Understanding the wisdom of Daoism with a scientific context: Heaven and Man Integrated as One
An introduction of scientific context
The most universally applicable system in our modern world is the scientific context. If I write “1 + 1 = on the board,” almost everyone in the world will write “2.” Why not just called it science? As different people have different judgements on science, there are limitations to call oneself science in the public knowledge domain. Therefore, I name it “scientific context” that allow us to borrow scientific names, terms, and logical relationships that are widely accepted to interconnect and understand different wisdom systems. So it is an expedient context that could linking all human wisdom systems and has no connotation concerning ethnicity, nationality, politics, or religion. Through the lens of scientific context, we explore a description of two very basic concepts or elements of universe: space and existence.
There are many systems for describing space in the scientific context. For example, there is the rectangular coordinate system, linear geometric systems; and there is the spherical coordinate system, polar coordinate system, binary system, etc. Among these systems that describe the existence of space, there are formulas, or interfaces, for connections. However, I choose only the rectangular coordinate system, also known as the linear geometric system.
We live in a three-dimensional world. But human consciousness exists not only in this world but also in multidimensional space. The single-dimension is a line. No matter how we try to describe it, it would not present any aesthetic beauty. The two-dimensional world is a plane on which we could paint a beautiful picture, much more beautiful than a single line. A three-dimensional world is N times more beautiful than a two-dimensional plane. So with an increase of one dimension, there would be an infinite increase in the amount of information and beauty. This description is based on the math concept of rectangular coordinate system (or the multi-dimensional space) that describing space. Anyone in this word, as long as he learned math, algebra and geometry, would definitely understand this system.
To describe existence, we use a remarkably simple way: “to search for commonality.” To begin, we know that the commonality of all existence is the molecule. It is molecules that form all matter. To explore further, the commonality of molecules is an atom. Atoms form a molecule. An atom is composed of a nucleus and one or more electrons. Nuclei differ, and the electron is the commonality. A nucleus is composed of one or more protons and several neutrons, which is the commonality. A proton is composed of neutrons and positron (positive electrons). Thus, we find that all tangible matter is composed of three elementary forms of existence: neutron, positron, and negative electron. This could be regarded as corresponding to “three produces all things”, as the Dao De Jing (道德经) has described it. These three particles are referred to as the three most elementary particles. The commonality among these three particles is the quantum property in the field of modern physics. The quantum property is the wave-particle duality. In other words, wave is the commonality of the wave-particle duality. Through Fourier Equation, we know that all complex energy waves and waveforms can be disassembled and decomposed, and eventually, the essence is the sine wave, sin X. Therefore, the simplest commonality of this universe is a sine wave.
How does Daoism describe the entire universe? In chapter thirty eight of the Tao-te-ching, we read that “When Dao is lost, there is virtue (De, 德) left; when De is lost, there is humanity (Ren, 仁); when humanity is lost, there is justice (Yi, 义); when justice is lost, there is etiquette (Li, 礼); when etiquette is lost, there is benefit (Li, 利).” What does all this mean? Dao represents the wisdom of the Nth dimensional space (N approaches infinity). When it comes to the N-1th dimension, the Dao is lost. From N-1th dimension to the Fourth dimension, virtue is the prevailing characteristic of all these dimensions. [hz1] In the Chinese language, we have used “great virtue with high reputations” 德高望重, and “heavy virtue carries all things” 厚德载物to describe virtue. “When virtue (De) is lost there is humaneness (Ren)” 失德而后仁. That’s a leaving of fourth dimension and enters three dimensional world. Love is the greatest energy that can be felt in the three-dimensional world. The word Ren (仁), represents this great love. Through the Tao-te-ching, we have come to understand the descriptions of the different levels of the entire universe, and “Heaven and Men Integrated as One” is one of the most important doctrines.
The numerology of Daoism
In this scientific context, how do we understand wisdoms in Daoism?
What does “Heaven and Man Integrated as One” mean? In math logics, 3: ∞ (Infinity) = 0, 4: ∞ (Infinity) = 0, 5: ∞ (Infinity) = 0; so is 6, 7,8 … or any actual figure. The world in which we live is a three-dimensional world. Compared with the Nth dimensional universe (N approaches infinity), our world is minimal, next to the presence of existence. This echoes the description in the Diamond Sutra that “All things contrived are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow, a dewdrop or lightning. One should have such a view.”
