Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Book of Changes is a symbolic representation—and explanation—of the cosmos written in binary code. Learn more about I Ching, The Oracle: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle
Over the millennia, beginning with King Wen and his son the Duke of Zhou around 1046 BC, poetic prophetic lines of text are ascribed to the 64 hexagrams that the binary code is set in, lines steeped in cultural and historical references. Five centuries later, Confucius (or scholars attributing their writings to Confucius) add commentaries that describe, pictorialize, and interpret the hexagrams.
In 10 minutes (-ish), we’ll introduce the framework of the I Ching and its metaphysical underpinnings.
If this video has inspired you to learn more, then check out my third book, I Ching, The Oracle, an updated translation of the I Ching with in-depth annotations, cultural and historical references, and related mystical practices.
***
I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle
- Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/cmm0qLP
- North Atlantic Books, a California-based non-profit publisher: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle
- Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen
***
Read excerpts to supplement the video discussion:
CHAPTER 1: PREFACE, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/chapter-1-preface-1.pdf
CHAPTER 2: MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND CULTURAL HEROES OF THE I CHING, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/chapter-2-myths-legends-and-cultural-heroes-1.pdf
HEXAGRAM 30: LI. THE SPARK, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/hexagram-30-3.pdf
The Book of Changes is a symbolic representation—and explanation—of the cosmos written in binary code. Learn more about I Ching, The Oracle: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle
Over the millennia, beginning with King Wen and his son the Duke of Zhou around 1046 BC, poetic prophetic lines of text are ascribed to the 64 hexagrams that the binary code is set in, lines steeped in cultural and historical references. Five centuries later, Confucius (or scholars attributing their writings to Confucius) add commentaries that describe, pictorialize, and interpret the hexagrams.
In 10 minutes (-ish), we’ll introduce the framework of the I Ching and its metaphysical underpinnings.
If this video has inspired you to learn more, then check out my third book, I Ching, The Oracle, an updated translation of the I Ching with in-depth annotations, cultural and historical references, and related mystical practices.
***
I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle
- Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/cmm0qLP
- North Atlantic Books, a California-based non-profit publisher: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle
- Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen
***
Read excerpts to supplement the video discussion:
CHAPTER 1: PREFACE, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/chapter-1-preface-1.pdf
CHAPTER 2: MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND CULTURAL HEROES OF THE I CHING, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/chapter-2-myths-legends-and-cultural-heroes-1.pdf
HEXAGRAM 30: LI. THE SPARK, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/hexagram-30-3.pdf





![On Esoteric or Tantric Buddhism
An introductory discussion on what’s often referred to as esoteric Buddhism, covering the distinctions between sutra-based Buddhism and tantric Buddhism.
Practicum “Homework Assignments,” [*] https://wp.me/p32or0-9vV
[*] Practica. Not homework assignments. Dont know why that was my first go-to descriptive late last night, other than an indicator that Im a total nerd.
Mantra recitation audio recording at the closing of this video: Namo Da Bei Guan Shi Yin pusa (Hail, the Great Compassionate bodhisattva Kuan Yin).
Word List for Reference:
apsara 飛天
ashura 阿修羅
Bhadrakalpika Sūtra 賢劫經
Bön (Tibetan folk magic/shamanism) 苯教
Buddhist sects 佛教派別
Chinese esoteric Buddhism (Tang dynasty) 唐密
dharani 陀羅尼
Diamond Sutra 金剛經
Elder Mysteries (or Elder Arcana) 老密
Great Compassion Mantra 大悲呪
mandala 曼荼羅
mantra 咒
mara 天魔
New Mysteries (or New Arcana) 新密
Smoke Offering Ritual 煙供儀軌
Sutra (Buddhist sacred texts) 佛經
Sutra-based exoteric (Buddhism) 顯宗
Tantra-based esoteric (Buddhism) 密宗
Tibetan tantric Buddhism 西藏密宗
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sūtra 大日經
Vairocanā Blessed Sand 金剛沙 or 金光明沙
Vajrasekhara Sūtra 金剛頂経 On Esoteric or Tantric Buddhism](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v3vyx6yhwAM/mqdefault.jpg)




