益 → 萃

Commentary

Wind and thunder bestow increase, but the transformation leads to the lake above the earth — the anxious gathering of Gathering, here experienced as loss upon loss. Seeing gold off at the gate, one simultaneously loses a jade ball. Going back and forth to the well, the water jar breaks and the basin shatters. Every action meant to preserve something ends in further breakage. Escorting treasure out the door means it leaves the house; returning to the well for water produces only broken vessels. From Increase to Gathering, the verse inverts the hexagram's promise. Gathering should mean pooling resources, but here the gathering point — the well — becomes a site of destruction. The lake above the earth should collect; instead, everything that approaches it is shattered. Increase given without a sound vessel to receive it is increase thrown away.