4 Ways Ancient Chinese Philosophy Can Better Your Life

Summary

This video script explores the paradox of modern life's discontent despite technological advancements. It challenges three prevailing myths: the illusion of freedom, the overreliance on rationality for ethical decisions, and the quest for an authentic self. Drawing on ancient Chinese philosophy, it suggests that cultivating emotions through rituals and embracing change can lead to a more empathetic and engaged life. The script advocates for a 'heart-mind' approach, balancing reason with emotional intelligence to navigate life's unpredictability and find energy through connection rather than domination.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The world's current state of turmoil and complacency is discussed in a new book 'The Path,' which seeks wisdom from ancient Chinese philosophers to understand modern society's challenges.
• 📏 Three myths are debunked in the book: the myth of freedom, the myth of rational control over life's direction, and the myth of an authentic self waiting to be discovered.
• 💡 The book suggests that despite technological advancements, societal gaps and crises persist, challenging the notion of the 'freest humanity ever been'.
• 🤔 Chinese philosophers propose that rather than relying on rationality alone, we should cultivate our emotional responses to navigate life's complexities.
• 🔄 The concept of an unchanging 'authentic self' is challenged, advocating for recognizing our ever-changing nature with multiple desires and responses.
• 🎭 Rituals and roles are highlighted as essential for constructing realities and refining our emotional responses, as exemplified by Confucius's perspective on propriety.
• 🌱 The idea of 'trained spontaneity' is introduced, encouraging us to act in the present moment while remaining open to change and growth.
• 🏵️ Mencius offers a third path between rational planning and gut instincts, focusing on honing our emotional sense to work in sync with our mind.
• 💪 The cultivation of 'heart-mind' is emphasized, which involves paying attention to emotional responses and setting goals to change them for the better.
• 🌟 The script promotes the idea of harnessing energy through connection rather than domination, suggesting that engagement with the world can lead to a more spirited life.
• 🧘‍♂️ The importance of emotional stability is discussed, with practices such as posture, deep breathing, and moderation in diet recommended for achieving it.
• 🎨 The concept of 'flow' is introduced as a state of immersion in an activity, which can lead to satisfaction and active engagement with the world's uncertainties.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the book 'The Path' by two Harvard professors?

The main theme of 'The Path' is to explore the modern human condition and seek wisdom from ancient Chinese philosophers to address the issues of misery and emotional susceptibility in our fast-paced world.

What are the three myths mentioned in the book that have led to an age of complacency and inaction?

The three myths are: 1) The belief that we are the freest humanity has ever been, 2) The idea that we can determine the direction our lives take through rational thought and logic, and 3) The notion of an authentic self that can be discovered and will guide us to a good life.

How does the book suggest we are restricted and uncertain of alternatives despite having advanced technology?

The book suggests that despite technological advancements, we are restricted and uncertain due to the growing gap between the rich and poor, environmental crises, and the failure of comprehensive ideologies like communism, neoliberalism, and narco monarchism.

What alternative approach do Chinese philosophers offer to the rational approach of determining ethical decisions?

Chinese philosophers propose cultivating and training our emotions to react better in day-to-day life, rather than relying solely on rational thought and logic to determine ethical decisions.

How do Chinese philosophers view the concept of an authentic self?

Chinese philosophers view the concept of an authentic self as limited. They argue that we should recognize ourselves as ever-changing with multiple desires and responses, which are developed by looking outward at the world rather than inward.

What is the significance of rituals according to Confucius and how can they help in constructing new realities?

According to Confucius, rituals are significant as they help construct new realities by defining roles and responsibilities. They allow us to refine our responses through propriety, which is about better ways of responding, not controlling emotions.

How does Confucius suggest we transcend our behavioral patterns and toxic thoughts?

Confucius suggests actively transcending behavioral patterns and toxic thoughts by committing to small rituals and practices that challenge our self-perception, such as greeting a grumpy cashier or reaching out to a neglected family member.

What is Mencius' view on dealing with the unpredictability of the world?

Mencius proposes cultivating an 'heart-mind' that works in sync with our mind, using reason to put plans into action while remaining open to emotional responses, allowing us to navigate the ever-changing world.

How does Mencius suggest we approach life's unpredictability and chaos?

Mencius suggests viewing life as a farmer would, laying the ground for our interests and sides to grow organically, building possibilities with our mind and remaining open to them with our heart.

What is the concept of 'trained spontaneity' as proposed by Zhuangzi?

