Japanese Acupuncture Newsletter, Phoenix, Arizona
Volume 3, No. 7, February, 2012
Oriental Medicine & On Human Conditions
Chapter Three
Spleen: Worry, Harmony, and Illumination #7
(all my newsletters are found at my website: www.japanacupuncture.com)
I am far cry from being a realize person. I have my own weakness that I need to address and deal with, notably, my quick anger. I am a 100% Wood type person*1 and have a type A personality. My anger rises quickly and dissipates quickly. The ego and the subconsciousness exchange dualistic fights in my head. Then fear sets in and I procrastinate, all the while, despite the confusion, I know exactly what my heart desires tell me to do. Let us see what Confucius said*2:
過則勿憚改
『論語』 学而篇
If an ideal person (as a human being = a realized person) does not have dignity, then there is no seriousness (meaning: one should not be irresponsible or careless: 君子不重則不威). Education does not make stubbornness (meaning: one should be flexible: 学則不固). Honesty (or sincerity) should be the central quality (主忠心). Do not associate with people one cannot respect (or honor) (友不如己者). If one makes a mistake, do not hesitate to correct immediately. (過則勿憚改)
Extra literatures also add:
子曰、過而不改、是謂過矣、 『論語』 衛霊公篇Making an error and not correcting, this is called negligence (a mistake).
A lowly person (a non-realized person), when he makes a mistake, he tries to cover it up with words.
Trouble with me is that lately I am becoming more stubborn as I age. Perhaps, because I grew up in Japan where the sense of properness and the sense of right and wrong are culturally ingrained, I judge constantly. Let us look into the Tao Te Jing.
Lao Zi: Tao Te Jing Chapter 20
How much difference is there between answering with respect (with a light voice: 唯) and answering with arrogance (with a scolding voice: 阿)?
善之与悪、相去若何？ What are the difference between good and bad?
I am like an ignorant person. I am in the state of confusion (non-judgment)
俗人昭昭、我独昏昏 People are wise and judicious. I am an individual (我独) who is in the darkness (not to distinguish, nor to judge) as if am asleep.
俗人察察、我独悶悶
俗人察察、我独悶悶
People observe in details. I am an individual who is fuzzy and disinterested.
Lao Zi teaches us that the Way is having benevolence and an accepting heart as big as the ocean and the mind capable of moving preoccupation (attachment) like the wind in spring. With the non-attachment mind, there is no judgment, only the calmness.
On the Western culture, I admire Baruch Spinoza (Espinoza): "By substance, I understand that which exists in itself, and is conceived by itself, that which does not need the conception of any other thing in order to be conceived."
How to achieve the substance? I follow AUM (some spell as OM). As you might know AUM or OM is said to be the primordial sound that was present at the creation of the universe. It is said to be the original sound that contains all other sounds, all words, all languages and all mantras*3. I interpret as: the “A” is an “ah!” part of a discover or an experience. The “U” is an “um…” part of an understanding of it. The “M” is an ““mmm…” part of comprehension of it. And the most importantly, the silence after the “M” is an integration. Understanding, comprehension, and integration, and the silence, since words cannot describe what Is is experienced. If we are stuck with words, we are only arguing (or wondering) endlessly trying*4 to understand things, but not really doing the integration to experience who we truly are.
Worry, anger, or any emotion is a word and a sensation that we try to understand. Each emotion has a story*5. A story comes from how we are brought up; mores and values that we have been taught. We are constantly judging ourselves and reflecting those onto others. If we can detach the story and depersonalize it, then there is only an event that has created an emotion.
An event just happens (we are not in control.). Accept it as Is and observe: do not personalized. Feel the emotional energy shifts in our body and mind. Only the depersonalization of an event can settle and dissipate the emotion we experience and observe. With the non-judgment mind, simply “I” deceases, and what we have thought about others no longer mean much. (我独昏昏, 我独悶悶)
In Oriental Medicine, I believe that depression and anxiety come from dysfunctions of the digestive system and they belong to the Spleen Element. Depression and anxiety are issues of the Stomach and the Spleen and the Liver. Unending darker thoughts in the mind are issues of the Large Intestine and the Kidney dysfunctions. If they come with neurosis and sweaty hands, then the Liver, the Gallbladder, and the Heart are involved. In all cases of excessive worrying, deep depression, anxiety and a panic attack, we must treat the digestive Element. Try not to forget the PC points as the most effective in all these cases.
For those who have depression and anxiety issues, seek professional help. Try not to resolve by yourself: you cannot. Accept that you need help. Sooner you seek help, faster you gain back yourself and are on the road to well-being.
When we are capable of integrate emotions and have the unshakable substance within us, we become humble like Spinoza and Lao Zi. Humbleness is the key. I am working on it.
Namaste.
*1 review my Wood Element chapters.
*2 my readers know that I am an admirer of Lao Zi much more than Confucius.
*3 Wikipedia
*4 I am always telling the difference between “trying” and “doing.”
*5 Zeerahk Khan
© 2012 Dr. Y. Frank Aoi (NM State)/Japanese Acupuncture, LLC
