《中英版》两极哲理之（六）两极哲理的起源

两极使者

两极哲理之（六）两极哲理的起源

从开天劈地那时候起，两极哲理就已经存在了。到今天人类的日常生活、个人行为、商业活动，及治理国家等，都有着两极哲理的痕迹。它虽然是人类任何时代都适合的哲理，但把它弃芜存菁的理论化、推广，及进一步地探索它对人类的作用与价值等，却是现在的我，也许也是现在的你，刚开始的工作。
　　
记得早在一九七二年当我参加文化团体活动的时候，有位当老师的团员多次诉说她的校长常喜欢分配新的工作给她，我当时告诉她这是好事，因为如果校长不信任她的话，是不敢让她负责新工作的。我不知道当时为什么会有这种分析能力而说出这番“道理”，而且我更不知道为什么至今还记得这件事？然而这件事确是我最早使用两极哲理来平衡心理情绪的典型例子，虽然不是把它用在我的身上。
　　
过后我的日常生活还是以个人的喜好来处事而不按两极哲理发牌，所以也常常自寻烦恼。直到一九八二年我辞去国大的实验室技术员工作而成为销售员的时候，才开始初步有意识地运用两极哲理。当时我推销的是医学与科学产品，对象多数是医生、教授及讲师。他们都有专业的知识，但一般上他们对产品的知识与熟悉性却不比我们销售员在行，然而有的医生或教授却喜欢在产品知识方面不认输而结果争得脸红耳赤，最后是：我赢了，他们会因吞不下这口气而不买我的产品；如果我输了，他们也会因为有很好的理由而不买我的产品。于是我就改变策略，把争辩方式改为洗耳恭听方式，结果这类顾客反而会买我的产品，虽然未买之前还是诸多批评。从那时起我开始探讨两极哲理，随着我在生活中所碰到的“正反”事例，于是认识到：争辩是恶性前极，带给我的是销售失败的恶性后极。而洗耳恭听是善性前极，所以带给我的则是善性后极，如对我有好印象，从而买我的产品等。
　　
虽然在销售的工作上我是稍得到一点成绩，但由于销售工作的压力大，每天除了要面对客户的种种问题之外，还要面对公司销售额增长的问题、下属与上司的人事问题、新旧供应商带来的种种问题等，使到我几年过后发觉自己每当接到不如意的事件时，脾气总是很急躁，但脑海里却是一片的空白，更可怕的是，觉得身体里有一股气流往头上升，健康也开始走下坡。我知道那是因为我无法好好地平衡自己的心理情绪的缘故。就在一年前（一九九二年中），想到了为何不也以先前提到的售销时所采用的“两极”哲学来解决这些问题呢？经过了几个月的尝试，答案是肯定的，我发觉一切都有所改善，现在已没有那种一股气流往头上升的情形，而且健康也有显著的进步。我这时才悟出了初步的两极哲理深奥之所在，并开始向一些朋友谈论，但还没有把它定名为两极哲理。这段时期我再把两极哲理运用在家庭生活上，结果也使我的家庭生活比从前更和谐融洽了（这点也许我的太太可以说些话）。我这时候才完全相信了两极哲理的威力是多么的巨大啊！
　　
我与朋友谈论两极哲理时，其中有一位听了很感兴趣而鼓励我把它写出来，太太也赞成我这么做。但我只是“空谈”了好些日子，直到今年的卫塞节，我才顿然决定把它写出来，并定名为两极哲理。谈到“两极哲理”此名的来源，是因为笔者初时与朋友畅谈“两极”道理时，很喜欢用原子笔、尺，或筷子来帮助说明。这些条状东西都各具两极，因而在为此哲理命名时，很自然地称之为两极哲理。所以“两极”之名，与其他经典学说如易经等所提到的“极”，并无任何关系。（注：写完此文的几年后才掘发书中的“两极”和易经的有一定的关系，2008/06/21补正）　　
　　
这里我也同时提一提，就是在我年少时，大概是十八、九岁吧，心里就一直觉得有一件事要去做。我经常下意识地把这心里话告诉太太、同事或甚至是第一次认识的朋友。我在音乐方面找寻了一段时间，得不到答案。又在事业上找寻，虽然还做得不错，但也不是答案。直到我在卫塞节的那天才猛然醒悟我所要做的那件事原来就是发掘两极哲理，是不是巧合？我不知道。
　　
两极哲理虽然在人间孕育了几千年，但现在才面世几个月，就象婴儿一样需要读者你和每个人的爱护，她才能快快长大。未来的岁月，也继续要读者你和人间的爱，才会两极常青理长在。
一九九三年十月

英文版
Part Six: The Origin of the Law of Event(s) upon Event

The Law of Event(s) upon Event (LEE) came into being at the very creation of this world. Traces of this law can be found in daily life, individual behaviour, business activities and government administration. Though perpetual even in the past, it still needs to be theorized by the present day people, including you and me. Its rationalization is but a recent undertaking.