Trained spontaneity, as proposed by Zhuangzi, is the idea of embracing the present moment and the constant change it brings, allowing us to engage more fully with the world and find satisfaction in the uncertainties of existence.

How can we cultivate emotional stability and energy according to the Chinese philosophers?

We can cultivate emotional stability and energy by paying attention to our body's posture, practicing deep breathing, eating in moderation, and engaging in activities that bring flow, such as reading or playing an instrument.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Path of Ancient Wisdom

This paragraph delves into the modern world's paradox of freedom and dissatisfaction, contrasting technological advancements with growing socio-economic disparities and environmental crises. It introduces a new book by Harvard professors that seeks to address these issues through the lens of ancient Chinese philosophy. The book challenges three prevailing myths: the illusion of freedom, the overreliance on rationality in decision-making, and the search for an 'authentic self'. Instead, it proposes that we should cultivate our emotions and reactions through rituals and practice, as exemplified by the simple act of playing hide-and-seek, which is a ritual that fosters new realities and emotional development.

05:01

🌱 Cultivating Empathy and Engagement

The second paragraph emphasizes the importance of small, daily rituals in shaping our lives, as suggested by Confucius. It encourages us to transcend limiting self-perceptions and engage more actively with the world. The text discusses the unpredictability of life and the futility of relying solely on rational planning models, proposing instead a balance between reason and emotion. Mencius' concept of the 'heart-mind' is introduced as a way to navigate life's uncertainties by aligning our emotional responses with our conscious goals. The paragraph suggests that by cultivating our heart-mind, we can remain open to life's possibilities and avoid being confined by fixed identities or plans.

10:03

🏃‍♂️ Energizing Through Connection and Spontaneity

The final paragraph explores the idea of finding energy and vitality not through domination but through connection with the world. It discusses the transformative power of engaging in activities that bring us joy and a sense of flow, such as running or playing music, which can lead to a heightened awareness and connection with life. The text introduces the concept of 'trained spontaneity' as a way to reduce the constraints of conscious thought and to fully engage with the present moment. By embracing the flux of reality and practicing emotional stability, we can achieve a state of flow and find satisfaction in the uncertainties of existence, allowing us to push our limits and explore our potential.

Keywords

💡Complacency

Complacency is a state of being untroubled by doubt or responsibility, often resulting from a false sense of security. In the video, it is used to describe an era where people are seemingly at ease despite growing inequalities and crises, suggesting a disconnect between societal progress and individual contentment.

💡Rational Creatures

Rational creatures are beings capable of reasoning and making decisions based on logic. The video questions the extent to which humans, as rational creatures, are truly capable of making ethical decisions or are instead driven by emotions, challenging the traditional view of human rationality.

💡Ancient Chinese Philosophers

Ancient Chinese philosophers, such as Confucius and Mencius, are referenced for their wisdom and alternative perspectives on life and ethics. Their teachings offer a contrast to Western philosophical approaches, emphasizing the cultivation of emotions and rituals as a means to navigate the complexities of life.

💡Myths

The term 'myths' in the video refers to widely held but potentially misleading beliefs about freedom, rationality, and the self. These myths are critiqued as contributing to a state of complacency and a lack of meaningful action in the face of societal issues.

💡Trolley Problem

The trolley problem is a hypothetical scenario used in ethics to illustrate complex decision-making. It is mentioned in the video to highlight the limitations of rationality in ethical dilemmas, suggesting that emotions and instincts often override logical reasoning in real-life situations.

💡Authentic Self

The concept of an 'authentic self' refers to the idea of a true, inner identity that is distinct from external influences. The video challenges this notion by suggesting that the self is not fixed but is instead shaped by interactions with the world and the cultivation of emotional responses.

💡Rituals

Rituals are formalized actions or series of actions that are performed regularly. In the context of the video, rituals are presented as a means to construct new realities and refine emotional responses, such as in the example of playing hide-and-seek, which has a deeper social and emotional significance.

💡Propriety

Propriety refers to the quality of being appropriate or suitable in a given circumstance. Confucius's concept of propriety is discussed in the video as a way to cultivate better emotional responses over time, suggesting that it is not about controlling emotions but rather about responding to them in a more refined manner.

💡Heart-Mind

The 'heart-mind' is a concept that combines emotional intelligence with rational thought. Mencius introduces this idea as a way to live in harmony with the unpredictable nature of the world, emphasizing the importance of aligning emotions with reason to make decisions and navigate life's complexities.

