The Concept of Wisdom and Daoist Self-Cultivation
Original Chinese Language Article By: Qianfeng Daoist Master Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺)
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
On December the 12th, 2012, the Qianfeng Heritage (in Beijing) received a visit from two eminent academics from the US University of Chicago – namely Professor of Psychology Howard C. Nusbaum and Dr Zhang Qingsong. They had travelled to Yangfang Town (in Changping District) to research the history of the philosophical Daoist, Qianfeng Prenatal School, and to clarify the theory behind the Daoist teachings that builds health and prolongs the life-span, and discuss the correct practice of the Daoist self-cultivation techniques and other related topics.
I discovered through conversation that Professor Howard C. Nusbaum was the Director of the Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Center, University of Chicago – and the President of the University of Chicago’s Study of Wisdom Program (which is funded by the John Templeton Foundation) and that Dr Zhang Qingsong was the President of the American [Chinese] Wisdom Society who had published the text entitled the ‘Study on Chinese Wisdom’ (University Student Reader).
The two scholars explained that the object of their visit was to study Daoist self-cultivation from the perspective of wisdom, and to investigate the interaction (and integration) of the concept of wisdom with everyday life as their major subjects of study. This is because Chicago University pursues a multi-disciplinary approach as the basis for researching wisdom and its function. This investigative paradigm includes an integrative approach that involves input from the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science as a means to ascertain exactly what wisdom is, how it functions, and how it manifests throughout human culture. Due to the influence in the West of Zhao Bichen’s Qianfeng Prenatal School (of the Dragon Gate lineage), the academics of Chicago University had become aware of the subject of Daoist self-cultivation and its health building and life-extending capabilities. Recently in the West the work of Zhao Bichen has become influential within Western science, and this has created a worldwide interest in this very important Chinese cultural subject. This is not a surprising development as Zhao Bichen envisioned ‘wisdom’ as a worldwide phenomenon and was of the opinion that the five thousand year developmental history of Daoist science could be used to benefit humanity beyond the geographical boundaries of China. How can human beings successfully master the world? The answer is not through bloody violence, but rather through developing the capacity of the human mind to be ‘wise’ and generate progressive thoughts that benefit all life on the planet. This is how wisdom can master the world.
Daoism in China has a very long history that research confirms can be traced back to the text known as the ‘Dao De Jing’ attributed to Laozi, and the book entitled ‘Zhuangzi’. The development of these texts maybe considered the basis of Chinese Daoist wisdom studies. Why is Daoist health teachings associated with wisdom? My opinion is that Daoist health teachings are effective because they are facilitated through the application of wisdom toward specific (medicalised) needs. The relationship between the mind and body is redefined through the disciplined application of Daoist self-cultivation techniques. The mind is developed through strengthening ‘spirit’ (shen) and this has a positive effect on the functioning of the brain. This occurs when the exercises are practiced correctly and the right effort is applied to the training. The more effort is directed into the training, the greater the positive developmental effects – Dr Zhang Qingsong described his practical experience of this connection between Daoist training and wisdom generation.
When wisdom is discussed – wisdom is in operation. Therefore the development and enhancement of wisdom throughout humanity requires that it is studied as a distinct subject. To achieve this progression humanity needs to study and explore wisdom studies. The USA has a history of only a few hundreds of years, so why as a country is it in such a dominant positon today upon the world stage? Is it advanced science and technology? Is it the possession of advanced weaponry? No – these things have been relatively recent developments, or to look at it another way, the products of application of developed wisdom, but where did this wisdom come from? When the USA was founded, as a deliberate policy the country invited migrants from all over the world to settle as ‘Americans’. This multi-ethnic society benefitted enormously from the various ethnic groups that arrived and eventually integrated together into one general population. In this way US culture absorbed the cultivated wisdom from many different ethnic groups from around the world. This in-turn led to the development of a vast pool of creative talent that was used to rapidly build US culture and dominance in the world.