If, through cultivation, one was able to enter higher and higher dimensions, and one could get closer and closer to the Nth dimension, the number of the dimension he would be in would be close to infinity. Therefore, the formula becomes Infinity: Infinity = 1. This would be the situation where one is truly integrated with heaven. However, currently in our three-dimensional world, we are restricted in our mindset and are only able to deal with relationships in a limited sense. These relationships include the relationship between heaven and men, the universe and men, and spatial objects and men. However, from the Nth dimension one could see the universe from a perspective far beyond our imagination and knowledge. The genuine concept of “Heaven and Men Integrated as One” means that the wisdom level of one person is the same as that in the Nth dimension.
There is another very subtle dimension–the zero dimension. The zero dimension is a Mass Point (without interior) which could not be further divided. According to the nature of the transmission of waves, each Mass Point in the universe has the full information of the universe as well as the connections among it. In other words, it contains the full wisdom of the universe. The Nth dimension has the same nature as the Zero dimension. This is a description of the entire universe, and it covers all the information and wisdom in the universe. This could be called the genuine concept of “Heaven and Men Integrated as One”. Through such a cosmic view, we would be able to have a comprehensive view of the universe, of the Dao, and understand why it is everywhere and at any time.
Let me try and illustrate this through a Chinese character. Once again, I’ll use the word Tai, “太”, as in “tai ji”. As explained before, the character Da, “大” represents the Nth dimension (N approaches infinity) and the dot underneath it represents the Zero dimension, a Mass Point. Therefore, this character Tai represents the entire universe. And, this is the greatness and subtlety of the Chinese language.
Let us now have a look at the distribution of energy in the different dimension levels. To explain the distribution — from simple Energy Stacking to the complex formation of real world objects — I would need to first explain the numerology of the Yi Jing (I Ching).
The simplest existence of this universe is a sine wave. When there is another wave of the same frequency and amplitude, under certain conditions, these two waves would start to interfere with each other. Due to the characteristics of energy distribution in space, part of the waves will be strengthened while part will diminish, which will result in the interference fringes. These fringes are reflected by the term “se” (色) or form, in Buddhism. When the conditions for interference are not matured, despite the existence of the energies, there would not be forms. This condition is described in Buddhism as “kong” (空), or “empty” or “void”. Hence the famous saying in the Heart Sutra, “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form; emptiness is not other than form, form too is not other than emptiness.” Further, “they are not defiled, they are not undefiled; they are not deficient, and they are not complete”.
The stacking and interference of two waves could be described in a formula: (a+b)² =1
When this formula is extended, it becomes:
a² + b² + ab + ba =1,
and they correspond to the “Tai Yang”, the fire element; “Tai Yin”, the water element; “Shao Yang”, the wood element; and “Shao Yin”, the metal element, as have been described in the Yi Jing. The combined energy of all these reflects the earth element. The energies of the Five Elements are actually the result of the interference of two waves, manifesting in the distribution of the five energies.
As mentioned before, the interference fringes, or stripes, are called “images”. If we put on the wall a picture of the holographic interference fringes, we would know, based on the principles of optics, that this picture consisted of an infinite number of interference fringes, as each of the fringes is a reflection of one information unit.
When we look at the interference fringe from a different perspective–from the left, or from the right–we would see a different picture. This demonstrates that the energy wave of the mind is different in different people. Hence, a third energy wave appears, namely: (a+b)³ = 1.
When this formula is extended, it becomes:
a³ + b³ +aab+aba+baa+abb+bab+bba=1
The extended formula above corresponds with the Eight Trigrams, the Ba Gua. The Eight Trigrams represent the images of the most basic object forms in our three-dimensional world. These three lines, solid or broken, are the three interference stripes. When the images of the eight trigrams, or, of the eight pieces of information, being the compilation of yet unrevealed information, are stacked together, they form the sixty-four formations, which represent the basic element of the entire existence of objects in our three-dimensional world. I call them the “basic spectrums”. This, as mentioned before, is the numerology of the Yi Jing.
