Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 Usually when the topic of yin/yang theory comes up people tend to respond in one or another of just a few ways. Either they think they know what it means and feel insulted or attacked that anyone would question their grasp of such a basic idea. Or they demur from disucssion offering the vastness, depth, or sheer incomprehensibility of the subject as an explanation of why they really have nothing to say. I find that relatively few people actually have a good grip on yin/yang theory. And despite the fact that making such a statement more or less implies that I feel my own grasp of the topic is adequate to permit the making of such judgments, I would include myself in this group of people who do not have a very good grip on yin/yang theory. I have been studying it for so well over thirty years now that it's getting a little scary. As I said in my earlier post, I think that an entire book should be dedicated to an exegesis of this deceptively simple notion that would delineate what the Chinese have had to say on the subject and lay a foundation for further discussion of the idea. And as I also said earlier, I would be delighted to see someone take up this task and do it properly. Maybe someone can suggest prior publications that have already advanced on such a target. One of the best treatments of the subject in English that I know is the piece in Science and Civilization in China. I think it's Vol. II. I believe that like so many " ideas " that come from ancient China, yin/yang theory is meant to be contemplated as well as applied and that in the interactive dynamics of thinking and doing a kind of gong fu develops that serves to condition and cultivate the mind/body. This is, in other words, a restatement of the notion that Chinese thinking contains this tendency to be process oriented. But the key thing is that we have to think about it and use it in our related study and work in the clinic as well. So the question has to arise: How do we use yin/yang theory in the clinic? And then that leads to a cascade of additional questions, which I'm hoping you guys will raise and talk about with me. I'm wrestling with how to write about all of this and will greatly appreciate input from anyone who can offer insight into what you actually do in the course of applying yin/yang theory to a patient who walks through your door. When you look at a patient what do you see that tells you how his or her yin or yang is doing? And what do you do about that? For the purpose of this particular thread of discussion, I would like to limit the use of theoretical references to yin and yang. Let's just talk about yin and yang and try to find out what we really do know and what we can freely talk about. How many satisfying discussions of yin/yang theory have you had in the last year? And whenever I talk about the subject I always raise the question of what number most accurately reflects the value structure of yin and yang? In other words if yin/yang are equal to some number, what is that number? Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 Dear Ken, That's a good email, in my opinion. I think your request for people to talk about yin-yang as relates to their clinical practice is good. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to go into this at the moment(!) I'd like to briefly consider your comment: I believe that like so many " ideas " that come from ancient China, yin/yang theory is meant to be contemplated as well as applied and that in the interactive dynamics of thinking and doing a kind of gong fu develops that serves to condition and cultivate the mind/body. This is, in other words, a restatement of the notion that Chinese thinking contains this tendency to be process oriented. I agree with you, and consider that this is a very important point. Because a kind of gong fu develops, there's not going to be any end point in one's understanding of yin-yang, and if one wishes to discuss yin-yang, it's necessary to make explicit that no amount of specification, abstract or concrete, will do more than allude to what one might call the more implicate aspects of what is referred to by yin-yang. I think one might call the Chinese approach with respect to Yin-Yang meditative, to use a term used by various 20th Century Western philosphers. This reminds me of a story from my training with Thong Nguyen, a third generation Vietnamese CM practitioner, who at that time had about 30 years experience of CM. I asked him about the spirits associated with the Zang, and he refused to discuss this. He said that his father and another practitioner, as old men, used to discuss the spirits, but that such understanding took many, many years of experience in CM. You had to be patient, and get the experience, and then you too would understand, eventually... Best wishes, Wainwright - kenrose2008 Chinese Medicine Sunday, September 21, 2003 2:27 PM Yin/Yang Additional Questions Usually when the topic of yin/yang theory comes up people