In 1949 modern China was a poor and economically backward country, with more than a billion people. In the following decades, and through subsequent reforms and opening-up, the lives of the people have been rapidly improved, and this progression has generally surprised the world. Today the West understands that China’s rapid rise has been dependent upon the integration of China’s ancient culture with that of the demands involved in modern economic realities. China’s wisdom related cultural developments enabled the Chinese people to adapt to the conditions of modernity and understand how to develop and use advanced technology. Wisdom has been the key to China’s rapid adaptation to new conditions. Both scholars agreed that China and the USA put a great deal of value upon the research of wisdom studies, and understand the implications the presence of wisdom with regard to psychological and physical health. Health and culture share a common underlying basis of wisdom, and it was agreed that these studies should be continued and advanced.
Imagine if that one day President Xin Jinping of China and President Barak Obama sat down to discuss the mutual development of human wisdom and knowledge. I think this would facilitate a profound change in the world, and initiate a new era of peace throughout the world.
Quanzhen, Longmen Pai, Outside the Temple, 14th Generation Descendent
Quanzhen, Longmen Pai, Qianfeng Prenatal School Lineage
Qianfeng Hermitage: Zhao Ming Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2015.
Original Chinese Language Source Text: http://752315496.blog.163.com/blog/static/8830018220130793617749/
智慧论和道家养生
2012年12月12日,千峰草堂迎来了两位著名学者。美国芝加哥大学心理学家那希本教授和张庆松博士不远万里来到昌平阳坊,了解道家千峰先天派的历史以及道家养生的思想功法以及相关话题。
经过了解:那希本教授和张庆松博士是研究智慧学方面高端人物。那希本教授是美国约翰谭普顿基金会资助的芝加哥大学智慧学研究计划的负责人,张庆松博士是美国中华智慧学会会长,曾出版了《中华智慧论》(大学生智慧学)等相关著作和文章。
两位学者表明,他们来访的目的是希望从智慧学的角度研究中国道家养生文化,探索生命和智慧之间互动关系这样一个大课题。为破解智慧的奥秘,芝加哥大学采用跨学科的策略,综合运用人文社会学科和自然科学的研究方法,以便发现并阐述智慧的各种原理。芝加哥大学也特别重视与中国研究机构的合作。中国道家养生文化历史悠久,赵避尘的道家龙门千峰派在近代历史上具有重要影响,在西方科学界也引起越来越多的重视。
赵明旺认为在谈及智慧学方面她是一个世界性话题,而又和中华五千年文化有着紧密的关系。人类怎样成为这个地球的主人?靠的不是尖牙利爪和庞大的躯体,而是依靠人类独有的智慧战胜了这个世界。
-----------------------------------
中国道家文化有着悠久的历史,道可以说是中国智慧的代表作,老子的《道德经》和庄子的逍遥之学都阐明了智慧的理论。为什么道家养生要和智慧联系在一起那?我认为道家养生是开启智慧的一把钥匙,道家功夫内丹养生学中的第一步就阐明了心性关系-养神,医学称为大脑。在炼功中得到了很好的休息。修以待用。张庆松博士曾身体力行的体会道家修性的重要关系说明了这一点。
谈及智慧学本身就是智慧,如能让人类的智慧有再高的增进与发展,那需要人类的研究和探索。美国才几百年的历史,如今能成为世界最强大之国为什么?科技的先进?和武器精良?那都是在智慧之后的产物。美国建国后,从世界各国接纳移民,形成了多民族文化,也就吸收了世界各民族文明的精华和一批批的优秀人才。
中国近代是个贫穷落后的国家,拥有十多亿人口。在中国改革开放的几十年里,人们的生活有了飞速的提高,让世界惊讶中国的发展。西方也有人认识到,中国的巨变同中华民族文化有关,中国人的独特思维方式使得他们能够迅速地学习先进技术,迅速地适应新的环境。如果更深一步,我们可以发现智慧起着关键作用。
两位学者的来访,表明中美两国都重视智慧研究,都重视养生文化,也有着共同的追求和各自的优势。希望这次交流能够在未来继续下去。
试想,如果有一天中国的习近平主席和美国的奥巴马总统坐在一起,共同探讨人类智慧和发展,我想那会给世界和平与发展带来历史性的转变。
全真龙门派庙外第十四代传承
全真龙门千峰先天派嫡传
千峰草堂:赵明旺
I discovered through conversation that Professor Howard C. Nusbaum was the Director of the Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Center, University of Chicago – and the President of the University of Chicago’s Study of Wisdom Program (which is funded by the John Templeton Foundation) and that Dr Zhang Qingsong was the President of the American [Chinese] Wisdom Society who had published the text entitled the ‘Study on Chinese Wisdom’ (University Student Reader).
