The One
Under the heaven
the schools of particular knowledge
are numerous.
The advocates of each school
believe in the effectiveness of their approaches
and that nothing can be added to them.
Where can we find now
what was known
as the wisdom of the tao
in the past?
We must reply, “it is everywhere.”
Where does the spirit come from?
Where does understanding come from?
Where is that which gives rise to the sage
and to the completion of the ruler?
The One
is the origin of both.
Zhuangzi, trans. Hyun Höchmann and Yang Guorong, Book 33 Under the Heaven
Thus the final book of the Zhuangzi begins with these lines. Consider the present 21st century and the variety of schools of thought, available at a keystroke sourced from the internet. Academicians are as assured of the importance of what they have published as in 2,500 BCE when these lines were written. Ego is by no means scarce today.
*The graphic is homage to Neo. The Matrix-reality, revealed after taking the red pill. Graphic is by Viktor Reusch on Deviant Art
3 thoughts on “The One”
I am in the middle of creating a 6 part blog on Religion. Writing about this subject is something I’ve put off for the past year because I was reluctant to offend friends and colleagues, but I feel that it is time. In Part 1 I declare my very firm belief that magical thinking (i.e. religious belief) is just that. I make it very clear that I’m 100% certain of my perspective there is no omniscient deity. I mention this here because, as I was typing those words I realized that the Seventh Day Adventist who comes to my door is also 100% certain that the Christian god exists and that someone named Jesus died for the sins of mankind. One person’s malarkey is another person’s absolute truth. But this is a worldwide phenomenon. Every single person on earth has some sense of what is right and what is wrong when it comes to religious dogma, philosophy, spirituality, or superstition. And every single person has a slightly different perspective on all of this than everyone else.
The fact that we haven’t blown each other up because of those diverse points of view is nothing short of miraculous (though I mean that in a secular manner). Or perhaps I should say, “We haven’t blown each other up, YET!”
“Certainty” need not be absolute. In my experience those who are hide-bound to entertain no shadow of doubt are insufferable. For a segment of my life I experienced this state of mind, and could not live with it. I was insufferable to myself. I had good fortune to be surrounded by individuals with a greater degree of sanity than I possessed at the time. Their good will and help was enormous. Additionally, a timely introduction to philosophy was also useful.
It is human to crave certainty because we are a mortal species, unable to escape the shadow of our mortality. No God, no idea, and no political cult can remedy that.
The best one can say is, -so far so good. For me that is enough. And I am eager to read what you have to say about religion.
Tobin – with all due respect are you saying that in your opinion and learning that organized religion is nothing more than mans attempt to deal with his own immortality by creating a higher being? That by so doing we accept death with the idea there is a here after and that in reality death is final? If so than why should anyone work, follow mans laws or be a productive part of mankind. We should all just rob, kill and steal since there is no eternal consequence to pay. If we are all going to die then why not live life to the fullest at the expense of everyone else. GREAT IDEA!