This is a type of cognition arising from samadhi. This mode of cognition is fundamentally different from the approach of Western philosophy. Since it cultivates cognition through the cessation of the six senses, it transcends the limitations of ordinary perception. Eastern cultures often embrace this path. While it has the advantage of nurturing profound ideas, behaviors, and sages, it can also have a downside. Detachment from the material world, a potential consequence, can discourage scientific exploration. This focus on the inner world, in extreme cases, can lead to a weakening even loss of cultural traditions, including a loss of faith in one's own heritage. The May Fourth Movement in China exemplifies this phenomenon.
There had been so many sages and great things in our culture, yet we were defeated in the Sino-Japanese War and the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion. These events shattered the confidence of the Chinese people, leading to the May Fourth Movement and the attack on Confucianism. Even the renowned writer Lu Xun advocated for replacing Chinese characters with a Latin-based system, in an attempt to abandon our own culture.
When everyone focuses solely on introspection, they tend to overlook the external manifestations of the mind. If these external manifestations are not handled effectively, and others handle them well, they will come to defeat you. Therefore, it is challenging to achieve mass enlightenment through introspection because the results of this path are often self-validating. If you become a sage, cognition wise, there will be a huge gap between the ordinary people and you, making it difficult for mass enlightenment.
Focusing on external aspects is much easier and more straightforward because it has shared validation. We can establish standards based on shared experiences. This is why there have been numerous standards in industry and training methods developed. This is how schools came to be as well. Traditional private schools were not like this. Modern schools embrace a mass-production approach, with standardized desks and textbooks. This is especially evident in the military, where training begins with formation drills. Clueless recruits standing in line, holding rifles. What are they being trained for? Unified behavior and adherence to standards, making it easier to command them in battle. Furthermore, standardization in technology facilitates communication and enhances precision in thought, as evident in the remarkable advancements in mathematics.
Despite Zu Chongzhi's remarkable calculation of pi (π) between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927, Chinese mathematics stagnated in the following centuries. Why has Western mathematics become increasingly complex? It is because of continuous exploration and expansion into the external world. Mathematics is essential for studying the composition and observation of matter, hence it is seen as the 'mother of science.'
Introspection, too, can yield valuable outcomes, such as Samadhi and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is deeply connected to introspection. The I Ching, Ba Duan Jin, Tai Chi, and calligraphy all incorporate elements of introspection. A prominent feature of Chinese culture is 'stillness,' which involves calming the mind to allow it to function effectively. Even martial arts follow this principle – stance training (zhan zhuang) precedes focused power training. However, these practices have largely been abandoned. Modern martial arts have been reduced to the likes of Master Ma Baoguo's 'Lightning Five Strikes,' which is pure deception. Similarly, there are many charlatans in both traditional Chinese medicine and Buddhism. The underlying reason for this deception is that the results of introspection are self-validating and cannot be shared or corroborated by others, creating opportunities for exploitation. Nonetheless, introspection remains a valid approach to gaining knowledge through meditation.
Excerpted from: Cognition and Expression Part Two