💡Flow

Flow is a psychological state of complete immersion in an activity, where a person feels energized and focused. The video uses the concept of flow to illustrate how individuals can find satisfaction and engagement in life by being fully present and absorbed in what they are doing.

💡Trained Spontaneity

Trained spontaneity is the idea of becoming so proficient in an activity that it becomes second nature, allowing for a natural and unforced response. The video uses the example of Cook Ding to illustrate how mastery of an activity can lead to a state of effortless engagement and satisfaction.

💡Spirit

Spirit, in the context of the video, refers to a state of high energy and vitality. It is associated with being fully alive and engaged with the world. The video contrasts the idea of achieving spirit through domination with the concept of achieving it through connection and immersion in activities.

Highlights

The book 'The Path' by two Harvard professors explores the relevance of ancient Chinese philosophy in modern society.

Three prevalent myths about human freedom, rationality, and the authentic self are challenged in the book.

The myth of unprecedented human freedom is contrasted with growing inequality and environmental crises.

The failure of comprehensive ideologies like communism and neoliberalism is discussed as a sign of the age of complacency.

Chinese philosophers propose alternatives to rational problem-solving, focusing on emotional cultivation.

The trolley problem is cited as an example of rational scenarios that may not reflect real-life emotional responses.

Authentic self is considered limited; Chinese thinkers suggest recognizing the self as ever-changing.

The importance of rituals in constructing new realities and refining emotional responses is highlighted.

Confucius' view on the world as fragmented and the role of propriety in emotional cultivation is discussed.

The concept of 'heart-mind' by Mencius, which integrates emotional sense with rational thought, is introduced.

Mencius suggests living with the awareness of an unpredictable world and the importance of gut instincts.

The idea of 'trained spontaneity' is presented as a way to engage actively with the world's constant change.

The story of Cook Ding illustrates the concept of finding satisfaction and spontaneity in everyday activities.

The modern pursuit of energy through connection rather than domination is explored.

The concept of 'spirit' as a life force that can transform one's engagement with the world is discussed.

Cultivating emotional stability through posture, breathing, and moderation is suggested for maintaining energy.

The state of 'flow' in activities is related to the idea of trained spontaneity and active world engagement.

The transcript concludes with the idea that conscious awareness can limit us, and the importance of focusing on the present.