tend to respond in one or another of just a few ways. Either they think they know what it means and feel insulted or attacked that anyone would question their grasp of such a basic idea. Or they demur from disucssion offering the vastness, depth, or sheer incomprehensibility of the subject as an explanation of why they really have nothing to say. I find that relatively few people actually have a good grip on yin/yang theory. And despite the fact that making such a statement more or less implies that I feel my own grasp of the topic is adequate to permit the making of such judgments, I would include myself in this group of people who do not have a very good grip on yin/yang theory. I have been studying it for so well over thirty years now that it's getting a little scary. As I said in my earlier post, I think that an entire book should be dedicated to an exegesis of this deceptively simple notion that would delineate what the Chinese have had to say on the subject and lay a foundation for further discussion of the idea. And as I also said earlier, I would be delighted to see someone take up this task and do it properly. Maybe someone can suggest prior publications that have already advanced on such a target. One of the best treatments of the subject in English that I know is the piece in Science and Civilization in China. I think it's Vol. II. I believe that like so many " ideas " that come from ancient China, yin/yang theory is meant to be contemplated as well as applied and that in the interactive dynamics of thinking and doing a kind of gong fu develops that serves to condition and cultivate the mind/body. This is, in other words, a restatement of the notion that Chinese thinking contains this tendency to be process oriented. But the key thing is that we have to think about it and use it in our related study and work in the clinic as well. So the question has to arise: How do we use yin/yang theory in the clinic? And then that leads to a cascade of additional questions, which I'm hoping you guys will raise and talk about with me. I'm wrestling with how to write about all of this and will greatly appreciate input from anyone who can offer insight into what you actually do in the course of applying yin/yang theory to a patient who walks through your door. When you look at a patient what do you see that tells you how his or her yin or yang is doing? And what do you do about that? For the purpose of this particular thread of discussion, I would like to limit the use of theoretical references to yin and yang. Let's just talk about yin and yang and try to find out what we really do know and what we can freely talk about. How many satisfying discussions of yin/yang theory have you had in the last year? And whenever I talk about the subject I always raise the question of what number most accurately reflects the value structure of yin and yang? In other words if yin/yang are equal to some number, what is that number? Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 Ok Ken, I'll hazard a guess. The number is... 1. That is one, as in the Tao gave birth to the one source.. and in the mathematical " 1 " which while being a unity, contains an infinite number of decimal points between nothing and one. Godfrey Chinese Medicine , " kenrose2008 " <kenrose2008> wrote: > And whenever I talk about the subject I always > raise the question of what number most > accurately reflects the value structure of > yin and yang? In other words if yin/yang are > equal to some number, what is that number? > > Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 Attilio, Ken, All, May I? I came to Chinese medicine through martial arts. In particular TaiJi Quan, long form, Yang style. I recall my teacher, Dr. Wu, Shi Cun in Chicago, often placing much emphasis to Wu Ji. He often stated that without an appreciation of Wu Ji, yin/yang had no meaning. He quoted the classics often and said that Wu Ji is the mother of Taiji and that Taiji was a pure expression of the interplay of yin/yang. He also stated that this could only be understood with time and constant practice. That verbal explanations would always come short and often miss the mark. He was also my first CM teacher and encouraged us to always apply yin/yang theory to our formulations of herbal prescriptions, tui na treatments and taiji practice. Dr. Wu would often say: " If it's too hot, cool it. If it's to hard, soften it. If it's too cold, warm it " . He said that us, Westerners, were trying to make too much of this yin/yang thing. He said that the theory evolved from very basic observations of daily phenomena. To him, what's more important in clinical practice is to teach patients to return to the mother of taiji, Wu Ji. Without Wuji, patients would never be able to discern the interplay between yin and yang. When asked to define Wuji, he said that Wuji could not be defined; it could only be experienced. He would often teach zhanzhuang practice both sitting and standing to his patients. This practice, he said, would eventually