Liu I-Ming On Reification
In Awakening To The Tao, the 18th-century Taoist adept Liu I-Ming (English translation by Thomas Cleary) addresses, in the following sections, the issue of reification in relation to Taoist practice. In general terms, what is meant by “reification” is the act of rendering something abstract, ethereal, formless or non-material as concrete, material, formed. In the specific case of spiritual traditions, reification is sometimes referred to as “idolatry,” i.e.
worshiping an idol -- a physical representation of the Divine -- mistakenly assuming such worship to be equivalent to a more appropriate obseisance to the “real thing” (which of course is no “thing” at all).
Elizabeth's Commentary
In the first passage, Liu I-Ming cautions us against mistaking subtle (“psychic”) phenomena for the Tao. “Internal” images, perceptions, sensations can become idols just as easily as can stone statues, etc. -- and perhaps even more easily, if we’ve equated spiritual realization with the appearance of siddhis.
In the second passage he urges us to “lower your head and bore into the hole of open nonreification.” With care and determination, we can -- by http://taoism.D106/od/meditation/qt/turninglight.htm Turning The Light Around -- unveil the ever-elusive, formless Tao -- the “original thing.” Subsequent to such an unveiling, phenomena arise as “a forest of jewels” -- each one not-separate from its Source. The world has become the Body of Tao .... body-mind-world arising now as a seamless Whole: the “hole” of open nonreification.
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worshiping an idol -- a physical representation of the Divine -- mistakenly assuming such worship to be equivalent to a more appropriate obseisance to the “real thing” (which of course is no “thing” at all).
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Nonreification
The Tao is based on nonreification. It is formless, imageless, impossible to draw or diagram. Listen for it and you don’t hear it, look at it and you don’t see it. Try to get at it and you’ve already lost it; to discuss it is a hoax. It is so vast it contains the universe, yet as small as a tiny pearl. There are so many people in the world trying to cultivate realization who nevertheless look for the way in psychic phenomena.
Finding the Tao
The Tao is as deep as can be -- who is willing to pursue it closely? If you don’t go into the tiger’s lair, how can you catch its cub? If you don’t wash out the stone and sand, how can you pick out the gold? Lower your head and bore into the hole of open nonreification; carefully seek the heart of heaven and earth with firm determination. Suddenly you will see the original thing; everywhere you meet the source, all is a forest of jewels.
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Elizabeth's Commentary
In the first passage, Liu I-Ming cautions us against mistaking subtle (“psychic”) phenomena for the Tao. “Internal” images, perceptions, sensations can become idols just as easily as can stone statues, etc. -- and perhaps even more easily, if we’ve equated spiritual realization with the appearance of siddhis.
In the second passage he urges us to “lower your head and bore into the hole of open nonreification.” With care and determination, we can -- by http://taoism.D106/od/meditation/qt/turninglight.htm Turning The Light Around -- unveil the ever-elusive, formless Tao -- the “original thing.” Subsequent to such an unveiling, phenomena arise as “a forest of jewels” -- each one not-separate from its Source. The world has become the Body of Tao .... body-mind-world arising now as a seamless Whole: the “hole” of open nonreification.
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