Transcripts

things have been crazy lately the world

doesn't make sense

humans don't seem all that great how can

we after all these years living in

modern sophisticated societies as

rational creatures with infinite

opportunities still be so miserable and

emotionally susceptible to the world

around us a new book written by two

Harvard professors called the path

places this entire issue under the wise

gaze of ancient Chinese philosophers

perhaps their insights will give us some

sort of clue for living in such a

fast-paced world firstly according to

the book there are three myths that most

of us are led to believe as fact that

have created an age of complacency a

time of turmoil and inaction where no

answers seem useful and no issue appears

solvable

what are these myths for one we

generally believe that this is the

freest humanity has ever been certainly

we have new fangled devices that can do

amazing things like order Burger King on

the toilet or find our soulmate on the

toilet or basically do anything on the

toilet however at the same time the gap

between the rich and poor has

dramatically grown environmental and

humanitarian crises are on the upswing

and the koalas are going extinct

currently we appear restricted uncertain

of any alternatives as almost every

comprehensive ideology has failed us

from communism to neoliberalism to a

narco monarchism will historians look

back on us as the age of complacency the

Chinese philosophers do offer

alternatives but they are far from

comprehensive and explanatory doctrines

that's actually to their benefit the

second myth is the idea that we know how

to determine the direction our lives

take us after all we are rational we

invent hypothetical scenarios like the

trolley problem to use reason and logic

in order to figure out tough ethical

situations we're so smart and look at

all of the pages committed to solving

this very serious issue

Chinese thinkers didn't think there was

much use to this type of philosophy they

would argue that even if you ended up in

the trolley problem one day he likely

wouldn't become the Conte and logic

machine we'd all hoped to be you'd

probably be a teary eyed mess reverting

to emotions and instincts the Chinese

philosophers

from these intellectual games and

instead sought methods to cultivate and

train our emotions in order to react in

better ways throughout day-to-day life

thirdly most of us would like to believe

that there is some sort of authentic

self hidden beneath all that cheeto dust

that with the right motivational quote

or self-help book will emerge and guide

us to the good life hence we listen to

our inner selves and invest heavily in

finding who we are too many Chinese

thinkers this is incredibly limited

instead we should recognize ourselves as

ever-changing with a plethora of

contradictory desires responses and

dispositions even more they argue that

these internal things are actually

developed by looking outward by paying

attention to the world rather than

self-absorbed soul-searching

hence they are formed in practice and

with practice we can always become

better and here are some ways we can

start practicing a simple game of

hide-and-seek with your nephew doesn't

seem all that special you stick your

foot out so they can find you quickly

they find you and laugh rinse and repeat

however as Confucius would point out the

significance of this act emerges from

the divergence and roles that each of

you has undertaken this is a ritual

after all and rituals are the best we

have for constructing new realities

Confucius and many philosophers saw the

world as fragmented our feelings sway

back and forth changing on a whim

depended on if our bus was late or if we

found a five-dollar bill on the ground

things happen and we react and that

pretty much repeats until we die we are

slaves to our emotions however Confucius

believes we could refine our responses

through propriety what is propriety it

basically means better waits responded

note that this does not mean we overcome

or control our emotions we have to feel

emotion it makes us human it said

Confucius argues we should cultivate our

emotions by internalizing over time

better responses how through rituals

know this also does not mean you have to

start lighting candles and summoning

things in Latin you already participate

in rituals when you greet your friend

you say hey how's it going and they

respond great how about you

this is weirdly necessary if you think

about it if you just started the

conversation there would be

something abrupt to it something

uncomfortable in this moment you briefly

connect with each other and then

continue however briefly you create a

new reality let's think about the

hide-and-seek game again well it shifts

our rules as we've said the child

usually vulnerable it gets to be the

all-powerful seeker you the competent

adult in eyes of the child at least get

to be the bumbling idiot with this foot

showing each in turn gets to develop a

more complex and nuanced side of

themself perhaps if we left our

commitment to being authentic through

these small rituals we can live a far

more empathetic open and engaged life

confucius tells us to let go of our true

self after all that self is the one that

keeps the running dialogue if I'm

neurotic so I'll probably ruin this

relationship or I'm shy so I won't speak

up note your behavioral patterns these

little toxic thoughts and actively

transcend them say hi to the grumpy

cashier ask them out called a family

member you always neglect don't define

yourself we tend to think that in order

to change the world we need to do big

things

Confucius although not against this

argument with nonetheless asked us to

pay attention to the day-to-day above

all else there's no system that can tell

us exactly how to live but we can

through small changes in our behavior

learn to live in this very messy world

unfortunately this messy world can be

pretty well messy we save up for a new

car only to have to shovel into our

savings due to unforeseen medical

expenses we planned a romantic

anniversary date with our beloved and

get dumped

certainly we consciously know that

nothing is certain but nonetheless we

always plan as if the future is

predictable we rely on certain stable

factors our family our career the

absence of a nuclear war mencius a

Confucian scholar might help us with

dealing with such a mess Mencius asks us

to imagine the world as one that we

can't really count on how would we live

in it certainly we can't use the

rational choice model a common method in

today's age this model suggests that we

can use

and logic to prepare for anything and

everything in order to counter the chaos

of such a world

for example we consist emmitt eyes the

process by which we become a lawyer

mapping out the exact route from

high-school graduation to retirement by

sitting down and meticulously analyzing

exactly how one goes about becoming a

lawyer however this model obviously

