A source-first reading note for Hexagram 19, Lin (Approach), with a reference translation, trigram frame, and one reversible observation practice.
Reference translation
Lin. Approach. Sublime success. Furthering through perseverance. When the eighth month comes, there will be misfortune. The Commentary on the Decision says: In Approach, the firm gradually waxes and grows. Joyous and devoted, the firm holds the central place and finds response. Great success through uprightness — this is the way of Heaven. "When the eighth month comes, there will be misfortune" — for the waning is not far off. The Commentary on the Image says: Above the lake there is earth: the image of Approach. Thus the superior man is inexhaustible in his will to teach, and without limits in his tolerance and protection of the people.
See the original-text and authority layers in the complete catalog entry.
Context from the authority layer
In the hexagram Lin, there is the trend of yang energy gradually growing. Yang is the great, and represents the noble person. The nine in the second place, with the virtue of yang's firmness, responds above to the six in the fifth place with its yielding compliance. Thus the hexagram presents an excellent situation of harmony, joy, and willing accord. The sage understands that education is the foundation upon which a state is established and governed. By observing the image, one comes to know the principles of things and to understand the feelings of people. Therefore one embraces the people with virtue, teaches the people with virtue, and governs the people with virtue.
Read the structure before the slogan
The lower trigram is 兑 (泽), associated in the bundled corpus with 悦; the upper trigram is 坤 (地), associated with 顺. Read the lower trigram as the inner or starting field and the upper trigram as the outward field before turning the pattern into advice.
One accountable observation practice
Copy one concrete verb, condition, or image from the reference translation for Hexagram 19. Name one place where it is observable in the situation you are examining. Then choose one small step you can reverse and write the condition that would make you review it.
Common misread to avoid
Do not turn Approach into a personality label, a guaranteed event, or a verdict about another person. The translation and trigram frame are source layers to examine, not an instruction to surrender judgment.
Source boundary
The reference translation and context are drawn from Yarrow's bundled structured Zhouyi authority layer. Yarrow keeps that layer separate from optional modern reflection. This page does not claim that Hexagram 19 was cast for your question.