stackyFACTS
Myths & mysteries

Uncarved block philosophy praises pure simplicity

HERE’S THE INTERESTING PART

Most people strive to acquire complex skills and sophisticated tastes, but ancient mystics thought being a blank slate was far superior. The uncarved block concept represents a state of pure potential, free from societal conditioning and unnecessary intellectual baggage. It celebrates the profound wisdom of acting like a complete novice.

Uncarved block philosophy praises pure simplicity
STACKY / Myths & mysteries

This article describes beliefs and cultural traditions, which are not necessarily scientifically established facts.

One discovery leads to another.

Keep exploring facts in this topic.

Myths & mysteries →
STACKY FOR IPHONE

A bigger world.
One discovery
at a time.

Keep discovering with Stacky. Interesting facts in an app that is always within reach.

Download on the App Store
ONE MORE DISCOVERY?

Keep exploring

All in this topic →
Spiritual masters deliberately break rigid social etiquette
Myths & mysteries

Spiritual masters deliberately break rigid social etiquette

Being polite is irrelevant when you are ruthlessly aiming for enlightenment. Highly realized teachers often act incredibly rude or wildly inappropriate in…

Discover more
Bodhidharma supposedly stared at a wall for nine years to reach enlightenment
Myths & mysteries

Bodhidharma supposedly stared at a wall for nine years to reach enlightenment

If you thought staring at your phone was bad, try an empty wall. Bodhidharma supposedly stared at a cave wall for nine years to achieve enlightenment,…

Discover more
Shikan-taza is meditation with no focal object, mantra, or goal
Myths & mysteries

Shikan-taza is meditation with no focal object, mantra, or goal

The ultimate anti-hustle philosophy demands you just sit down and shut up. Translating to 'nothing but precisely sitting', it is a form of meditation where…

Discover more
Gateless gate is an entrance that does not actually exist
Myths & mysteries

Gateless gate is an entrance that does not actually exist

Trying to walk through a door that isn't there is peak mystical comedy. Representing the threshold to enlightenment, this concept implies that from the…

Discover more
Monasteries use loud wooden clappers to command instant focus
Myths & mysteries

Monasteries use loud wooden clappers to command instant focus

Gentle alarms are far too modern for ancient spiritual rhythms. The sharp, piercing crack of wooden blocks being struck together echoes through the halls,…

Discover more
Mystics fiercely divide life into doing things and staring
Myths & mysteries

Mystics fiercely divide life into doing things and staring

The classic split between 'praxis' and 'theoria' assumes humanity has only two modes: actively doing chores to clean up your messy life, or sitting entirely…

Discover more
StackyMore discoveries in the app
Download on the App Store