#11. The Function of the Non-existent

Thirty spokes unite in one nave and on that which is non-existent (on the hole in the nave ). Clay is moulded into a vessel and on that which is non-existent ( on it's hollowness ) depends the vessel's utility. By cutting out doors and windows we build a house and on that which is non-existent ( the empty space within ) depends the house's utility.

Therefore , existence renders actual but non-existence renders useful.

from the Tao-Teh-King byLaoTze

D.T. SUZUKI ADDS: THINGS ARE SHAPED BY CARVING , BY TAKING AWAY , BY DIMINISHING THE MATERIAL. ACCORDINGLY THAT WHICH IS NO LONGER THERE, THE NON-EXISTENT, CONSTITUTES THEIR WORTH. THUS IT APPEARS THAT THE PART IN THIS CASE WOULD BE GREATER THAN THE WHOLE, OR TO STATE THE SAME TRUTH BRIEFLY- 'LESS IS MORE'.

QUANTUM PHYSICS DEMONSTRATES AN ANGLE ON REALITY THAT THE ANCIENT SAGES WERE WELL AWARE OF. THAT OUT OF NOTHINGNESS THE MATERIAL MANIFESTS. THAT THE EMPTINESS IS IN FACT A DYNAMIC VOID. IMAGES ARE CO-DEPENDENT ON THEIR BACKGROUND. EXISTENCE REQUIRES AN OBSERVER.

THE MOST FACINATING DISCOVERY I EVER CAME ACROSS IS DESCRIBED IN 'THE TAO OF PHYSICS' BY Fritjof Capra .THIS GIST IS THAT THE TRANSFERENCE OF KNOWLEDGE IS FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT AND IT CAN BE PHYSICALLY DEMONSTRATED BY ANALYSING THE ACTIONS OF PHOTONS TRAVELLING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT ON PARALLEL PATHS. THE PHOTON THAT IS ON THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTENCE SOMEHOW TRANSFERS THAT KNOWLEDGE TO THE OTHER PHOTON WHICH THEN ALTERS COURSE.

THIS OPENS UP THE MOST AMAZING CHAIN OF LOGIC, IN THE CASE OF THE PHOTONS THERE IS A 'TRUTH' EXISTING THAT ONE PATH IS MORE FAVORABLE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH HAPPENS INSTANTANEOUSLY. FOLLOWING ON, THEN THE TRUTH THAT EXISTS ABOUT THE NATURE OF EVERYTHING IS ALSO READILY AVAILABLE AND CAN BE ACCESSED INSTANTANEOUSLY.

IF ALL OF EXISTENCE IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE 'TRUTH' THEN WHEN THE OBSERVER 'KNOWS THE TRUTH' ALL BECOMES ONE. THE BUDDHA SAID 'THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUTH, ALL ELSE ISN'T.'

ENLIGHTENMENT IS KNOWING THE TRUTH .

I Ching - The Book of Changes

Basically the I Ching is an Oracle. Originally yarrow stalks were used to determine the message. The yarrow stalks take a great amount of time to arrive at an outcome. To expediate the system a method of using coins was developed, and now it is even possible to consult the oracle on-line.

Talis provides an excellent free I Ching program

In my own experience I have found that it is best to treat the experience as sacred. I prefer to seek a quiet place, burn insence and couple the use of coins, preceded by a short contemplation on the question for which I am seeking an answer and. I also incorporate the use of a photo of my spiritual master in the belief that all truth comes from the same source and the oracle provides a means to communicate directly with my guru.

The more time I spend working myself into a receptive openness the more I get from the reading. Personally I do not feel the same experience is possible using the computor version although I do believe that it also works, it's just not a total experiece or as organic.

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