Notes On FMW's Will and Idea as Reflecting Yang and Yin in Taoism
mt
A Few Notes On FMW’s Will and Idea as reflecting Yang and Yin in Taoism
Hakuin quoted (8-20-'11) from page 249 of FMW’s Transformations in Consciousness, “Which is more fundamental in the constitution of the universe—Will or Idea?” Then, on the next page of Transformations, FMW suggests that: “…much as Van Hartmann suggested that Will and Idea are component parts of a more ultimate incognizable reality. Then, there is no ultimate primacy for either the Will or the Idea, but relative primacy in different context, in stages or processes….”
FMW does not do this but if we make a relationship to “Will” as Yang, and to “Idea” as Yin we have the Intimacy of Relatives, Yang and Yin (and therefore Will and Idea) within the context of a Whole or higher order as Tao, which also constitutes the Flow of Things as They are. Now, in the changeless Flow of change and context, Yang or Will can be linked to the left brain or hemisphere (right hand, controlling, rational mind, quantitative, protecting, masculine principles), and the Yin to Idea (birth of ideas not “ideation” itself which is left brain) to the right brain or hemisphere (left hand, receiving, non-controlling, non-rational, qualitative, vulnerable, feminine principles.
Of course, the I-Ching is an exquisite example of the interrelationship between Yin and Yang, and the correspondence between Idea and Will is not meant to be a perfect fit as an analogy, nor is the analogy with the right and left hemispheres of the brain, but I think such relationships do have some descriptive power. Where we have the cultural and historical left brain domination we have the patriarchal distortions, and minds cluttered with all sorts of opinions, theories, judgments, prejudices, beliefs, socially imposed by force of will upon others. Here then we have an INTERNAL unbalanced condition (expressed outwardly with both men and women) where there is not an integrated balance between Yin and Yang (Idea and Will) but a distortion in Being resulting in a distortion in Doing. Thus, the largely historical discription of the evolution of Homo sapiens.
The relevancy here is the importance of the feminine or Yin in entering a path toward greater awareness, for it is the greater part (deeper integration) of the right brain experience that is denied, repressed, resisted, and that remains hidden in a left-brain dominated world that tends to fear the vulnerability of being open and less defended. And of course, since men have assumed the dominant position of protector and defender, in the unbalanced culture, et al, it is often more difficult for them to assume a variety of “open” (feminine?) positions of vulnerability, due to all the cultural conditioning. Care must be mentioned here to point out that this description is mostly about principles, and that there is great variation within any individual man or woman.
To carry the analogy a little further, it is probably not by accident that “Mary” gave birth to Jesus as a virgin. The virgin status is that not touch by man, symbolically here used to say that Christ Consciousness (or Buddha Consciousness, et al) does not come from a lower order but a higher order of Awareness (and opening) and Jesus represents this birth, being neither of Will, or Idea (lower order principles having “no ultimate primacy”) but of Tao (or whatever you call It as a higher consciousness or order of being).
mt
Alphonse Williams
From: Alphonse Williams <hakui...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 7, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Subject: Re: [fm-w], {Franklin Merrell-Wolff Fel Notes On FMW's Will and Idea as Reflecting Yang and Yin in Taoism
To: mt <m...@znet.com>
Upon further study, it appears Schopenhauer’s concept of "Will" is not the same as the one I came away with from a meditation experience on or just before writing the Aug. 22nd post, "Correction and thoughts on Cognition in Meditation." That, by the way, was not introceptive knowledge but observation of a cognitive nature.
As I saw it, "will" is a gross or subtle desire to attain a specific outcome or outcomes in the objective field that is sought through a sustained effort of focussed awareness on the desired outcome. It may or may not be accompanied by action designed to bring about the desired result. Will differs from desire in that it requires a sustained effort to accomplish something while desires can arise and fall naturally without any attempt to achieve an outcome.
In the meditation in question I became aware that in addition to the thoughts, feelings, sounds, etc., arising and falling in my field of consciousness, there was a sustained focus of attention on a desired outcome in my life that had occupied my thinking for a while. I would characterize this attention as "active" in sense it was being sustained by my continued effort, or desire, to achieve the particular outcome in my life. In contrast, the other objects in my field of consciousness were "passive" in the sense there was no effort to "will" them into existence. They simply came and went during the meditation.
Schopenhauer’s concept of "Will" differs from mine in that he saw Will as a mindless, aimless, non-rational urge at the foundation of our instinctual drives, and at the foundational being of everything. Consciousness does not appear to play a part in this notion of Will. In my view, however, consciousness in the form of a maintained, focussed awareness is essential to will.
Whether will as described by me is mixed with desire to attain some worldly possession or state of affairs, or will directed to attain a particular kind of lofty understanding or consciousness, it is apparent it is an awareness directed towards objects. As awareness directed towards objects is not awareness directed to Self, it would seem Will, in this sense, is not conducive to mystical realization.
This is not to say Will yielded by some cannot achieve great things "in the world". Just that Will directed toward the objective field is a hindrance to Recognition and Enlightenment. In this sense we can understand why Will is asked to be replaced with Obedience in some religious orders or why some may say even the will to live must be abandoned. (To be clear, regarding the latter, it’s meant the will to live in the objective field of consciousness, not a suggestion that suicide is a means to mystical attainment.)
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