settle the chaos within the patient's mind and restore an inner awareness of wuji. In my practice, I try to follow his example and teachings best I can. If the patient is too hot, cool him/her...if it's too cold... As far as a yin/yang number, I say 8; four of this and four of that. Fernando Chinese Medicine , " kenrose2008 " <kenrose2008> wrote: > I'm wrestling with how to write about all > of this and will greatly appreciate input from > anyone who can offer insight into what you > actually do in the course of applying yin/yang > theory to a patient who walks through your door. > > When you look at a patient what do you > see that tells you how his or her yin or yang > is doing? > > And what do you do about that? > > For the purpose of this particular thread of > discussion, I would like to limit the use of > theoretical references to yin and yang. Let's > just talk about yin and yang and try to find out > what we really do know and what we can > freely talk about. > > How many satisfying discussions of yin/yang > theory have you had in the last year? > > And whenever I talk about the subject I always > raise the question of what number most > accurately reflects the value structure of > yin and yang? In other words if yin/yang are > equal to some number, what is that number? > > Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 I really really appreciate your invitation Ken. You have created a beautiful opening for thinking, discussing and reflectingon this topic (By the way... I guess we can discuss this in english, even if it was not invented when the classics were written) The opening (questions, inquiry) as such Ken, is for me more Yang in relation to the answers that are more a structuring process. Of course the opening can give space for the structures to develop, so the first thing that I think of when I see your letter is: Are you asking the " right " questions? I mean for your quest. Are they an opening for what you want from the discussion? I guess they are. To me you ask great questions that invites me to reflect (contemplate) over the principles, as well as formulate how (if) I use the principles in the clinic. Another question that arises is; am I really using Yin Yang as principle in the clinic work? Looking at my self from outside, when I meet a person in the clinic, Yin Yang is not the first thing I reflect upon, at leat not conciously, and at the moment I wonder if I use it at all?. I try to be completely open, a clean canvas, for that person. Not for the reason of being noble or correct, but because I have noticed that whenever I put a principle in between me and the patient, I miss someting. So maybe that space I create for the person is - Yang - in relation to all the information the person comes with. the complexity of another being, another life and its vast experience, is enormous. So I apply the principle of listening from the heart, and listening to that persons heart, Xin. Usually the most important information is communicated in that way (not just from CM theory, but really also my empiric experience) The communication as such, from heart to heart is I think Yang in relation to ... ? ..hm... no communication?... At least that function of the Xin is more Yang than the substance of the heart, the cells, vessels, and Xue. Thansk again for this invitation Ken... dinner is calling so need for a break. Holger Från: " kenrose2008 " <kenrose2008 Svara till: Chinese Medicine Datum: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 13:27:39 -0000 Till: Chinese Medicine Ämne: Yin/Yang Additional Questions Usually when the topic of yin/yang theory comes up people tend to respond in one or another of just a few ways. Either they think they know what it means and feel insulted or attacked that anyone would question their grasp of such a basic idea. Or they demur from disucssion offering the vastness, depth, or sheer incomprehensibility of the subject as an explanation of why they really have nothing to say. I find that relatively few people actually have a good grip on yin/yang theory. And despite the fact that making such a statement more or less implies that I feel my own grasp of the topic is adequate to permit the making of such judgments, I would include myself in this group of people who do not have a very good grip on yin/yang theory. I have been studying it for so well over thirty years now that it's getting a little scary. As I said in my earlier post, I think that an entire book should be dedicated to an exegesis of this deceptively simple notion that would delineate what the Chinese have had to say on the subject and lay a foundation for further discussion of the idea. And as I also said earlier, I would be delighted to see someone take up this task and do it properly. Maybe someone can suggest prior publications that have already advanced on such a target. One of the best treatments of the subject in English that I know is the piece in Science and Civilization in China. I think it's Vol. II. I believe that like