Formulating the Question
What is a Question?
When I approach the I Ching it is with a question, so let's focus on what exactly questions are. When we're bothered by something, or must face a difficult decision, we can often become muddled in confusion. To me, a clear, concise question is often the best approach. Focus on the issues at hand, ask what you want to know, and the answer directly relates to your inquiry.
Questions are not demands -- it is disrespectful to state, "tell me what to do about (whatever)." When we approach someone with respect and honor, we instead politely ask them, "please share with me an advisable action about (whatever)." When I ask for advice about a particular action, I usually phrase my query along the lines of "should I do (something)." Just like they always say, remember to say your Please's and Thank-You's!
Each reading should center around a single question. How many questions (i.e., readings) can you do? As many as you feel comfortable doing. But I usually only do one or two at a time, because each answer deserves an amount of contemplation, study, and introspective thought before I am prepared with the next series of questions.
Sometimes a particular situation just doesn't have a specific, clear-cut question. In those cases, I try to generalize my thoughts as much as possible. If I'm interested to know about a particular person, event, or item, I will phrase my question like, "please share with me thoughts about (whatever)."
In these general cases, I sometimes think about a particular aspect or subsection of the larger question as I cast the coins for each line (we'll discuss this process more in Casting the Coins). For instance, if I was asking about the upcoming school semester, I may think about the classrooms, the students, the material, and so on, with a different thought for each line. I believe this gives each line its own identity and a direction for further analysis.
Avoid being Ambiguous!
Ambiguity is a difficult problem in most languages, definitely including English! A prime example of this is either-or questions. If we ask the Book of Changes a question like "should I do (this) or (that)," we are setting ourselves up for trouble.
If the Oracle indicates motion or action, does this mean that we should proceed and do (this), or does it mean instead to do (that), or does it mean to do both? Likewise, if the Oracle indicates withdrawal or non-action, does that mean not to do (this) but instead do (that), or vice versa, or neither? By properly phrasing the question (for example, by splitting an either-or question into two separate questions), we avoid these problems.
Be Sure to Write it Down!
Everything I've read about forming the question says to jot it down on a piece of paper (or your I Ching journal, or whatever). The books all mention to have your question in front of you when you do the reading. This makes sense to me. You have it right there in black-n-white, easy to concentrate on (if you keep your eyes open).
Plus, this forces us to put some effort into the question, and at least give it the once-over for clarity and ambiguity.
In summary, as we form a question we want to:
- Be clear and concise
- Be polite and respectful
- Avoid ambiguity in phrasing the question
- Write it down on paper
Back to Me, Myself, and I Ching
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