Ancient Asian wisdom (is as legitimate as Modern Western knowledge)
In our so-called Modern World, with our emphasis on progress and growth, there is a sense that traditions and knowledge of the past are “out of date” and can be improved upon, updated, modernized. This includes views of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and even from within our own professional community.
In a very interesting lecture and discussion I attended with Chinese Medicine practitioner Dr. Edward Neal he asked, “What is the value of studying classical texts?” and gave three possibilities:
We can view classical texts and traditional practices as containing out of date information and having only historical interest.
We can view classical texts and traditional practices as containing a mixture of ideas - some out of date and others novel and relevant to current health challenges. I think this one is a prevalent belief in our world and in our profession today.
OR, we can view classical texts and traditional practices as containing information that is both innovative and more advanced than current understandings.
This is the idea that rather than believing that we have “progressed” beyond this archaic knowledge, we realize that on certain, extremely beneficial, levels we have actually lost valuable wisdom and understandings that are at a far higher level than we now can grasp. And it is through looking backwards and learning from the past - and those who still are preserving and protecting that knowledge from the past - that we can most benefit.
Which reminded me of the post I wrote last May on alternate concepts of time / history and our relationship to it. In it, I said,
“In recent years it has been wonderful to see signs of a growing respect for traditional cultures, knowledge and wisdom. Increasing appreciation for the wisdom of indigenous peoples, of their awareness of the cycles and patterns of nature, of the need to live in balance with both the Earth and one another.
One example of an indigenous world view that I find very powerful is this:
In the Aymara culture of the Andes, the traditional peoples gesture with their hands to accompany their discussions of time. We do it too. But, interestingly, for them it’s in the opposite direction. Where we may toss our hand over our shoulder to describe something that happened yesterday or last year, they will gesture away from their chest, in front of them. Where we may gesture “forwards” to indicate something that hasn’t happened yet, they gesture “backwards”. Which seems to make no “intuitive” sense to us, until you reflect on it.
To us, the future is in front of us because we perceive ourselves to be moving towards it, in the same way that the path in front of us is visible and is our road forwards. To the Aymara, this would be seen as a foolhardy stance. Why would you turn your back on the past? Why would you move forward blindly, in the dark? Why would you not align yourself with the past, keep your eyes on what you see, know, have already experienced and have evidence of, and focus on THAT while you move forward? Yes, it’s still blind, we still don’t know what the future holds, but at least we can keep our past experiences and knowledge in front of us, like a map, guiding us…
My favourite Wade Davis quote, celebrated anthropologist, author, and National Geographic Explorer in Residence , is this:
The world in which you were born is just one model of reality.
Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you;
they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.
It’s interesting, though, that Science, and Western Medicine specifically - which is both a science and an art - is still held up as the pinnacle of knowledge and “proof” that all other systems must strive to meet. OF COURSE we want the “proof”. We want the double blind peer reviewed five star studies that PROVE that our medicine is effective. We want the stamp of approval of Science. But do we NEED it in order to know our value? In Chinese Medicine we ALSO value the experience of our lineages, the extensive history of the knowledge and writings, the volume of the usage and its effectiveness.”
I have so much gratitude to those who are protecting, preserving and promoting ancient Asian wisdom. After 20 years of studying and practicing Traditional & Classical Chinese Medicine I honestly feel like I know just the tip of the iceberg. It’s like the more I learn the more I see how much more there is to learn, in relation to the vastness of knowledge and understanding. I’m so grateful for those who are diving deeper, and sharing that knowledge with me, and this Modern World that needs it.