If we could explain this numerology to those who do not understand the Chinese language or the abstract text in the Yi Jing, they would be able to understand that Yi Jing describes the origin of things in this universe. The energies of the single wave, the two waves, and the three waves, correspond with the concept of “Dao produces One, One produces Two, Two produces Three, and Three produces all things.” In this three-dimensional world, all things could be put into one of the sixty-four categories, which are the basic forms of distribution. When, furthermore, these sixty-four forms of distribution are stacked together, they represent all things in our universe. The Yi Jing describes the law of such stacking. With the change of time and space, the images of all things change, too.
From the above discussions we would understand that the third energy wave is the most important one to us, as what we are able to see is determined by the images rendered by our third energy wave. And, the third energy wave is actually emanated by the observer. The energy spectrum, namely the frequency characteristics, is a manifestation of the observer’s knowledge. This is described in Buddhism as “Karma”. What we see in this world is a projection of what we know. Based on what we know, our mind creates a world. Therefore the Buddhists say, “All Dharma is subject to the mind” and “all forms are created by the mind.”
However, the entire universe is not a three-dimensional world. Let’s have a look at this picture of Tai Ji. This picture could be drawn with one continuous line.
Heavenly stems and Earthly branches
In the wisdom of Daoism, there is a system which is closely related to us. That is Chinese medicine, which has its origin in the Yi Jing, a system with folded or stacked energies. As mentioned before, all things in our world are images resulting from interference fringes of energy waves. The most important factor for images to be formed is the relative balance of energies. In other words, when two energy waves are in balance, their interference fringes result in images. The balance of energy, the balance of Yin and the Yang, is the foundation of all things in the universe.
In Chinese medicine, illness or disease has its location, or “nest” — its situation, manifesting images. When one is ill, he is not in a state of balance in terms of energy. The treatment, therefore, in Chinese medicine, is to interrupt the imbalance, and resume the balance in the body. When this is achieved, one becomes healthy. Western medicine uses an adversarial method to combat illness or disease. For example, a counter-Sine wave would be used for treating a Sine wave condition. At a precise calculation, the illness could be offset. However, the counter-Sine wave could harm other parts of the body, and result in side effects. This is one of the characteristics of western medicine. When a doctor writes his prescriptions, he always needs to tell his patient that, in the hope of treating the targeted illness, this medication could bring harm to other parts of your body. Chinese medicine, on the other hand, treats illness by way of balancing energies in accordance with the Law of the Five Elements in a systematic way. Energy balance is the goal of treatment in Chinese medicine.
One of the principles in Chinese medicine is the theory of Ziwu Liuzhu (子午流注). Ziwu Liuzhu is a method in traditional Chinese medicine which applies the best use of time when an acupoint’s energy is at its ultimate level. The distribution of energy in any given dimension is in the forms of Liang Yi (Two Spheres), Si Xiang (Four Forms), and Ba Gua (Eight Trigrams). On the time axis in the fourth dimension, such distribution is in place as well. With this as a general rule, one would be able to see the patterns of changes, and one would understand that good Chinese medicine practitioners treat illness with different methods at different times and places. We know that, at different times of the day, our organs’ ability to repair themselves depends on the strength of their inner energy. Each of our organs’ characteristic energy distribution could be described corresponding to the five elements — namely metal, wood, water, fire and earth. When time is considered in this dynamic process, the theory of Ziwu Liuzhu comes into play. Therefore, if a good practitioner could determine the right time for the right energy to be at its peak, he would easily help the patient achieve energy balance among the organs. On the contrary, if a practitioner does not know this theory, or applied treatment at the wrong time, he might not receive good treatment results. What’s worse, he could bring negative effects to his patient. This is why Chinese practitioners attach great importance to the time of treatment.
Figure 4 Ten Heavenly Stems (China Buddhism Encyclopedia)
Now, I’d like to mention another important theory–the “heavenly stems” and the “earthly branches”. The sequential numbers of Jia, Yi and Bing all the way to Ren and Gui, are the ten “heavenly stems”, while the Zi, Chou and Yin, all the way to Xu and Hai, are the twelve “earthly branches”. The “heavenly stems” and the “earthly branches” system represents a vertical distribution of energy associated with time. It follows the energy relationship of the five elements. The earthly branches represent the energy relationship in our three-dimensional world, and represent the horizontal distribution of energy. The moment the heavenly stems and the earthly branches are stacked, the vertical and horizontal energies interfere with each other, and this is the moment when all things in the three-dimensional world are created. In other words, the moment the energies from a higher dimension are projected in the lower dimension is the moment of creation. For example, the birth time of a person, as described in “eight characters”, is just such a critical moment that decides the energy in the three-dimensional world. This point of time contains the energy information, which could be interpreted to tell (or predict) all things that are to happen in that person’s life and all people that he is going to meet, too.
