By Moses Lin, L.Ac., D.Sc.
(Traditional Chinese Medicine World, 3:3:5, 2001)
With a background in ecology and health education, I embarked on a new journey with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Below are some of my thoughts along the way. Looking back, I started like a newly hatched worm; slowly I see the shape I was in, then paused for a while as a student chrysalis, and transformed into a monarch of understanding.
Science or Myth
I am always meditating on the true nature of Chinese Medicine; and the questions always are, is it 1) a science, 2) a myth, 3) a culture, 4) a way of life for the sages? If TCM is a science, then according to the standards of Western science, its value must remain constant and unchanged and its techniques are refined through the ages. If it is a myth, then no one can easily understand it. If it is a culture, then most Chinese people should practice TCM in their daily living. And if it is only a way of life for the sages, then only hermits can understand. In fact, Chinese medicine is all these things. It is a science, since it has withstood the test of time. Chinese medicine is also a myth, for someone just starting, because its boundary is infinite. It is a culture, and the beauty is that it varies between places, environments and seasons. And surely everyone who wants to reach longevity should practice it.
Circle of Life
Western science stresses compartmentalization, which means the human body consists of different machines working together in a sealed environment. Medical doctors today need to be highly specialized in their own compartmentalized areas. In addition, each specialty needs to keep abreast of current medical developments. Any Western doctor who hasn’t pursued continuing education for a number of years will definitely feel out-dated. In TCM, on the other hand, the body is just a garden in an open-air environment. It is like a perfect example of symbiosis where different systems rely on each other to exit. Perfect health is achieved when all systems are in homeostatic harmony internally and externally with seasonal changes. So, if a TCM practitioner has a firm grasp of the classics but doesn’t update himself with current information, he won’t feel left out. On the contrary, numerous years of experience are the most important component of competency.
Survival vs. Longevity
There is no such thing as survival of the fittest in TCM. Rather, survival depends on the ability of the body to adapt to its environment. While Western medicine is obsessed with the immune system, TCM helps the body to negotiate with its virtual-realistic opponents. Like an experienced diplomat, TCM understands the body and negotiates with the elements of the universe. Therefore, at this point it is not hard to figure out that longevity is simply determined by how well a person negotiates with his environment internally and externally. Just like in the study of ecology, the survival of a forest depends on a well-mixed plantation; favoring one species over another will doom it for destruction.
Metamorphosis – Enlightenment
Being enlightened is like a transition from Dark Ages to Renaissance. All of a sudden, you have transformed to a different level of mentality. Instead of viewing the world intrinsically, you view the world extrinsically as well. At this point, you understand what you have learned. Words are dead and meaning lives.
Essence
The essence of Chinese Medicine lies within its classical texts. Yet, most schools in America do not teach classics to their students. Furthermore, there is an excess of simplification in the academic system, a typical American pitfall – the shortcut to success. This may be all right for a technician, but definitely not for a healthcare practitioner. My herbal mentor Prof. Chen Zhi Yong once had said TCM is a loosely connected information system containing vast infinite wisdom. What you learn from acupuncture school is how to organize this information. Knowledge is acquired based on our practice with TCM theory and our experience in society after school. Therefore, instead of crawling through the trees, learn to fly above the forest and find your destination.
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