Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Document Type

Book

Publication Date

2004

Abstract

Thanks to Dr. Smarandache for his interest in Chinese culture. I cannot decline his warm request to write the preface, even with my fragments of knowledge – no insight nor wisdom, and therefore can be misleading. I have been extremely regretful for my ideological errors and mistakes in previous publications, especially those concerning Buddhism. As I mentioned in this book, I am not qualified. So please note that I am limited in my knowledge and enlightenment of the giant of Chinese heritage. I can express nothing more than my personal bias. In what aspect can Chinese culture be distinctive from western ones? The difference between Western and Eastern cultures, on the whole, lies in the distinctive points of views: the differential view and the integral view. In medicine, Chinese traditional science regards humans as a part of the universe, and as being in constant exchange with the universe. Problems occur when humans lose the balance in the exchange, when selfishness surpasses their natural harmony. In contrast, Western medicine cares more about the scars when the harmony is broken. However, the scar is much more easily cured than the maintenance of the harmony. This is the reason Western culture never solves the problem of health. Unfortunately our Eastern culture is being lost while fewer and fewer people are qualified to inherit, resulting in the blind following of the West. Our nation’s people are losing confidence in their own culture! In education, Chinese classics place special emphasis on the harmony of humans with the universe, to maintain inner balance and peace. This kind of peace is worth far more than money and power that often serve private purposes. In this sense, our ancients are educated to abandon selfishness to maintain the peace – first the internal peace, then the peace of family, extending to the peace of society. In spite of wars, this manner of education has continued from generation to generation, for thousands of years, and proved excellent for society. In contrast, Western children are educated to compete with others for self or group interest, growing up in a struggle or conflict, leading to wars – losing the harmony. In science, Chinese culture pays more attention to spiritual harmony than material wealth. Here arises the basic problem: Should human beings chain themselves to wealth? Should they become slaves to it, or free themselves from it? We find most wealthy people are merely slaves, and more and more followers choosing to be slaves. How can this kind of civilization bring happiness to society? Unfortunately Eastern people are turning to the West. more and more people prefer a material civilization to spiritual harmony.

Publisher

Xiquan

ISSN

1-931233-72-1

Language (ISO)

English

Keywords

harmony, Chinese culture, Eastern philosophy tradition, Yin-Yang

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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