Dr. Clay Marsh: Insights from the Past
I am a great fan of the humanities and the sciences – at the level of deeper integration.
We artificially separate these fields, and in fact, at a lecture I attended several years ago, I heard the comment that the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) disciplines help you earn a wage, and that the humanities help you live a life.
While we all appreciate that many a student would argue that organic chemistry or advanced mathematics kept them from realizing their goal of becoming a health care provider, it is clear to me that healing is the integration of humanities, life, and STEM sciences.
We recently dedicated a wall of art to our beloved Dr. Art Jacknowitz. It was quite meaningful that Dr. John Mauger, graduate and former faculty member of the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy and former Dean of the University of Utah School of Pharmacy, and his son, Jeffrey, provided the beautiful artwork to be displayed on our “Wall of Art” in the WVU Health Sciences Center.
I love reading poetry, stories, and philosophy by the Sufi poet Rumi; Lao Tzu, who wrote the Tao; and the Indian poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore.
Rumi reminds us, “Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you.”
He also said, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today, I am wise, so I decided to change myself.”
And, “Be grateful for whatever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond,” and “What you seek is seeking you.”
However, I have two favorite quotes by Rumi. “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
My favorite is, “The Light streams towards you from all things, all people, all possible permutations of good, evil, thought, passion. The lamps are different, but the Light is the same. One matter, one energy, one Light, one Light-mind, endlessly emanating all things. One turning and burning diamond. One, one, one. Ground yourself, strip yourself down, to blind loving silence. Stay there, until you see You are gazing at the Light with its own ageless eyes.”
Through these insights, Rumi aligns himself with that which we are discovering in quantum physics. These insights include that energy and matter are the same thing (Einstein’s formula e=mc2); that everything is connected to everything else (quantum entanglement), and that we play a participatory role in the universe (wave-particle reality or duality) through our attention, thoughts, emotions, and words.
Lao Tzu furthers this foundation in his most famous work, the Tao, and focuses on how we should live our lives and approach leadership.
He said, “The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step,” and adds, “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.”
In approaching life, “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” He adds, “Care what other people think, and you will always be their prisoner.”
Additionally, he said, “If you understand others, you are smart. If you understand yourself, you are illuminated. If you overcome others, you are powerful. If you overcome yourself, you have strength. If you know how to be satisfied, you are rich. If you can act with vigor, you have will. If you don’t lose your objectives, you can be long-lasting. If you die without loss, you are eternal”.
He also urges us to be kind. “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
Lastly, on leadership: “A leader is best when people barely know he exists. Of a good leader, who talks little. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, we did it ourselves.”
With these thoughts and guidance, Lao Tzu reminds us that we are merely a reflection of the great Tao, which cannot be named or understood, yet is the powerful life energy that flows through all things, including each of us. The Tao directs us and inspires us on our journey to reconnect to the energy flowing through all things.
Lastly, the poet and philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore, reminds us of the power and fulfillment of service, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted, and behold, service is joy.”
Moreover, he implores us to explore deeply in our lives. “The small wisdom is like water in the glass: clear, transparent, pure. The great wisdom is like the water in the sea: dark, mysterious, impenetrable.”
To life and love: “Those who are near me do not know that you are nearer to me than they are. Those who speak to me do not know that my heart is full with your unspoken words. Those who crowd in my path do not know that I am walking alone with you. Those who love me do not know that their love brings you to my heart”.
On our connection with all things: “The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks in tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.”
On our ability to live our life with joy and fulfillment: “Beauty is simply reality seen through the eyes of love,” and “We cross infinity with every step; we meet eternity in every second.” Moreover, “Only in love are unity and duality not in conflict.” And lastly, “Death is not extinguishing of the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”
In these words, Tagore reminds us that we are at our best when we look, perceive, and see each other and ourselves with love, service, and gratitude. His last observation on death is profound and mirrors what we are learning from quantum physics.
We are energy beings, and since energy is neither created nor destroyed, we do not disappear upon our death; we merely change states of being.
To return to the beginning of this writing, humanities – poetry, philosophy, writing – provide the foundation for healing. Remember, the root word of health, heal, holy, and holistic means “whole” or “complete” or “unity.”
When we see the light in each other and see through the eyes of love, we realize the presence of an interconnected world and universe. This connection and interdependence of all people and all things exist from the biggest level (our universe and world) to the local level, our communities (roots of the word community mean together in service), to our subatomic world (quantum entanglement).
Remember our founders: E pluribus unum – out of many, one.
Let’s go!