How on earth are you ever going to
explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological
phenomenon as first love?
(Albert
Einstein)
Science
Science is not everything. It cannot answer simple questions such as "Where does
the mind reside?"
All we receive are theories.
Scientific 'fact' is not as common as people think.
As culture progresses, existing scientific beliefs are replaced by modified
ones.
Despite this, science can offer some degree of tangibility. Particularly when
you are considering self defence.
Taoism
Science has certain similarities to taoism in that it aims to understand the
how, way, nature or essence of reality.
Unlike taoism, science seeks to measure, tamper or reproduce facets of
nature.
Taoism leaves nature alone.
Empiricism
Our school recognises that science can offer a rational, logical way of looking
at things.
We also accept that reality is far more
sophisticated than science might realise.
Empiricism is about
observation.
Seeing rather than
looking.
Awareness rather than
thinking.
This makes you very direct and practical. You are only
interested in functional reality, not
theory.
If something works, you can feel it.
It hurts/it compromises you/the muscles are aching/your posture is stronger/your
balance is better.
There is a tangible real-world result.
No
thinking is required.
In your head
The main drawback with adopting a scientific approach is that it is inherently flawed.
We experience reality in our
minds.
Everything we see, hear, smell, touch, taste is processed and filtered by our
brains.
Despite the clarity of zen, our perception of reality is still affected by our
memories, our culture, our upbringing, our education.
Scientific thinking is ultimately underscored by our minds and how they have
been trained.
This indicates the danger of taking science too literally.
Science simply represents a partial, provisional understanding, rather than the
actual 'truth'.
It is
one way of looking at things, not the only or complete way.
Logic?
Logical thinking is very useful and can improve our capacity to reason.
Unfortunately it can also limit our options.
Zen encourages us to transcend logic. It offers us
koan.
The koan illustrates how conventions and language have shaped our perceptions.
What is interesting about koan is that we continue to find deeper meaning in the
koan the longer we explore it.
Yet, simultaneously a koan possesses no depth and is literally as obvious and
absurd as it seems.
Intuition
Science tends to
concentrate on things. Unfortunately, concentration is a narrowing of
your perceptions.
The very act of focussing precludes many
possibilities.
This creates a partial, incomplete picture.
Intuition does not stem from concentration. It arises from awareness and
openness. From inclusion, not exclusion.
Humans use
intuition all the time. We act on the basis of
'feelings'.
Science has no interest in intuition.
What is interesting about intuition is that it stems from the subconscious.
The background information we do not consciously notice is picked up by the
mind and incorporated into our perceptions.
We produce an
insight that has not emerged by a logical, linear process.
If you have to ask what jazz is,
you'll never know...
Louis Armstrong once pointed out that jazz cannot be expressed verbally, or
explained.
Zen is like this. Tao is like this. Tai chi is like this. So is humour. So
is love.
The words just do not do it justice.
They flounder around the edge of it
and never quite get the meaning across.
This is why we have no time for chatrooms, discussion groups, web sites and
blogs.
No interest in comments, debates. Talk, talk, talk...
Can science express reality mathematically or verbally? It seems unlikely.
Body usage
Science can tell us more about how we use the body. This can potentially
reduce the risk of injury.
Unfortunately, science is not holistic.
It chops things into little pieces and considers them piecemeal.
The human body cannot be addressed that way.
Mind and body seem to be one. They feel to be integrated. Why should we think
otherwise?
Can you prove their separation?
Now we come full circle - what is mind? Where does it reside?
Science has no answers. Only more theories.
Page created 22 August 2004