中医CM，本质上是天地生一体的实践理论。它源于中国上古的医药传承，包含天地生一体的形而上和形而下。中医，有医家功。医家功，也可算是是禅定的一种。医家功，注重医道和医德，即所谓“道德”。这是中国文化一体性的理念核心。

按照佛教的说法，中国内地是佛教重要菩萨之一文殊菩萨所化之地。文殊菩萨的中国圣地，在山西五台山。山形为五座山，四座山以东西南北方向围绕中央之山。

五行，Wu Xing，在方位上也是匹配“东、南、西、北、中”。

在佛教发展的源流中，中国的最重要思想家、教育家孔夫子，被称为儒童菩萨（文殊菩萨）。孔夫子的重要思想成就，是整理了四书五经。其中有著名的段落：“大学之道在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。知止而后有定，定而后能静，静而后能安，安而后能虑，虑而后能得。物有本末，事有终始，知所先后，则近道矣”。

非常感慨。在中国近代，孔夫子的学说被踩到脚底下有很多年了。近十年来，孔夫子的儒家学说又开始被传扬。所谓“和谐社会”，成为当今执政党的政治纲领。

上面Eric援引藏传佛教“香巴拉太阳”所述的禅定，在印度哲学中是很普遍的概念。在基督教或天主教中，“禅修”应该是被称为“灵修”。而在中国，禅定的文字，在孔夫子的学说中有原本的范本：

“大学之道在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。知止而后有定，定而后能静，静而后能安，安而后能虑，虑而后能得。物有本末，事有终始，知所先后，则近道矣”

很有趣，在中文中“大学”两个字翻译成English,即“College”。

http://www.dfg.cn/gb/chtwh/ssjz/1-daxuejinghua.htm

As we sit in classes together let’s keep reminding each other that every moment, though it may have no inherent nature, always provides us the perfect opportunity to grapple with our own minds’ attachment to what is good, what is bad, what is correct, what is wrong, what we like, what we dislike, etc, and remind each other to smile at this process….

Michael

I enjoyed your post as it is an echo of the idea’s I heard this week listening to Katie Byron’s ‘A thousand names for joy’ in which Stephen Mitchell reads passages from the Tao te ching and she embellishes it with her experiences and approach. Both brought this idea of the impermanence of each moment to my mind. I think it is a difficult thing to do as the clinging to what we enjoy, want, think seems to be so natural and more supported by our culture’s individualism.

Your course sounds wonderful, very challenging. Keep up the good work.

I don’t know if I’m being coherent, but I really appreciated the thought in your post.

I think one of the things that makes CM different than “regular” medical school is the fact that when you are so into it, something inside you changes. You can’t really talk about 5 Elements, Yin and Yang, Shen, Hun and so on without it striking a chord with you. You are almost forced to look inside yourself and notice things. Sometimes you discover things that you think are really cool, and sometimes you think that you’re not a very easy going person as you might have thought…..

I think it’s also true about herbs, in a different way though. But still, you have a certain herb you feel is more “you” than others and there’s a reason for it.

The fact that it affects you so, I think, is a good sign. It shows you care about what you’re studying.
I’m not trying to tell you “hey- embrace that feeling!!” :), but I am trying to tell you “just let it be”. It’s part of this whole thing.

Not to mention that finals are never too easy on the mind….

Yael

Re: inherent v not nature of situations — I suppose it just depends on one’s philosophical orientation whether this concept makes sense or not. To me, it does. I can be just as engaged with a monotone voice as any other voice – the difference is IN ME not outside of me. Your mileage may differ.

I think that’s just the kind of thing we can expec to see when we sit with patients in a state of equanimity – hospitability and openness to listening.

Thanks, Evan.

Eric