so many " ideas " that come from ancient China, yin/yang theory is meant to be contemplated as well as applied and that in the interactive dynamics of thinking and doing a kind of gong fu develops that serves to condition and cultivate the mind/body. This is, in other words, a restatement of the notion that Chinese thinking contains this tendency to be process oriented. But the key thing is that we have to think about it and use it in our related study and work in the clinic as well. So the question has to arise: How do we use yin/yang theory in the clinic? And then that leads to a cascade of additional questions, which I'm hoping you guys will raise and talk about with me. I'm wrestling with how to write about all of this and will greatly appreciate input from anyone who can offer insight into what you actually do in the course of applying yin/yang theory to a patient who walks through your door. When you look at a patient what do you see that tells you how his or her yin or yang is doing? And what do you do about that? For the purpose of this particular thread of discussion, I would like to limit the use of theoretical references to yin and yang. Let's just talk about yin and yang and try to find out what we really do know and what we can freely talk about. How many satisfying discussions of yin/yang theory have you had in the last year? And whenever I talk about the subject I always raise the question of what number most accurately reflects the value structure of yin and yang? In other words if yin/yang are equal to some number, what is that number? Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 > And whenever I talk about the subject I always > raise the question of what number most > accurately reflects the value structure of > yin and yang? In other words if yin/yang are > equal to some number, what is that number? > Ken Why do you raise that question, Ken? One of many possible answers: Phi The golden mean: 1,618........... indefinitely (or 0,618..... inverted) from: http://www.heartbeat2000.com/ : Why, it may be asked, cannot Unity simply divide into two equal parts? Why not have a proportion of one term, a:a? The answer is simply that with equality there is no difference, and without difference there is no perceptual universe, for, as the Upanishad says, ŒWhether we know it or not, all things take on their existence from that which perceives them.¹ In a static, equational statement one part nullifies the other. An asymmetrical division is needed in order to create the dynamics necessary for progression and extension from the Unity. Therefore the f (phi) proportion is the perfect division of Unity: it is creative, yet the entire proportional universe that results from it relates back to it and is literally contained within it, since no term of the original division steps, as it were, outside of the direct rapport with the initial division of Unity. This is the essential difference between the division of unity by the square root of 2 and its division by f (phi), both of which are geometrical proportions. take a look at this page if you get interested..... look at " golden mean " on the left side Holger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 Hi Fernando, Ken, Attilio and All, Your posts Fernando and Attilio address Ken's question so wonderfully. In keeping with your efforts Fernando, my choice of numbers for yin/yang are +/- 1: that its plus or minus one. The moon goes from empty to full to empty; the sun goes from absent to high noon and returns to absent. This seems like +/- 1 to me. Some might equally say 0 and 1, as in computer programming. But I like +/- 1 as well. We are a visual species, and our visual physiology involves a constant stream of information when in " darkness " or non-use. When things pass over the retina, the electrical simulation goes back and forth from negative hyperpolarization to positive action potentials. This doubles what would have been the normal effect of receptor stimulation. Kind of gets your attention. So 0 and 1 or else +/- 1 would be my favorite numerical expressions for yin and yang. Regarding the dismissal of various verbal expressions as merely " new age " , I would tend to ask which day of the past 5,000 years was not the new age? In each of those days, people configured the sum of their available knowledge in some expression. If someone has an insight regarding yin and yang which does not specifically use the lineage of thought present in the original expression, does that insight lack integrity? In order to make an oral tradition " living " , my own teachers tend to reinterpret ancient expressions in modern verbiage. As Fernando and Ken both note, one understands yin and yang through daily usage ... i.e. here in year 2003 with all of the content of human understanding in this year. Regarding wuji, my friend Shereen just reminded me of a meaning given to me similarly in the past. As described by Shereen and from my own understanding, wuji is primordial oneness out of which yin and yang