Wu Li

[Norman Watts <Norman_Watts@zzzzzzz>]

Further to past discussions on the nature of art, some selections from
"The Dancing Wu Li Masters, An overview of the New Physics" by Gary
Zukav. A book about quantum mechanics and relativity for the layman.

Physics is called Wu Li in Chinese. Wu Li has several interpretations:
Wu Li = Patterns of Organic Energy
Wu Li = My Way
Wu Li = Nonsense
Wu Li = I clutch my ideas
Wu Li = Enlightenment

"...it is no longer evident whether scientists really discover new
things or whether they *create* them. Many people believe that
"discovery" is actually an act of creation. If this is so, then the
distinction between scientists, poets, painters, and writers is not
clear. In fact, it is possible that scientists, poets, painters and
writers are all members of the same family of people whose gift is by
nature to take those things which we call commonplace and to
*re-present* them to us in such ways that our self-imposed limitations
are expanded."  [note that by "scientists" he does not mean technicians
but those who bring truly about paradigm shifts]

while writing on the assumed differences between human right and left
brain hemispheres  "...to stand in awe and wonder is to understand in a
very specific way, even if that understanding cannot be described. The
subjective experience of wonder is a message to the rational mind that
the object of wonder is being perceived in ways other than the rational
.... the next time you are awed by something, let the feeling flow
freely through you and do not try to "understand" it. You will find
that you *do understand*, but in a way that you will not be able to put
into words. You are perceiving intuitively through your right
hemisphere. It has not atrophied from lack of use, but our skill in
listening to it has been dulled by three centuries of neglect."

n

Norman Watts, Ph. D.
National Institutes of Health
50 South Drive, Rm. 1509
Bethesda, MD 20892-8025
Phone: (301) 402-3418
Fax: (301) 480-7629