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Secret of the Golden Flower is the prime text on a certain system of Chinese yoga avail able in the West. In this edition Wilhelm's 1929 translation is amplified by Carl Jung's commentary, and other writings. To the non-initiate the book means nothing. 1t speaks earnestly of setting currents in motion round the body by various meditations. Whether these be physiological, spiritual or imaginary is probably only known to the practitioner.
Jung valiantly tries to equate the texts to Western psychological concepts, and as always his thought is probably closer to the truth than any other interpretation. To the non-pratitioner this book must remain an enigma, giving some insight into the Chinese mind, but at the same time causing more confusion than enlightenment. The I Ching is the most widely know system of divination to come out of the East, serving the same purpose as the tarot did in the West. Like the tarot it works, giving the enquirer answers to problems which on the surface perplex him.
How it works is a matter for debate, many holding there is some intrinsic power in the book itself ; more likely is the explanation that following the procedure in the book stimulates a part of the intellect not normally used for problem solving, just as the tarot is used to stimulate unused emotional facilties. Part of the process of getting answers from the I Ching is following the complicated procedure and meditating on the complex commentary.
The Pocket I Ching seeks to make the I Ching more accessible by simplifying the imagery and commentary originally translated by Richard Wilhelm in 1924 To one who is used to the very complete Legge translation and who delights in the richness and depth of meaning in the original, this is in some ways a great innovation. However, the I Ching can take it. If the simplification introduces the system to a wider audience the net gain will be worth the cost.
Wojtek Gaworzewsky, Magonia 18, January 1985
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