In past articles, we have introduced the concept of the One. This concept represents the origin point of all else we experience in reality. The Chinese refer to this as Wuji (無極). Wuji is the primordial void wherein all pure potential lies. This is the One, the starting point of the great wheel.
So then, what is the One? In short, the One is nothing. Not nothing in the sense in which we often think of it in the West. Nothing does not mean nothing. In his classic text Go Rin no Sho (五輪書)(the Book of Five Rings), legendary sword master Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵) wrote of No-thing. Nothing is not nothing. Nothing is no-thing. It is no manifested thing. It is the infinite unmanifested potential of every-thing.
Mathematically, this is zero. Zero is not nothing. Zero is every possible number in one. This is perhaps best demonstrated via a Gauss field. Along the horizontal axis all possible positive numbers are perfectly balanced by all possible negative numbers. Along the vertical axis all possible positive imaginary numbers are perfectly balanced by all possible negative imaginary numbers. So long as the equation is balanced, the net result remains zero. If, however, the equation is tipped, we are left with a numerical result, i.e. something emerges into manifest creation.
Traditionally, in the directional wheel, this energy of no-thing is the North. The North is the direction of the great void where flows the waters of creation. Astrologically here we see the planet Mercury, which embodies the mutable mode. Mercury is the androgynous shapeshifter which can freely traverse all the worlds. It can become anything it needs to be in any situation it finds itself. It can dissolve back into no-thing at any time and reform itself as needed. We see Mercury represented in the deities Odin and Shiva.
To reach the One is to reach balance. Stillness requires one to be dissolved and mutable. In this state, one comes into full knowledge of oneself. To encounter the One is to sacrifice oneself to Oneself. Just as Odin sacrificed himself to Himself on Yggdrasil for nine days and nine nights to gain knowledge and mastery of the sacred runes (the seed sounds or beeja mantras of creation) we must learn what it means to offer up the self to the Self. With knowledge of Self, one can master one’s surroundings and circumstances. One gains the stability to act only when it is profitable and advantageous. One walks in harmony with the Tao and is able, like mutable Mercury, to traverse any realm and turn any circumstance into favor.
As we can see, the importance of the One cannot be overstated. If we are to have any depth of value to our practice, we must return to the One and set for ourselves a strong and sturdy foundation. If this is not done, then whatever we do thereafter will be hollow. The deeper we are able to go within ourselves, the more strength and power we will cultivate for use in our lives. We must learn what it is to be alone with ourselves. Only then can we effectively engage with the world around us. Many people are not comfortable within themselves. They require constant stimulation and distraction in order to avoid the silence of stillness. In this state, they are unstable and lack foundations. They can easily be swayed by external forces. This leads to wavering intentions and constant frustrations which can make life quite tumultuous.
The One dwells within the Void. To meet the One, begin by taking time to sit with yourself in silence. Allow thoughts to come as they will, and allow them to pass along without grasping at them. Take notice of the breath and extend it. Take notice of the feelings and sensations that come up in the body. Notice the interrelation of the thoughts, the breath, and the body’s sensations. At first, practice for three minutes. Gradually, as your comfort grows, extend the time by two minutes, then by two more, and so on. Sit alone for 30 minutes. For 60 minutes. The mind will learn to know itself. Once this has become integrated, begin to practice the zhuangs. New energetic pathways will become active, leading to new depths of understanding. In this way, we come to know the Self. We awaken to our true nature. In this space, we encounter the One.
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