The two scholars explained that the object of their visit was to study Daoist self-cultivation from the perspective of wisdom, and to investigate the interaction (and integration) of the concept of wisdom with everyday life as their major subjects of study. This is because Chicago University pursues a multi-disciplinary approach as the basis for researching wisdom and its function. This investigative paradigm includes an integrative approach that involves input from the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science as a means to ascertain exactly what wisdom is, how it functions, and how it manifests throughout human culture. Due to the influence in the West of Zhao Bichen’s Qianfeng Prenatal School (of the Dragon Gate lineage), the academics of Chicago University had become aware of the subject of Daoist self-cultivation and its health building and life-extending capabilities. Recently in the West the work of Zhao Bichen has become influential within Western science, and this has created a worldwide interest in this very important Chinese cultural subject. This is not a surprising development as Zhao Bichen envisioned ‘wisdom’ as a worldwide phenomenon and was of the opinion that the five thousand year developmental history of Daoist science could be used to benefit humanity beyond the geographical boundaries of China. How can human beings successfully master the world? The answer is not through bloody violence, but rather through developing the capacity of the human mind to be ‘wise’ and generate progressive thoughts that benefit all life on the planet. This is how wisdom can master the world.
Daoism in China has a very long history that research confirms can be traced back to the text known as the ‘Dao De Jing’ attributed to Laozi, and the book entitled ‘Zhuangzi’. The development of these texts maybe considered the basis of Chinese Daoist wisdom studies. Why is Daoist health teachings associated with wisdom? My opinion is that Daoist health teachings are effective because they are facilitated through the application of wisdom toward specific (medicalised) needs. The relationship between the mind and body is redefined through the disciplined application of Daoist self-cultivation techniques. The mind is developed through strengthening ‘spirit’ (shen) and this has a positive effect on the functioning of the brain. This occurs when the exercises are practiced correctly and the right effort is applied to the training. The more effort is directed into the training, the greater the positive developmental effects – Dr Zhang Qingsong described his practical experience of this connection between Daoist training and wisdom generation.
When wisdom is discussed – wisdom is in operation. Therefore the development and enhancement of wisdom throughout humanity requires that it is studied as a distinct subject. To achieve this progression humanity needs to study and explore wisdom studies. The USA has a history of only a few hundreds of years, so why as a country is it in such a dominant positon today upon the world stage? Is it advanced science and technology? Is it the possession of advanced weaponry? No – these things have been relatively recent developments, or to look at it another way, the products of application of developed wisdom, but where did this wisdom come from? When the USA was founded, as a deliberate policy the country invited migrants from all over the world to settle as ‘Americans’. This multi-ethnic society benefitted enormously from the various ethnic groups that arrived and eventually integrated together into one general population. In this way US culture absorbed the cultivated wisdom from many different ethnic groups from around the world. This in-turn led to the development of a vast pool of creative talent that was used to rapidly build US culture and dominance in the world.
In 1949 modern China was a poor and economically backward country, with more than a billion people. In the following decades, and through subsequent reforms and opening-up, the lives of the people have been rapidly improved, and this progression has generally surprised the world. Today the West understands that China’s rapid rise has been dependent upon the integration of China’s ancient culture with that of the demands involved in modern economic realities. China’s wisdom related cultural developments enabled the Chinese people to adapt to the conditions of modernity and understand how to develop and use advanced technology. Wisdom has been the key to China’s rapid adaptation to new conditions. Both scholars agreed that China and the USA put a great deal of value upon the research of wisdom studies, and understand the implications the presence of wisdom with regard to psychological and physical health. Health and culture share a common underlying basis of wisdom, and it was agreed that these studies should be continued and advanced.
