Chapter 2 The Second Dimension: Position On A Ray

Mankind evolved to the next stage in consciousness as people first became aware of time, and that things in space 'change' over time. Mankind became aware of the existence of time, and mankind could distinguish between time and space. This is symbolic of the coming into existence of finite space from infinite time in the second dimension of the universe.

The awareness of time enabled humans to recognize similarities and differences among things, by which things could be grouped together or grouped apart. For both the ancient Chinese culture and the ancient Greek & Roman culture, the number '2' came to symbolize this awareness of similarities and differences through change. This is symbolized by a grouping of each individual thing, or attribute, in nature into one of the '2' recognized distinctions, things that are similar and things that are different. All things that were recognized to be distinct from the things of one group were recognized to be fundamentally similar to all of the other things that are in the other group.

The first cycle of nature of which mankind was aware, the cycle that enabled mankind to become aware of the second dimension, was the cycle of light and darkness, which is known as the 'day'.

In the same way that the unity of space subdivided into a distinction of light from darkness, in the second dimension of awareness, the 'now', the present, of time subdivided into the 'now' and the 'not now'. The 'now' is the present, and the 'not now' is the past.

Both time and space in the second dimension of awareness can be symbolized by the geometric uni-directional ray segment. The point at the beginning of the ray represents the point of the here and now, the present. As mankind learned to look forward, 'before' himself in space, beyond the point of the here, he learned to look forward, 'before' himself in time, into time that has flowed into the past. Notice that the word 'before' is used in English both for 'in front' in space and 'in the past' in time. There was as yet no awareness of the future.

2.1 Language In The '2'nd Dimension

As there was awareness of change, there could be awareness of similarities among objects, by which to group objects together, and of differences among objects, by which to group objects apart.

In the second dimension of awareness, one dimensional proper nouns evolved into two dimensional group nouns. An example is the group noun 'man', which symbolizes both of the proper nouns 'Joe' and 'Bill'.

In the '2'nd dimension of awareness, mankind developed the '2'nd type of word in language, the 'adjective'. There were as yet no verbs. Two dimensional adjectives, uni-directional adjectives, symbolize changes in nouns that flow in '1' direction. Examples of two dimensional adjectives are 'young' and 'old'. Joe might be 'young now'. Later, he will be 'old now', and at the same time he will have been 'young before', in the past. 'Young' can flow into 'old', but 'old' cannot flow into 'young', as the second dimension of awareness is awareness of a uni-directional flow from the present into the past.

In the '2'nd dimension of awareness, language developed another unit of meaning. The two dimensional unit of meaning is the 'phrase'. There were as yet no 'clauses'. Adjectives and nouns could be combined to form a uni-directional ray segment. An example of the two dimensional unit of meaning, the phrase, that is used to express the position of the noun 'man' at a point on a ray is the phrase 'young man'. When the noun 'man' is spoken, it becomes the present, as it was spoken 'now'. At that point in time, the adjective 'young' has already become part of the past, as it was spoken 'before' the noun.

In the first dimension of awareness, there was awareness of only the 'point'. In the second dimension of awareness, there was also awareness of the 'ray'. One dimensional points can interact on a two dimensional ray. The words 'young' and 'man' are examples of 'words', the one dimensional unit of meaning. The phrase 'young man' is an example of two points that are interacting on a ray.

The second dimension is the dimension of 'position'. An object, or attribute, can be at the position at the point of the 'now', or it can be positioned at a point in the 'before'. On the ray of position, there could either be 'Joe here' or be 'Joe there'. In the second dimension of awareness, other than existence nothing else can be known about an object other than its position on a ray.

2.2 Chinese In The '2'nd Dimension

In the '2'nd dimension of awareness, the Tao gave rise to 1. With awareness of the '2'nd dimension, the '1'st dimension subdivided into '2'. The '2'nd dimension symbolizes an awareness of '1' subdivision into '2'. The number '2' with '1' subdivision can be symbolized mathematically as '2¹', and as '2¹ = 2', in the '2'nd dimension there is awareness of '2'. The '1'st subdivision of the unity of the Tao was the subdivision of '1' into '2'.

In the second dimension of awareness, the ancient Chinese became aware of themselves not as one indivisible body, but as a body with two symmetrical halves. Each half complements the other, neither can exist without the other, and together they form an indivisible and unified whole. The ancient Chinese noticed that all of nature conforms to a pattern of grouping on the basis of similarities and differences into complementary pairs of symmetrical 'polarities'. These polarities of nature are known to the Chinese as Yang and Yin. The words 'Yang', , and 'Yin', , rhyme with 'pong' and 'pin'.