emerge and submerge to re-emerge again anew. Thus, as Fernando's teacher points out, it could only be experienced in the moment as this moment's yin and yang emerges from it. Breathing exercises from a myriad of traditions seem to employ an aspect of primordial oneness akin to wuji out of which the breath arises: in and out. Just my random thoughts regarding this sensibility. Emmanuel Segmen - fernando b. Chinese Medicine Sunday, September 21, 2003 8:37 AM Re: Yin/Yang Additional Questions Attilio, Ken, All, May I? I came to Chinese medicine through martial arts. In particular TaiJi Quan, long form, Yang style. I recall my teacher, Dr. Wu, Shi Cun in Chicago, often placing much emphasis to Wu Ji. He often stated that without an appreciation of Wu Ji, yin/yang had no meaning. He quoted the classics often and said that Wu Ji is the mother of Taiji and that Taiji was a pure expression of the interplay of yin/yang. He also stated that this could only be understood with time and constant practice. That verbal explanations would always come short and often miss the mark. He was also my first CM teacher and encouraged us to always apply yin/yang theory to our formulations of herbal prescriptions, tui na treatments and taiji practice. Dr. Wu would often say: " If it's too hot, cool it. If it's to hard, soften it. If it's too cold, warm it " . He said that us, Westerners, were trying to make too much of this yin/yang thing. He said that the theory evolved from very basic observations of daily phenomena. To him, what's more important in clinical practice is to teach patients to return to the mother of taiji, Wu Ji. Without Wuji, patients would never be able to discern the interplay between yin and yang. When asked to define Wuji, he said that Wuji could not be defined; it could only be experienced. He would often teach zhanzhuang practice both sitting and standing to his patients. This practice, he said, would eventually settle the chaos within the patient's mind and restore an inner awareness of wuji. In my practice, I try to follow his example and teachings best I can. If the patient is too hot, cool him/her...if it's too cold... As far as a yin/yang number, I say 8; four of this and four of that. Fernando Chinese Medicine , " kenrose2008 " <kenrose2008> wrote: > I'm wrestling with how to write about all > of this and will greatly appreciate input from > anyone who can offer insight into what you > actually do in the course of applying yin/yang > theory to a patient who walks through your door. > > When you look at a patient what do you > see that tells you how his or her yin or yang > is doing? > > And what do you do about that? > > For the purpose of this particular thread of > discussion, I would like to limit the use of > theoretical references to yin and yang. Let's > just talk about yin and yang and try to find out > what we really do know and what we can > freely talk about. > > How many satisfying discussions of yin/yang > theory have you had in the last year? > > And whenever I talk about the subject I always > raise the question of what number most > accurately reflects the value structure of > yin and yang? In other words if yin/yang are > equal to some number, what is that number? > > Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 Chinese Medicine , Holger wrote: > One of many possible answers: > Phi, The golden mean: 1,618........... indefinitely (or 0,618..... inverted) >>> Holger: Nice reference. In complexity theory, living systems are far from equilibrium. At equilibrium, there is no longer any dynamic interaction and networking between elements, so the system dies. The movement from wuji to taiji to yin/yang in Chinese philosophy can be described on a smaller scale by the concepts of emergence and self-organization from complexity theory. While the Chinese were able to recognize these concepts, we now have developed them in the West. When patients ask me to explain CM, I always tell them it takes a 21st century science to explain a 2500 year old Chinese philosophy because they are both attempting to describe living systems. Jim Ramholz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2003 Report Share Posted September 21, 2003 Holger, > > > Why do you raise that question, Ken? I ask this question about a numerical " cognate " of the taiji diagram (to restate the proposition in yet another way) in order to 1. See what people have to say 2. Get people thinking 3. Try and provoke unspoken considerations 4. Bring to light certain fallacies that exist quite commonly, such as the frequently encountered notion that yin/yang represents a primitive form of binary computation...or some such thing. Personally, I am more or less unconcerned with " answers " to such questions. I'm much more concerned, as I said earlier, that people simply question their own assumptions as well as those put forth by others. I do always red flag answers such as " two " , because it treads into that binary territory, and yin and yang represent a primitive iteration