By the way, an incident which happened as early as in 1972 is still fresh in my memory. I did not know that I was able to use this law even at that time. What is even more perplexing is that, I still remember every detail of the incident. At that time, I was participating in activities held by a cultural organization. One of the participants complained to me that her principal kept assigning her new tasks. I told her that was good, because it shows the principal's trust in her. That was my earliest application of this law to achieve psychological balance, though in that case the application is to someone else, but not to me. However, after this incident, I still behaved in my own way instead of coming to a thorough understanding of this law and behaving in accordance with it. Not until 1982, when I left my position as a laboratory technician at NUS to become a salesman, did I begin to apply this law conscientiously. At that time my job was to promote the sales of medical and scientific appliances. The customers were mostly doctors, professors and lecturers. Despite their knowledge in natural science, they proved quite weak when coming to the properties of the appliances, which was my expertise. Yet some doctors or professors were keen on starting an argument about the products, sometime the argument became quarrels. In most cases, I turned out to be the winner of the arguments. However, the consequences were that they rejected my products, even if I won the argument. Hence I changed my tactics. Instead of arguing with them, I listened politely to their opinions, the result is, whatever initial complaints they had about the products, they eventually decided to purchase our products. Incidents like these started my search for the philosophy behind this law. The positive and negative effects led me to the conclusion: arguments (or quarrels) are negative starting events which resulted in my failure in marketing the products; while polite listening (as a positive starting event) promoted the sale.

Despite my success as a salesman, I could not help, on many occasions, losing temper, because I was constantly under pressure. I had to solve various problems from the customers everyday; I had to deal with different suppliers and to make difficult decisions very often; the worse was, I have to improve my unharmonious relationship with colleagues and the bosses, which constantly giving me pressure and stress. In facing these problems, I could not help flaring up when frustrated. When I lost my temper, I felt a strong stream of air moving up inside, and my mind becoming a complete blank. Such symptoms are the prelude of stroke according to Chinese medicine. As a result, my health began to deteriorate. I knew this was due to my psychological imbalance.

In mid 1992, I began to consider the possibilities of using this law to solve these knotty psychological problems. Several months of experimenting proved its feasibility and positive effects. No longer did I feel the stream of air moving up. My health was improving. Having realized the power of this law, I began to discuss it with friends. Finally, I named it the "Law of event(s) upon event". In the meantime, its application to family matters improved relations with my family, for which my wife can testify. Not until now do I believe the great power of this law.

One of my friends, after several discussions, showed profound interest in this law. He encouraged me to write it down, so did my wife. It was not until Vesak Day did I made up my mind to write and name it the "law of events upon event". When talking about the Chinese title "Liangji Zheli", many asked me to explain the meaning of "Liangji" and whether it has any implications as used in some classical works. The answer is "no". The reason for this diction is very simple. It is simply because I often illustrate LEE with the help of ball pens, rulers or chopsticks which have two ends, "two ends" can be called as "Liangji" in Chinese, hence the choice of "Liangji". This diction has nothing to do with the term "Liangji" as used in such classical works as the Book of Changes.

By the way, when I was young, about 18 or 19, I always felt that I would have something significant to do in future. I often share this feeling, subconsciously, with my wife, colleagues or even first acquaintances. I kept wondering what it was that was really significant for me to do. I have sought for an answer in musical circles, but to no avail. Then I continued to search for it in my career, still I did not find the answer. Finally, on Vesak Day, it suddenly came to me that the very thing I should do is to develop LEE. What a coincidence! LEE, though having been cultivated for several thousand years, is only but a newborn of a few months that needs care and love. Its growth and maturity rests upon the care and love of every reader, without which this law cannot expect to remain perpetual.


Oct. 1993