Chapter 442: Questions about the Spiritual Path

The other party suddenly shifted from small talk to the main topic, which caught Li Qi slightly off guard, but he immediately realized that the previous stories were merely a prelude.

The Spirit Dao, in the final analysis, encountered the same problem that Li Qi had faced back then.

Wang Dun continued, "The demon race in the extreme north live in a harsh, cold land, unable to obtain sufficient material comforts year-round. Therefore, the most common way for them to spend winter is to gather together and listen to the elders of their tribe expound on the Dao. This also led them to develop a characteristic of not caring about material enjoyment, but rather focusing more on spiritual enjoyment."

"However, after their first separation from the physical body, they encountered a problem: although the spirit could exist independently, it could not perceive. More precisely... the spirit could only self-perceive. Li Qi, do you understand?" Wang Dun asked, looking at Li Qi.

"Of course, I understand. I've also pondered this problem," Li Qi said with a smile.

This was indeed a problem. The spirit could only self-perceive and self-exist, but it could not confirm the existence of other minds. This was also the foundation for the birth of the Demonic Dao.

The Demonic Dao focuses on self-perception and self-existence to the extent of completely ignoring the existence of other spiritual entities, which is why the Demonic Dao always commits incredibly absurd acts, because they don't care about the feelings of other spirits.

All of this is simply because the mind only possesses the ability of self-perception, not the ability of external perception; only matter possesses the ability of external perception.

Each of us can intuitively perceive our own mental experience from a first-person perspective.

However, when one looks at others, just like Li Qi looking at Wang Dun, Li Qi can only see Wang Dun's body, confirming the other party's existence physically, but cannot feel Wang Dun's inner experience, unable to confirm Wang Dun's mental existence.

This is the so-called asymmetry of mental perception, one of the essential attributes of the spirit.

In the past, the Daoist Master Nanhua of the Dao Sect once discovered this, leading to the assertion, 'You are not a fish; how do you know the joy of fish?' and the question, 'Is it Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou?'

Each of us is necessarily not another person, and therefore necessarily unable to perceive things other than ourselves. This is an immense difficulty for a pure spirit.

"This almost led to the complete Fusion of the Spirit Dao with the Demonic Dao, nearly causing a great disaster. However, fortunately, the Spirit Dao eventually found a way to observe other minds, which is the current 'Dao Principle Reader'."

"With the 'Dao Principle Reader', the Spirit Dao can clearly perceive the existence of other spirits and also the existence of the material world. Thus, this item became the eyes, ears, and other senses for those in the Spirit Dao, as well as proof of the existence of others, to maintain the stability of the Spirit Dao."

"As for us who possess physical bodies and physical senses, we don't need this item; it's meaningless to us and only adds to the consumption," Wang Dun said, spreading his hands.

At this point, Wang Dun immediately asked, "So, Li Qi, could you tell me why you possess a Dao Principle Reader? You are using this item to replace your physical senses. Why? This is very inconsistent with your identity as a Shaman."

But Li Qi did not answer this question; instead, he said, "We can discuss these later. May I ask, Brother Wang, how does this Dao Principle Reader work? How does it manage to confirm the existence of the outside world?"

"You already have a Dao Principle Reader; don't you know yourself? Of course, it's through the verification of the Dao," Wang Dun said matter-of-factly.

"Within the spirit, only pure thought and logic can exist. However, these things located in pure logic can produce a wonderful correspondence with the real material world, enough to prove the strange connection between spirit and matter, isn't that right?"

Li Qi nodded, indicating his agreement.

Pure logic can indeed mysteriously reflect the material world, such as mathematics.

A priori things in mathematics can always find a reflection in the material world. Whatever holds true in mathematics can basically hold true in the material world.

This is the mapping relationship between logic and the world. This world ultimately follows logic, even if logic itself is not complete.

Seeing that Li Qi understood this point, Wang Dun continued to explain, "So, it's very simple. If logic can map to reality, then one only needs to understand logic and then map it to reality to understand the essence of the real material world. This is what the Dao Principle Reader is, and the reason it's called this is because the Spirit Dao believes that the Dao is logic, and logic is the Dao."