misses out on the fact that we are

emotional what if we woke up 20 years

from the day we set out to be a lawyer

with our lawyer job or lawyer house our

lawyer wife and our lawyer student debt

and stopped feeling like we wanted to be

a lawyer maybe it would be better to go

with our gut instincts then we could

follow our unconscious desires like a

child always living in the moment we

could eat ice cream for days on end

pursue a million different hobbies that

pique our interests at one time or

another and never really settle on

anything in particular this isn't all

that satisfactory either

mencius proposes a third path in which

you constantly honed your emotional

sense so that it works in sync with your

mind in other words you use each

previously-mentioned bottle to its

advantage

we need reason to put plans into action

and focus on what's important likewise

we live in a constantly changing world

and will need a motion to navigate us

through it soon after adopting this

approach we see each of our decisions as

spun in various trajectories that can go

on in multiple directions we realize

that neglecting to kiss our wife this

one time in the doorway after work may

open up a possible world in which such a

possibility could vanish for eternity

this idea is what mencius calls the

heart mind we can cultivate our heart

mind by paying attention to our

emotional responses and then setting

goals that would strive to change them

for the better note that this is not

Buddhist mindfulness in which we see our

emotions go by and accept them in order

to achieve some sort of inner peace

instead this is a striving towards a

more active engagement with the world

how does this relate to making plans in

a world as chaotic as our own how could

the man dead set on being a lawyer avoid

his fate Mencius asks us to imagine

oneself as a farmer your goal is to lay

the ground for

Arius interests and sides of yourself to

grow organically we build possibilities

with our mind and then remain open to

them with our heart in the sense the

heart mind allows us to become who we

are by permitting us to maintain a

responsive 'ti towards our ever-changing

interests instead of declaring I can be

anything I want to be we say with

greater humility I don't know yet what I

can become the world is not stable but

the silver lining in this is that it

opens us up to a world of limitless

possibilities well how are we supposed

to have the energy to live in such a

world certainly after work or school you

feel pretty bogged down life becomes

this dull routine of sleep eat work and

whatever debauchery you prefer add

infinitive even thinking about that is

tiring

wouldn't it be great to be full of

energy or in other words spirit one

modern method of feeling spirited is by

asserting yourself by dominating your

environment this goes back to the

Incheon Superman where power creates

happiness being noticed or influential

means being truly on top of your game

however what if we could become full of

energy through connecting rather than

dominating think about going for a

morning run or if you've already given

up on your New Year's resolutions just

imagine it as you run you gather energy

and sometimes enough gives you a

runner's high suddenly you see things

more vividly and you feel more connected

with the world

similarly think about doing something

artistic such as playing music you

almost lose yourself energized merely by

the self determined act of plucking each

chord you feel alive this form of energy

can be seen as energies of divinity as

if some sort of a life force has hit you

over the head and reminded you about

just how cool it is to be alive think

back to the idea of being full of

spirits spirits traditionally are seen

as being fully and vibrantly alive they

see the world around them so clearly

that they can even transform it think of

the most charming person you know they

filled a room with positive energy they

have a zest for life they make you

excited and you focus on them how do

they do this

they pay attention to their surroundings

how do we harness this idea of being a

spirit for one we need to lessen our

dependence on external events both good

and bad

as stated before each day is a series of

wins and losses smiles and tears of

course all of these emotions are just

mental reactions to external things not

necessarily something happening outside

of your control

hence the Chinese text in word training

invites us to cultivate emotional

stability firstly we really need to pay

attention to our body's posture and all

secondly we should practice deep

breathing thirdly we need to eat in

moderation this sounds incredibly boring

but also recall those days when you

slouched on the couch for hours ate too

many Oreos and mindlessly surf the

internet chances are emotionally things

might have been a little chaotic

however when we experience flow the

state of absolute immersion in an

activity through joy whether through

reading a book or playing an instrument

we feel an emotional focus that draws us

into a world of constant change and flux

swung seesaw the world as in this

constant flux and argued that reality

was a ceaseless dance of shifts and

changes accepting this fixed spontaneity

was crucial in living and engaged in

energetic existence songs he advocated

for trained spontaneity he illustrates

this with the example of the cook ding

whereas a good cook would change his

knife annually since he uses it to cut

and an okay cook would change it monthly

since they use it to chop cook ding has

a knife just as sharp as the day he

bought it 19 years ago how cook ding

would slowly and surely cut the meat

over and over every day each time he cut

he paid close attention to each gap each

point of thickness flowing with the

process until he could cut meat at the

perfect spot every time by doing so he

found satisfaction and spontaneity and

the simple activity that made up his

everyday life this of course mirrors

positive psychologies idea of flow the

perceived state that one enters when

they are immersed in an activity that's

meaningfully challenging and interesting

by embracing flow the individual finds

satisfaction the uncertainties of

existence using their present awareness

to actively engage in their world

trained spontaneity is already something

we know how to do remember how you first

had to learn how to ride a bike every

motion was processed consciously and you

probably fell however after many summers

of slurpy driven bike rides you barely

think about biking the process has

become spontaneous at this point you've

may have begun to experiment with biking

maybe you learn tricks or tried to see

how fast you could go you became loose

pushing your limits when we are

conscious we limit ourselves with

worries predictions and mundane thoughts

train spontaneity is an attempt to

reduce this by focusing on the present

doing so energizes us and allows us to

engage more fully with the world