The Heart of Eastern Philosophy in 4 Clauses

Have you ever wondered what lies at the heart of Eastern philosophy? It's all about understanding the human mind and how to awaken a deeper, more connected way of thinking.

In Chapter 3, Tao Lineage (道統), in a book called "Profound Truths of Heaven's Tao (天道奧義)," there are four important ideas that are key to understanding this philosophy. These ideas are written in 16 Chinese characters:

人心惟危，道心惟微，惟精惟一，允執厥中.

The human mind (人心) is full of potential dangers, while the awake mind (道心) is subtle and hard to grasp. But, through constant self-refinement and sincerity, we can embrace the center of our being and be in one with the cosmos.

Think of Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism as different branches of this core teaching. They all share the same roots, but each has its own unique way of understanding and practicing these ideas.

Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism are the expansion on this essential teaching. Photo by Göran Eidens on Unsplash

Over the years, many great thinkers have added their own insights to this philosophy. Laozi, Confucius, Mencius, the Buddha, the Sixth Patriarch, and Bodhidharma are just a few examples. Each of them offered unique ways to overcome the limitations of the human mind and connect with the awakened mind.

Their teachings are found in classic texts that have helped people understand Eastern philosophy for centuries. Here are a few examples:

Dao De Jing (道德經), Scripture of Dao and Virtues,

Qing Jing Jing (清靜經), Scripture of Purity and Tranquility,

Da Xue (大學), The Great Learning,

Zhong Yong (中庸), Doctrine of Mean,

Mengzi (孟子), Mencius

Yi Jing (易經), I Ching or Book of Changes

Jin Gang Jing (金剛經), Diamond Sutra

Xin Jing (心經), Heart Sutra

Liuzhu Tanjing (六祖壇經), Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch

Even though these teachings are important, many people struggle to fully understand them. That’s why Bodhidharma, a famous Zen master, wrote a poem (which I’ll paraphrase) to explain it in a simple way:

Bodhidharma came from the West and did not speak a single word of doctrine. Instead, he showed the way to transform the mind through direct practice.

If you tried to find the true meaning of Buddhism in written words, you’d need more water than Dongting Lake to make enough ink—and still be left holding a dry brush.

達摩西來一字無，全憑心意用功夫，  

若要紙上尋佛法，筆尖醮乾洞庭湖。

In other words, it’s nearly impossible to fully explain this core teaching with words alone. Even a small understanding of this wisdom can inspire us to begin practicing it—and that’s where real learning begins. The core teaching tells us that the journey must start with the mind. This is the true work, and it takes full commitment and dedication. But the rewards of this practice are powerful—they can truly change our lives.