣ Ming I • Darkening of the Light
37 ䷤ Chia Jen • A Man’s Family
38 ䷥ K’uei • Opposite
39 ䷦ Chien • Difficulty
40 ䷧ Hsieh • Solution
41 ䷨ Sun • Reduction
42 ䷩ I • Expansion
43 ䷪ Kuai • Removal
44 ䷫ Kou • Contact (Temptation)
45 ䷬ Ts’ui • The Gathering (Collection)
46 ䷭ Sheng • Upward Ambition
47 ䷮ K’un • Oppression (Exhaustion)
48 ䷯ Ching • Well
49 ䷰ Ko • Renewal (Revolution)
50 ䷱ Ting • Sacrificial Vessel
51 ䷲ Chen • Arousing (Shocking)
52 ䷳ Ken • Calm (Mountain)
53 ䷴ Chien • Gradual Development
54 ䷵ Kuei Mei • The Bride-to-Be
55 ䷶ Feng • Abundance
56 ䷷ Lü • The Wanderer
57 ䷸ Sun • Influence (Wind)
58 ䷹ Tui • Joy Shared with Others
59 ䷺ Huan • Dissolving (Reunification)
60 ䷻ Chieh • Restriction (Moderation)
61 ䷼ Chung Fu • Truth of the Center Point
62 ䷽ Hsiao Kuo • Advantage of the Small
(Moderation)
63 ䷾ Chi Chi • After Fulfillment (Crossing)
64 ䷿ Wei Chi • Before Completion (Crossing)
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