Imagine if that one day President Xin Jinping of China and President Barak Obama sat down to discuss the mutual development of human wisdom and knowledge. I think this would facilitate a profound change in the world, and initiate a new era of peace throughout the world.
Quanzhen, Longmen Pai, Outside the Temple, 14th Generation Descendent
Quanzhen, Longmen Pai, Qianfeng Prenatal School Lineage
Qianfeng Hermitage: Zhao Ming Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2015.
Original Chinese Language Source Text: http://752315496.blog.163.com/blog/static/8830018220130793617749/
智慧论和道家养生
2012年12月12日,千峰草堂迎来了两位著名学者。美国芝加哥大学心理学家那希本教授和张庆松博士不远万里来到昌平阳坊,了解道家千峰先天派的历史以及道家养生的思想功法以及相关话题。
经过了解:那希本教授和张庆松博士是研究智慧学方面高端人物。那希本教授是美国约翰谭普顿基金会资助的芝加哥大学智慧学研究计划的负责人,张庆松博士是美国中华智慧学会会长,曾出版了《中华智慧论》(大学生智慧学)等相关著作和文章。
两位学者表明,他们来访的目的是希望从智慧学的角度研究中国道家养生文化,探索生命和智慧之间互动关系这样一个大课题。为破解智慧的奥秘,芝加哥大学采用跨学科的策略,综合运用人文社会学科和自然科学的研究方法,以便发现并阐述智慧的各种原理。芝加哥大学也特别重视与中国研究机构的合作。中国道家养生文化历史悠久,赵避尘的道家龙门千峰派在近代历史上具有重要影响,在西方科学界也引起越来越多的重视。
赵明旺认为在谈及智慧学方面她是一个世界性话题,而又和中华五千年文化有着紧密的关系。人类怎样成为这个地球的主人?靠的不是尖牙利爪和庞大的躯体,而是依靠人类独有的智慧战胜了这个世界。
-----------------------------------
中国道家文化有着悠久的历史,道可以说是中国智慧的代表作,老子的《道德经》和庄子的逍遥之学都阐明了智慧的理论。为什么道家养生要和智慧联系在一起那?我认为道家养生是开启智慧的一把钥匙,道家功夫内丹养生学中的第一步就阐明了心性关系-养神,医学称为大脑。在炼功中得到了很好的休息。修以待用。张庆松博士曾身体力行的体会道家修性的重要关系说明了这一点。
谈及智慧学本身就是智慧,如能让人类的智慧有再高的增进与发展,那需要人类的研究和探索。美国才几百年的历史,如今能成为世界最强大之国为什么?科技的先进?和武器精良?那都是在智慧之后的产物。美国建国后,从世界各国接纳移民,形成了多民族文化,也就吸收了世界各民族文明的精华和一批批的优秀人才。
中国近代是个贫穷落后的国家,拥有十多亿人口。在中国改革开放的几十年里,人们的生活有了飞速的提高,让世界惊讶中国的发展。西方也有人认识到,中国的巨变同中华民族文化有关,中国人的独特思维方式使得他们能够迅速地学习先进技术,迅速地适应新的环境。如果更深一步,我们可以发现智慧起着关键作用。
两位学者的来访,表明中美两国都重视智慧研究,都重视养生文化,也有着共同的追求和各自的优势。希望这次交流能够在未来继续下去。
试想,如果有一天中国的习近平主席和美国的奥巴马总统坐在一起,共同探讨人类智慧和发展,我想那会给世界和平与发展带来历史性的转变。
全真龙门派庙外第十四代传承
全真龙门千峰先天派嫡传
千峰草堂:赵明旺