"If the world operates according to logic, such as the existence of Karma, then logic is undoubtedly a priori and guiding. If such a thing cannot be called the Dao, then what else can be called the Dao?"

"If such a thing can be called the Dao, then it must conform to the rules of logic. As long as it is verified and communicated through logic, it is naturally possible to observe the minds of others to confirm the existence of other minds, isn't that right?"

Wang Dun said so.

Li Qi fell into deep thought.

After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly realized and clapped his hands in delight!

So that's how it is!

How marvelous, truly marvelous!

The Dao Principle can be likened to language.

A language must conform to certain rules to be understood by people. If it's a so-called private language, meaning purely subjective feelings without any rules, you won't even understand it yourself after a while, so such a thing cannot be understood or communicated.

And once a language has rules, then these rules must be public. As long as you can understand it yourself, it can, in principle, be understood by others, which means it is not a private language.

Through this kind of reductio ad absurdum, it can be proven that so-called private languages do not exist. It is impossible for a language to exist that, in principle, only I can know, but others cannot.

That is to say, it is impossible for a 'Dao' to exist that only I can understand, and others cannot.

When we use language, or something else like mathematics and the Dao Principle, to express inner feelings, it must adhere to a set of linguistic rules. It must be public; it must be understandable to others. Otherwise, a language that cannot be understood by others cannot be understood by oneself either.

The meaning of this language, or Dao Principle communication, is not that it reflects our hidden inner concepts, but rather that it is an activity, a practice. The meaning of language lies in its use in practice.

This Dao Principle communication is a display of behavior. We use language to report, to describe. Language is always a display of action, an activity, a practice.

And all activities and practices must be put into practice; they are beyond doubt.

Therefore, questioning whether the minds of others exist is not an object of knowledge or theoretical inquiry.

Such questioning is meaningless.

For example, if you propose the skeptical notion that others actually have no minds, then who do you expect to listen to this skeptical statement?

You say that others may not have minds, that they are all Puppet Puppets, or that they are all reflections of your own inner self. So, when you ask others this question, do you expect these Puppet Puppets to listen and explain to you?

If you expect this, then have you already subjectively assumed that others possess the ability to answer and think?

Or, from the perspective of others, if you are a Puppet Puppet who may not have a mind, then to me, this question is posed by a Puppet Puppet. A Puppet Puppet says we are Puppet Puppets?

Therefore, it's not worth addressing.

Such skeptical notions would render any human interaction meaningless.

Therefore, we can use 'language,' or rather, the Dao Principle, to believe in others, and utilize others to provide assurance for the objective reality of this world. Although the inaccessibility of others' inner minds cannot be eliminated, an absolute a priori self is not the entirety of the objective world, because it has been disproven through the logicality of the Dao Principle.

Li Qi suddenly realized, exclaiming how marvelous it was!

This exchange directly deepened Li Qi's understanding of Information Stream Vision by another level.

So that's how it is.

Just this conversation alone immediately gave Li Qi a new understanding, which he could surely apply next time!

Traveling truly broadens one's horizons!

"Alright, alright, you can slowly digest it later when we go back. Li Qi, let's talk about why you have the Dao Principle Reader. This item cannot be refined by Shaman Dao methods," Wang Dun said with a smile, calming Li Qi, while asking the question again, emphasizing his tone.

Clearly, he was starting to suspect Li Qi for evading the question several times before.

"Haha, since my doubts are resolved, there's no harm in telling Brother Wang. This Dao Principle Reader also came from a similar predicament," Li Qi said with a laugh, feeling very pleased.

He had obtained a second weapon to counter the Heaven Demon!

The Heaven Demon represents extreme solipsism, which is also the essence of the Demonic Dao: "Everything in the world is a mental projection of 'me'; everything in the world, apart from 'me,' has no further meaning."

The Heaven Demon even used this to create the 'Desire Realm,' an existence encompassing all reality.

And now, the Spirit Dao provided an answer, an answer that could confirm the existence of other spirits. Although the Heaven Demon might have ten thousand ways to refute this answer, that wasn't important. Li Qi only needed to have this answer in his own heart.

"Similar predicament? What do you mean?" Wang Dun asked, puzzled.

"It's like this: in the past, I had a strange encounter and was accidentally contaminated by a drop of Five Aggregates Demonic Blood..." Li Qi began to recount.

