The Young Learner
méng · Mountain over WaterAsk once, sincerely, then listen and act on the answer.
亨。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我。初筮告，再三瀆，瀆則不告。利貞。
Inexperience can still open into understanding. The learner must come to the teacher, not the reverse. A sincere first question earns an answer. Asking again and again cheapens it and earns none. Stay true.
The six lines
初六：發蒙，利用刑人，用說桎梏，以往吝。
Waking an untaught mind takes some firm discipline, but only to remove the shackles. Keep up the harshness past that point and you will regret it.
九二：包蒙吉，納婦吉，子克家。
Being patient with the untaught is good, and so is welcoming a bride. Like a son able to run the household, you can carry this.
六三：勿用取女，見金夫，不有躬，无攸利。
Do not take this match. She sees a man of gold and forgets herself. Chasing what glitters costs you your own center, and nothing good follows.
六四：困蒙，吝。
You are boxed in by what you do not know, and far from anyone who could help. Staying isolated like this leads to regret.
六五：童蒙，吉。
You come as a child comes, open and willing to be taught. This simple humility is itself the good fortune.
上九：擊蒙，不利為寇，利禦寇。
Foolishness gets a sharp knock. Correct it firmly, but as a guard against harm, never as an attack on someone. Defend, do not raid.
The I Ching is a tool for reflection. Do not use it as the basis for medical, legal or money decisions.