of multi-variate logic, which can not be reduced below the level of base three without seriously disfiguring it. One of the other closely related and quite common misconceptions about yin and yang is that they correspond to the values of " good " and " evil " , which of course they don't. But this is really just an abstract rendition of the more concrete " 2 " answer, and I'm always interested in ferreting out the 2's in any crowd. So I ask the question for reasons such as these. And I am always extremely grateful when folks answer up, question up, and in general move the whole discussion forward. I am always reminded that one mind is so limited, save that we can join with others and thereby slip the bonds that make us think of ourselves as limited. Oh well... Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2003 Report Share Posted September 22, 2003 If someone has an insight regarding yin and yang which does not specifically use the lineage of thought present in the original expression, does that insight lack integrity? In order to make an oral tradition " living " , my own teachers tend to reinterpret ancient expressions in modern verbiage. As Fernando and Ken both note, one understands yin and yang through daily usage ... i.e. here in year 2003 with all of the content of human understanding in this year. >>>>I totally agree with this however many would say it is just MSU if not prewritten in past. Many in CM are quite fundamentalist about the medicine. Alon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2003 Report Share Posted September 22, 2003 Ken, Attilio, James, Emanuel et all I believe, just as you do Ken, that it is not the answers that are the point of this contemplation, but the contemplation in itself, the opportunity to Think, to discover presumptions, to make distinctions, to create space for thoughts, and sometimes for insights. I love what you said about process oriented thinking. I believe taht Yin Yang is a distinction created and recreated by human beings in our quest of understanding the fundamental laws and forces of the universe. It is a distinction that invites to inquiery, to process and contemplate upon, for everyone. So please, everyone, share your original thinking with us. Here is a line of thought, or a bowl of thoughts, that came to me this morning in a break after brekfast, based upon two of Manfred Porkerts thoughts; 1) Yang is more activity and Yin is more structivity, and 2) Yang is not visible, only Yin. But surely I can see activity, or can¹t I? I see motion, don¹t I? Or do I see structure manifesting in different posistions and call that motion? Like in a motion-picture; I see 24 still pictures per second and the illusion of this is motion, activity. Maybe it is like that? I dont see the motion from the projector behind me and not the movement of the light waves. I see ²objects² ²moving². What really penetrates my eyes are reflected light. So I thought about the clinic and meeting patients. Is it possible that what I see is only Yin, the structures, the manifestations? I see the skin, the complexion, the body, its postures, and so on And where is that which I don¹t see? The thoughts of that person, the emotions, dreams, the MOTIVITY behind this person, fears, longings, values, memories, perpective in life, the descicions she/he has made about herself in life... Is that more Yang in relationship to how it manifest? Can this be a possible model to apply YinYang in the clinic? I see her complexion, her movement, her complaint, her physical manifestations, all strucutes that is reflected. And then asking ; what is motivating this person?, what does she really need? what is she afriad of? what has she denied in her life? what is she longing for? Holger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2003 Report Share Posted September 22, 2003 >Nice reference. Yes! Lot's of interesting things.. read about their heart link machine that visually shows in graphic form wwhat your heart feels!!! > In complexity theory, living systems are far from > equilibrium. At equilibrium, there is no longer any dynamic > interaction and networking between elements, so the system dies. Compatible with what Ken says about number 2. Imbalance is natural. Imperfaection is perfect. > The movement from wuji to taiji to yin/yang in Chinese philosophy > can be described on a smaller scale by the concepts of emergence and > self-organization from complexity theory. While the Chinese were > able to recognize these concepts, we now have developed them in the > West. We have developed great things in the west! > When patients ask me to explain CM, I always tell them it takes a > 21st century science to explain a 2500 year old Chinese philosophy > because they are both attempting to describe living systems. > Jim Ramholz Yes!!! ... I will use that, if I may ... I usually say that our science is slowly getting us closer to CM Holger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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