The fact that the Yijing pushed him towards a psychotic state, means that the process WORKED or was beginning to show results.
Psychosis and mystical experience are after all closely linked if not objectively identical.
The Yijing, when used properly (as a tool for self-exploration and psychonautics and not for fortunetelling or the chasing of idle fantasies) works similarly to the Tarot or other symbolic systems that operate on the human psyche. There comes a point (with repeated use and appropriate conditioning/reinforcement) that these systems really open up the subconscious and can lead to mystical unions or profound annihilatory experiences (ego death).
So it sounds to me that your friend had no idea about these things and simply could not handle
the "results". When you play with fire, you take precautions or you get burned..
Psychosis and mystical experience are after all closely linked if not objectively identical.
The Yijing, when used properly (as a tool for self-exploration and psychonautics and not for fortunetelling or the chasing of idle fantasies) works similarly to the Tarot or other symbolic systems that operate on the human psyche. There comes a point (with repeated use and appropriate conditioning/reinforcement) that these systems really open up the subconscious and can lead to mystical unions or profound annihilatory experiences (ego death).
So it sounds to me that your friend had no idea about these things and simply could not handle the "results". When you play with fire, you take precautions or you get burned..