Zeyang (11)

1 How do the various creatures that we can see in the world, come out?

2 The question always occurs to the young learners when they begin to learn in the field of philosophy.

3 Shaozhi is not an exception. When he learned biology, he knew that the body is made up of various organs that are composed of numberless atoms and molecules. It is no doubt that the body is a universe.

4 When he learned astronomy, he knew that the universe is very vast. Excepting the plants in the solar system, each star in the sky almost is a galaxy. Studying the photo taken by the satellite, he discovered that there are millions of galaxies and each of which are different and has its unique feature.

5 The earth where human lives is a member of the Solar system. The Solar system is a unit located in the edge of downside corner of the galaxy. This galaxy however, is one of the mass galaxies in the sky.

6 Learners, such as Shaozhi, were confused by the concept that refers to sudden vastness and sudden smallness.

7 Shaozhi came back to consider a clear-field question. He asked, “How do all things in the world come out?”

8 Dagong Diao answered, “The two powers, Yin and Yang, interact and divert one another. Four seasons alters back to back to this world. In the alteration, something creature likes and something dislikes; something is chosen and something is rejected. In thus process, the evolution comes into being.

9 Owing to the male mating with female, species can be propagated. Peace and turbulence shift, by which creature gets the space for cultivation and mutation.

10 In the peace environment, creature goes all out to propagate and flourish.

11 While in the turbulence, the situation changes and environment is adverse to it, it comes down the stage and let other suitable mutation grow. This phenomenon is the essential method of evolution for creature.

12 Some of the things are apt to be still while some to be mobile. Thus, the operation of nature can be carried out.

13 Friction drives the wheels to go on the road, so car can be moved. If wheels are trapped in the mud or sand, they can not go.

14 The process of atom and molecule dismissing and assembling makes creature have birth, aging, illness and death. Enough vigor makes creature to flourish and the group of atoms and molecules assemble for longer time; insufficient vigor makes creature to wither and dismiss. At that time the basic material is to find a new chance to assemble and form a new and vigorous life again.

15 In the assembling and dismissing, the world witnesses that flowers blooms, birds chirp and creatures flourish.

16 The said is our brief statement on the operation principle of the material world.

17 The rule of all change of nature is based on a most elementary principle. The life and death are causal. When thing develops to the highest point, it changes direction. When a road goes to the end, there is a new place or road to connect the end.

18 This phenomena in the material world are common occurrence that we may easily to take an example to proof it.

19 However, our cognition only works in the material world. We can’t understand the realm out of the material world.

20 When we study Tao, our knowledge and imagination can help us to discuss it in the material field only. Hence, we cannot trace back to the origin of Tao and can’t study its destination.

21 Once mentioning the start and the end of Tao, we have to stop our discussion because we are unable to talk about it.”

22 Dagong Diao said, “To discuss the issue, we should start in two different views: one is the view of material; the other is the view of Tao.

23 In the view of material, we are able to research it by physical, chemical and biological ways. Its domain is in the material world beyond which we can’t research.

24 However, all things are more than material. For example, a car is made up of ten thousand more spare parts but if nobody drives it, it just is a pile of iron. Therefore, the operation of drive is another issue, which is in the level of Tao.

25 So, real learner focuses on both the material and Tao.

26 Shaozhi said, “When I read Jizhen’s works and Jiezi’s works, I know that Jizhen holds that there is no god and creator in this world which many religions think it existing. He holds that all things are formed at random because the sun offers energy and the atom and molecule move fully to polymerize randomly methane, ethane, oxygen and carbon dioxide that are the basic components of creature. Later, they evolve gradually. It is time and chance that create all things.

27 Jiezi hold instead that there is a creator that creates all things. Sir, in your opinion, which one of these two schools is rational?”

28 Dagong Diao replied, “A kid of three years old knows that the cock can crow and the dog can bark, but if we go to the bottom of them – why do the cock crow so and the dog bark so? Why do cock and dog not speak? The questions like this can not be answered by the most learned doctor.

29 As for the creatures’ thinking, desire and intention, they are moving as a wild horse, it is more difficult for us to understand. Therefore, if we just study the structure and components of all things, namely analyze the part of material, we are unable to make them clear despite how completely and in details you study, such as Jizhen holding that nothingness creates all things and Jiezi holding that something mysterious creates all things.

30 From the limited discussion on the material, we are able to draw some conclusions and create some theories. We certainly have a wide enough realm in the material world to consider. However, with further discussion and deeper study, we will find many blind spots which make our studying stop there and eventually; we find there is no answer for our question.

31 For example, we are unable to know the part before our life and to know a little after death.

32 Our life is dozens of years only, which is a transient comparing to the life of universe. Things out of our life are completely vague to us.

33 Jizhen’s and Jiezi’s theories are inference and hypothesis to the part that we are unable to understand and research. Therefore, the foundation of their theories is weak, and can’t be validated.

34 The truth of Tao that we pursue is different from their method. We believe that Tao is unchanged of all ages and space. All things in the time and space, including all creatures and their components, are restricted in the domain of Tao. In other words, when you understand Tao, you immediately solve the problem on birth and death.

35 However, Tao can’t be clearly described by language. When self-nature, Buddha-nature, Qi, calmness and refinement arise by practice of Zen and the great wisdom arouses in your body, you can understand Tao throughout. The two’s theories of Jizhen and Jiezi are described by language, so they must be of limit and their observation field is only in the short period of life which is insufficient.

36 We always mention the word “Tao”. We should forget the word in fact. Why we use the word “Tao” is that we have to use it. If we don’t use it, it becomes more illusory, thus, the common people have more difficulty in understanding.

37 However, I remind you. In case that you really understood Tao someday, you would have better throw off the word of “Tao”. We should beware of in using any language and words. Whatever a man who attains Tao, his speech is of very rational. Those people, who only know a little about Tao, always spout a lot all day but what they speak of is biased fallacy, unworthy of learning.

38 As for Jizhen’s and Jiezhi’s views don’t take them serious.”