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Hexagram 52

Keeping Still

· Gèn

Trigram Composition

Upper Trigram

Mountain

Lower Trigram

Mountain

The Judgment (彖)

Keeping Still. Keeping one's back still so that one no longer feels the body. Going into the courtyard and not seeing the people. No blame.

The Image (象)

Mountains standing close together. The superior person does not permit their thoughts to go beyond their situation.

Meaning

Mountain upon mountain — absolute stillness. The art of stopping the restless mind. When you still the body so completely that you forget it, true peace arises. Meditation in its purest form.

Advice

Stop. Be completely still — in body, mind, and spirit. Don't look outward or project forward. Rest in the present moment. The wisdom you seek comes only in stillness.

Keywords

StillnessMeditationCalmBoundariesPresent moment