Figure 5 Twelve Earthly Branches (China Buddhism Encyclopedia)
Let me give you another example. My hand is a three-dimensional object. If I put my open palm in between a light source and the wall, a shadow–the shape of my palm–would appear on the wall. If one is on that two-dimensional wall, and tries to trace the outline of the palm, and started from where my thumb is, he wouldn’t know what would be coming next. However, when viewed from the three-dimensional world, away from the wall, one could easily see the whole picture on the two-dimensional wall.
By the same idea, when viewing from a higher dimension, all things in the lower dimension would be very clear. This is the essence of the heavenly stems theory. Provided with the correct birth time of a person, a good Chinese medicine practitioner would also be able to calculate and tell which organ would be in an inferior state, and when this patient would become ill.
Acupoints and meridians
Now let’s have a look at the acupoints and the meridians in a body according to Chinese medicine. It is very hard to locate the acupoints by physical measurements, as they cannot be felt externally. What exactly is an acupoint? It is a focal point of energy from a higher dimension. For a camera to take a picture, it needs a lens which has a focal point to convert a three-dimensional object onto a two-dimensional film. The focal point is usually unknown to most people. Actually, the focal point is a point which enables the four-dimensional energy to be projected in our three-dimensional bodies, organs, and cells. A series of focal points of the same nature form a meridian. This is the inner connection between the Chinese medicine system and the higher dimensional energies.
The treatment in Chinese medicine, using acupoints and meridians, is likened to spectrum management in the principles of light. The energy level of the focal points located at different spots can be adjusted to accommodate different amounts of light going through the aperture. The larger the aperture, the more energy.
The adjusting of the aperture is the key, which achieves a balance of energy among the images. The balance of energy is the healthy state. From the above explanations we can understand the close relationship between Chinese medicine and high dimensional energy.
Three levels of TCM practice
In today’s medical education system, western education methods are in a more dominant position, and a lot of the essence of Chinese medicine has been neglected. When we truly understand the spirit in the Yi Jing and the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classics, and understand the energy relationships within the body, we would understand the levels of Chinese medicine practitioners are very important.
There are three levels: the low, the medium and the high practitioners. It is because of the different approaches to medicine that there are these three different levels of Chinese medical practitioners.
The lower practitioners, in my description, are the ones who can only use the three-dimensional view to treat illness. Such practitioners could not even compete with western medicine, as they would not have equipment and problem-solving skills that western medicine has.
The medium level practitioners would apply the higher dimensional energy to solve problems in the three-dimensional world. But if the theories which I have just mentioned–Ziwu Liuzhu, the heavenly stems theory, and the acupoints and the meridians–are not being used with corresponding higher dimensional energy, its use would be limited.
The high level Chinese medicine practitioners are those who have achieved the state of “Heaven and Men Integrated as One”. Therefore, treatment methods adopted by the high-level practitioners may seem odd to some people. For example, the mechanism adopted may not have a direct connection to the patients’ symptoms, yet these practitioners can effectively treat illness and disease. The reason for this is that they can identify and deal with the essence of the issue by dealing with the energies. They are able to use the energy distributed in colour, in food, in music and in space to facilitate treatments. Their treatments will not be limited to any set formula, and they could not and should not be followed and repeated in a standard way. Let me explain this point more clearly. For example, there is a point on the table, a two-dimensional plane. I can use my hand and swipe past that point on the table easily. If I were to use a stone and try to hit that same point, the possibility is uncertain. In other words, the link between higher dimensional energy and three-dimensional energy is uncertain.
