Balancing the Abstract and the Concrete

Xuefeng

July 12, 2005

Abstract refers to the nonmaterial—intangible, elusive, unseen, unheard, untouchable, and without a trace.

Concrete refers to substances that are tangible, practical, and can be seen, heard, touched, and traced.

The abstract belongs to the realm of the spirit and mind; the concrete belongs to the realm of physical existence and practical use.

Focusing on the abstract means pursuing ideals and beliefs, adhering to faith and morality, emphasizing consciousness and spirit, and elevating character and quality.

Focusing on the concrete means pursuing practical value, primarily aiming to fulfill the material conditions necessary for basic survival, such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation, sexual desire, and safety.

The lower a LIFE's level, the more it focuses on the concrete. The more it focuses on the concrete, the lower the quality of LIFE. Focusing on the concrete is for survival.

The higher a LIFE's level, the more it focuses on the abstract. The more it focuses on the abstract, the higher the quality of LIFE. Focusing on the abstract is for living.

The abstract and the concrete are opposites yet unified—neither should be neglected. Survival is the foundation for better living; living is the sublimation for better survival.

To walk the way of the Greatest Creator, one must balance both the abstract and the concrete. The concrete ensures survival, while the abstract elevates the quality of LIFE, leading to a higher level of existence. The concrete provides the conditions for focusing on the abstract, and the abstract fulfills the qualities of a celestial being.

Ordinary people are ordinary primarily because they focus on the concrete all their lives, neglecting the abstract.

Those who go to extremes in spiritual practice, neglecting the issues of food, clothing, shelter, transportation, safety, and sexual desire, mainly focus on the abstract while neglecting the concrete.

The wise are those who appropriately balance the abstract and the concrete, neglecting neither.

Celestial beings are those who have fully experienced life, solved the problem of survival, and then spend much of their time focusing on the abstract.

Those who purely focus on the abstract are either gods or demons.

There was a pig, deeply engrossed in reading. The other pigs in the pen couldn’t understand and asked, “Brother, we have no worries about food and drink; our master feeds us, and we live so freely and happily. Why bother yourself with reading and thinking?”

The reading pig replied meaningfully, “If we don’t read and think, we will always be pigs; if we don’t read and think, we can only have contentment, not happiness. Contentment is short-lived, while happiness is long-lasting. Contentment comes from temporary satisfaction, while happiness comes from enduring peace of mind. Think about it—we spend our lives confined in this pigpen, with only a small patch of sky to look at, and just a few square meters to move around in. The worst part is that once we’re fattened up, the slaughterhouse is our only destination. Thinking of this, I can’t be content. To avoid this disaster, I must read.”

“Forget it, brother. Live for today. We are pigs, after all, and slaughter is our fate. Accept it,” the other pigs said.

“Brothers, you focus on the concrete and be content. I will focus on the abstract. I don’t want to be a pig anymore; I want to become human because only humans can find true happiness,” the reading pig said firmly.

“Can a pig become a human?” asked one thoughtful pig.

The reading pig replied, “Yes, absolutely. Once I have human thoughts, I am no longer a pig but a human.”

“Even if you have human thoughts, can you escape the disaster of being slaughtered?” the pig continued to ask.

The reading pig said decisively, “The evolution from pig to human is gradual. In this life, I am still a pig, unable to avoid disaster, but in the next life, I won’t be a pig anymore. I will become a human because the saints among humans say that the form of life corresponds to the way of thinking. If I have human thoughts, I will have a human form of existence. In fact, when I realize that I will be a human in the next life, I already feel a sense of happiness. Sometimes, I even hope the disaster comes quickly, so I can end this life as a pig and start living as a human.”

The reading pig continued speaking to the group of pigs, “Brothers, in the next life, you will still be pigs, but I will appear before you in human form.”

“Brother, you make sense. I want to be a human too. Being a pig truly doesn’t bring happiness,” the thoughtful pig said, as if having an epiphany.

The reading pig quietly told it, “While we have food and shelter, seize the time to focus on the abstract.”

If you don't focus on the concrete, you won't have a comfortable life, and poverty is unpleasant. If you don't focus on the abstract, the best you can hope for is to stay where you are—pigs will remain pigs, and humans will remain humans.