"Contaminated by Five Aggregates Demonic Blood? And you're still alive?!" Wang Dun exclaimed in shock!

To be contaminated by Five Aggregates Demonic Blood and not die, what kind of formidable person was this?

One must know, what kind of existence is the Demon of the Five Aggregates?

The Four Demons of the Demonic Dao.

First and foremost is naturally the Heavenly Demon of Enjoying Others’ Emanations, capable of manifesting various terrifying异形 to frighten practitioners at night, or displaying the supreme Five Desires to disturb Bodhisattvas, or transforming the hearts of the mundane into great offerings. If a practitioner becomes attached to offerings, they fall and lose their Dao Heart; this is the Demon of Illusion.

The other three Demons are, in order:

The Demon of Affliction, which refers to the 108 afflictions within one's body, capable of disturbing the minds of sentient beings, seizing their wisdom-life, and preventing them from achieving Bodhi.

The Demon of Death, who severs one's life, leading to demise, causing sentient beings' Four Greats to disperse, resulting in untimely death and preventing practitioners from extending their wisdom-life.

The Demon of the Five Aggregates, which refers to the aggregation of form, feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness, leading to the bitter fruit of birth and death. This dharma of birth and death can seize wisdom-life and cause sentient beings to experience various obstacles.

The Four Demons are the nightmare of countless practitioners, having destroyed the Dao Heart of an unknown number of people. They are true giants within the Demonic Dao, roaming the heavens, spreading demonic thoughts, and causing countless worlds to fall into their hands, unable to extricate themselves.

A drop of blood from the Demon of the Five Aggregates, if it fell on a seventh-rank person, should directly melt through them, causing both body and mind to fall, never to be reborn. How could one still be alive and kicking, chatting and laughing with people?

Let alone a seventh-rank, even a fourth or fifth-rank would find no way out.

"Brother Wang exaggerates. That was not true Five Aggregates Demonic Blood, but purified, inactive Five Aggregates Demonic Blood. Although still very dangerous, its power was greatly reduced," Li Qi quickly explained.

Mahakala holds a Kapala skull-cup, in which the blood of the Four Demons is contained. He often drinks this blood from the cup, symbolizing his power as a Buddhist Dharma Protector deity to subdue demons.

What Li Qi came into contact with was a drop of blood spilled from this cup.

"Purified? Impossible! Which great power has the ability to purify Five Aggregates Demonic Blood? That's the Demon of the Five Aggregates! Who could possess such capability?" Wang Dun disbelieved.

Li Qi, however, uttered three words:

"Mahakala."

As the three words 'Mahakala' came out, Wang Dun was immediately speechless, not knowing what to say.

Finally, he could only cup his hands and say, "Brother Li's bizarre encounters are truly admirable."

"Getting back to the point, anyway, after I came into contact with that drop of Five Aggregates Demonic Blood, my five aggregates were obscured, and I lost all perception and the ability to observe matter," Li Qi said.

"I can understand, but... that you actually managed to survive such a desperate situation, did you develop this Dao Principle Reader from scratch yourself? Or did you accidentally receive a Legacy?" Wang Dun asked curiously.

He completely understood now.

Li Qi had also come into contact with pure spirit and had created the Dao Principle Reader himself.

"It wasn't exactly from scratch, because I had already speculated about the pure spirit before. That time just forced me to resume research in that area," Li Qi said modestly.

Wang Dun looked at him with respect, "It truly was from scratch! Brother Li is indeed impressive. With such talent and wisdom, would you be willing to honor us by coming to my Doctrinal Canon and explaining to all our fellow Daoists how you did it? Don't worry, my Doctrinal Canon is in East Isle, and Brother Li's remuneration will not be small!"

"My conversation with Brother Wang today has already benefited me greatly. If we can truly exchange knowledge and share a thing or two, what's the harm? No remuneration is needed. I should be in East Isle preparing a ship for the next few days. Whenever you all are free, I am available," Li Qi readily agreed.

The two chatted happily, seeming to hit it off immediately. Neither suspected the other of lying or similar things. They made arrangements for their next meeting and then bid each other farewell.

However, as soon as he turned around, Li Qi's expression darkened.