from Verse SevenSo being is born from nonbeing, fulfillment is born from emptiness. There are only five musical notes, yet the variations of those five notes are so many as beyond our power to hear. There are only five flavors, yet the variations of those five flavors are so many as to be beyond our power to taste. There are only five colors, but the variations of those five colors are so many as to be beyond our power to see.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
I'm not altogether certain why the author is fixated on the number five, but the overall point remains the same regardless of the specific numeral. Though our world appears to contain countless numbers and variations of life forms, all of it is built out of the same basic elements. For one example, a diamond in a ring on your finger or a stud in your ear and you are both carbon-based, despite the obvious differences in function and appearance. That's really mind boggling!Beyond the amazement factor, understanding the chemical properties of the universe informs us that all things are derived from the same basic stuff. In other words, everything around us -- including ourselves -- is connected. We share more in common than what separates us.
It is the realization that all things are one that causes a revolution in consciousness.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Being attachment disordered as I am, I have a hard time feeling part of anything, let alone the entire universe.
ReplyDeleteI stopped trying to understand the concept of universal unity a while ago. But I think the concept is beautiful, and even if i can't understand it, I do hope with all my heart that it is true, even if can never enjoy the benefits of it.
I think the 5 notes is the pentatonic scale that the chinese use in music (just the black notes on the piano).
ReplyDeleteThis verse comes over much better in the TTC I think whereas most of the others so far have added some new colour.
I suppose what is being said in a way is to avoid the labels of the tastes, colours, sounds, ideas of being or non-being and live out the unfathomable magic in between those restrictive labels.
Five element theory is fundamental to Taoist thought ( along wiith tao, yin/yang, trigrams, hexagrams, bagua. He's not "fixated" on five, it is just part of classical Chinese cosmology which is the background on which these texts are founded.
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