The misunderstanding to Dao Yi
The medium and high-level Chinese medicine practitioner are referred to as the “Dao Yi”, Practitioners of Dao, as they are able to use or adjust the higher dimensional energy for the purpose of treatment. To adjust the images in the projection source, which is in the higher dimension, is what is known as the Technique of “Zhuyou” (祝由术). Zhuyou, the last of the 13 divisions of traditional Chinese medicine, uses the images of different energies in the projection source to achieve an offsetting result. Chinese medicine is very profound, and this is beyond the understanding of those who only possess three-dimensional knowledge. The successful treatment cases adopted by the high-level practitioners can not be simply copied and repeated. This is very different from the western medicine approach. Western medicine, as all western science in the three-dimensional realm, is based on repetition, and requires the results to be the same in large numbers of tests. Such rigid and repetitive testing is not the practice of Chinese medicine, which would view it as an attempt of three-dimensional thought to try and manoeuvre the universal wisdom. It is a sad thing for one to use a low-dimensional wisdom to deal with high-dimensional wisdom. Even though it is true that practice is the sole criteria in testing truth, three-dimensional truth can only be tested by rules in the three-dimensional world. Low-dimensional wisdom cannot test truth in higher dimensions.
High-level dimension practices are embedded in the treatments of Chinese medicine, which is far beyond the scope of skills and techniques of our three-dimensional world. Currently, the only school of science that could understand and match the practices of Chinese medicine is Quantum Medicine. Quantum reflects the critical stage between the physical space and the higher-dimensional world, and it can reflect the energy wave and its high-dimensional nature. Modern physics has reached a very important conclusion: Quantum physics test results are influenced by the power of mind. We understand that the mind of human beings refers to those parts of energies that have not been stacked and formed into images. When we enter the fourth dimension, our super consciousness has high-dimensional energy, and the mind power energy dominates the physical energy. This is the essence of Eastern wisdom. In other words, the projection source determines the projected images. This is a very simple logic. However, if we limit our understandings to the physical world, and if we try to test the entire universe with the knowledge obtained in the three-dimensional world only, we’d be committing a mistake in logic.
We may have all encountered the mathematics problem of calculating the number of chickens and rabbits in the same cage. At the primary level, this problem seems very hard to tackle, and it is a single-dimensional operation on one axis. However, when conceived algebraically this problem becomes easy. Let the number of chickens = x, the number of rabbits = y; the total number of heads = x + y and the total number of feet of these animals = 2x + 4y. With this formula, the problem is very easy to work out. This is a typical example of solving a two-dimension problem using a single-dimension mechanism. If all two-dimension problems could be solved using the single-dimension mechanism, that would be ideal. But, so far, it is impossible. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity is an exception, in which he used third-dimensional logic to solve a fourth-dimensional problem. No other person has ever done anything like this. We human beings are trying the most primitive methods to solve problems. We use algebra and apply figures in the place of actual objects. The more we do this, the more possible it is for us to find a pattern. This is the essence of mathematical experiments. In summary, the repetitive experiments, when compared with the high-dimension practices, are the primitive methods to find patterns–for example the use of statistics, and big data. The real method to conduct experiments is to enter the higher dimensions. This is the real method to solve problems.
Author information:
Author: LIU Feng
● Public speaker and disseminator of the Holistic Universe Theory
● Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Beijing Shifangyuan Elderly Hospice and Mind Care Center
● Chief Expert of the America Holographic Institute of Life Sciences
● Chief Expert of the International Holographic Ecology LTD
● The Author of the Best-Selling book Open Your High-Dimensional Wisdom (Language: Chinese)
During his 30 years of research study and application on the subject of General Space-time Energy, Mr. Liu Feng has dedicated himself to both the theoretical study and experiential exploration of all kinds of Sapience Methods & Spiritual Groups with a total open mind. He interacts harmoniously with today’s pluralistic world, with a basic Principle of “Seeking the Common and Respect the Difference”. Mr. Liu has unscrambled and interpreted various mankind wisdom systems with a scientific logic, by which people with different backgrounds have been greatly inspired.
Mr. Liu Feng is also an expert in corporation management with a seven-year top managerial experience in a high-tech company (Oplink Co. at Silicon Valley). He had been through the whole process in the company from its very beginning to its IPO. He has also been a high-tech industrial consultant (President GOC, a managerial consultancy company) for more than six years. He led several high-tech companies and launched manufacturing plants in China. Mr. Liu Feng has been an architect of corporate culture for many enterprises and helped them adapt to future-oriented culture based on the combination of Eastern and Western wisdom.
