Meditations

## Book 1: Dao

### **Daology**

Dao is a philosophical concept that is central to the Chinese (and by extension East Asian) worldview. More specifically, the Dao is the most fundamental concept in Chinese cosmology, metaphysics, and even science. The Dao is the supreme principle that binds all existence into one reality. Thus, the Dao is present in all things.

Studying the Dao requires correct contemplation, correct concentration, and correct investigation on the nature of things. This includes the nature of cosmos and the nature of the human mind.

## Book 3: Standard

### **Learning and Unlearning**

Lao Tzu once said: "When learning, accumulate daily; to be one with the Dao, eliminate daily." [1]

Every day, we are bombarded by facts and opinions, many of which are contradictory to one another. We cannot possibly absorb this chaotic deluge of contradictions. Not all knowledge is necessary or beneficial to our well-being and our livelihoods. Therefore, as important as learning is to our growth and development, it is equally important for us to master techniques to unlearn what we have learned. Ideally, we should cling to knowledge and principles that are beneficial to our lives: the true, the good, and the useful; thus, we should discard what is false, wicked, and unimportant. This is easier said than done, for what is considered "true", "good", and "useful" differ from person to person.

Wang Yangming once said: "Retain the good and eliminate the evil, this is the investigation of things." [2]

It is best to learn things properly, that is, to be able to separate what is true from what is false, what is good from what is evil,  what is useful from what is useless. Mastery of the dual activity of learning and unlearning is of vital importance to sagacity.

**Aphorism**

Learn how to learn and how to unlearn. To the best of our ability, retain knowledge that is true, good, and useful; discard knowledge that is false, bad, and useless. This is the way to actual learning.

學習如何學習和如何忘卻。 盡我們所能，保留真實、良好和有用的知識； 丟棄虛假、邪惡和無用的知識， 此為實學之道。

[1] *Daodejing* Chapter 48: 為學日益，為道日損。

[2] *Chuanxilu* Recordings of Qian Dehong: 為善去惡是格物。

### **How to Live Philosophically**

First, develop the will to learn and learn with intention. Observe your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Develop positive habits that lead you to perform effective action and good deeds. This is good work towards attaining virtue. Put the virtuous habits into practice until it becomes second nature. Once the virtuous habits become a part of who you are, you become one with the Dao.

### **Unity of Knowledge and Practice**

Wang Yangming once said: "Unity of knowledge and practice." [1]

Wang Yangming observed that people who memorized the Confucian classics to pass the imperial examinations for the purpose of becoming a civil servant had not learned the virtues of Confucianism. Why? Many civil servants become obsessed with accruing wealth and attaining status (through corruption) while simultaneously bringing harm to other people. Knowledge may be internalized in the minds of civil servants, but they do not practice what they have learned. Thus, Wang Yangming understood that memorizing the Confucian classics would not get one closer to becoming a sage.

**Aphorism**

Memorizing formulas and the solutions to specific problems will make you an adept mathematician. True mastery begins with internal motivation, deliberate practice, and reflection. Internal motivation is the catalyst that moves the will to take up deliberate practice. Deliberate practice will help you cultivate an understanding of the fundamental principles and develop an intuition of the solution methods. Reflection on what you have learned will help you gain new insights. The new insights will fuel your internal motivation, and the virtuous cycle repeats. Uniting knowledge and practice is the path to true mastery.

[1] *Chuanxilu*: 知行合一。

## Book 4: Matter

### Unity of Mind and Matter

I developed this view that matter and mind (material and consciousness) are two sides of the same coin. Both are fundamental elements of existence. My definition of consciousness is not based on the ability to perceive internal (mental) and external (material) existence, but rather, the processing of information. Simple particles such as atoms and molecules technically have consciousness by processing what I call “natural information”(energy, momentum, charge). Natural information is more fundamental than matter, for it is carried by matter and transformed by material interactions. As material structures get more and more complex, greater information processing is actualized. Our minds with its faculties for perceptions, thoughts, memories, and feelings are advanced forms of information processing. Our minds are “higher degrees of consciousness”.