The words Yang and Yin symbolize all things and attributes that can be associated with one side or the other of the human body, as that is how mankind symbolized these '2' distinctions in '2' dimensional nature. For example, nature can be grouped into such complementary pairs as the heavens and the earth, across the heavens move the sun and the moon, and across the earth move man and woman. The sun is associated with 'day' and the moon is associated with 'night'. The day is associated with motion, and activity, etc., and the night is associated with stillness, and rest, etc. Motion and stillness are the primary symbols of Yang and Yin.

                    Yang                Yin
                    Heavens             Earth
                    Sun                 Moon
                    Man                 Woman
                    Day                 Night
                    Motion              Stillness
                    Activity            Rest

Fire and water were the traditional Chinese symbols of Yang and Yin. Fire rises up to the heavens, and so fire is Yang, as is 'rising'. Water in the form of rain falls down to the earth, and so water is Yin, as is 'falling'. Fire makes things hot, and water makes things cold. Fire makes things dry, and water makes things wet. And so on.

                    Yang                Yin
                    Fire                Water
                    Rising              Falling
                    Hot                 Cold
                    Dry                 Wet

The human body also follows this pattern of subdivision into Yang and Yin. For example, people have '2' eyes, '2' ears, '2' legs, '2' arms, '2' hands, '2' thumbs, '2' bones per thumb, etc.

Odd numbers, such as 1, are Yang, as when time is alone in the universe, or when the sun is alone in the sky or man is alone on the earth. Even numbers, such as 2, are Yin, as when time is together with space in the form of space-time, or when the sun is together with the moon in the sky or man is together with woman on the earth.

As '1' does not symbolize a subdivision of nature, '2' is the beginning of 'numbers'. The number '2' is followed by '3'. Of this pair, the odd number, '3', is greater than the even number, '2'. Each even number is followed by its pair, which is greater. Therefore, low numbers are Yin, and high numbers are Yang.

                    Yang               Yin
                     1                  2
                Odd numbers         Even numbers
                Large numbers       Small numbers

Because of the nature of the Chinese civilization, the ancient Chinese became accustomed to orient themselves in space by observing the point in space where the sun is at its highest in the sky, due south. When people orient, or face, the sun in the southern sky, the left hand is on the side of the rising sun, and the right hand is on the side of the setting sun. As the rising sun heralds the coming of day, it is Yang, and as the setting sun heralds the coming of night, it is Yin. It is therefore 'natural' that the ancient Chinese came to consider the left side, left hand, etc. to be Yang, and the right side, right hand, etc. to be Yin.

                    Yang                Yin
                    Left                Right

The Chinese recognized that which is formless, that which cannot be touched, to be Yang, and to be infinite, and that which has form, that which can be touched, to be Yin, and to be finite.

                    Yang                Yin
                    Formless            Form
                    Infinite            Finite

All of these symbolic identifications with Yang and Yin reflect an understanding of the distinction between time and space. Just as a child crawls horizontally '1'st and walks vertically '2'nd, and just as the earliest ancestors of mankind moved about on four legs horizontally '1'st and walked on two legs vertically '2'nd, mankind became aware of space '1'st and became aware of time '2'nd. Therefore, for Chinese, space is '1'st (Yang) and time is '2'nd (Yin).

                    Yang                Yin
                    Space               Time

Mankind looks horizontally, along the earth, to observe space. Mankind looks vertically, into the heavens, to observe time. As space (Yang) is '1'st (Yang) in Chinese, horizontal is Yang. As time (Yin) is '2'nd (Yin) in Chinese, vertical is Yin.

                    Yang                Yin
                  Horizontal          Vertical

In the '2'nd dimension of awareness, time is subdivided into light (Yang) and darkness (Yin). Time is subdivided into noon (Yang) and midnight (Yin). Space is subdivided into south (Yang) and north (Yin). Space is subdivided into a 'there' (Yang) and a 'here' (Yin). Time is subdivided into a past (Yang) and a present (Yin). Language is subdivided into adjectives (Yang) and nouns (Yin). Thus, for example, when the noun (Yin) in a phrase is spoken, it is spoken at the point of the here (Yin) in the present (Yin), at which time the adjectives (Yang) in the phrase will already have been spoken there (Yang) in the past (Yang).

                    Yang                Yin
                    Light               Darkness
                    Noon                Midnight
                    South               North
                    There               Here
                    Past                Present
                    Adjectives          Nouns
                    Etc.                Etc.

All relationships in nature can be understood in terms of a balance of Yang and Yin. For example, Chinese orients to the '1'st dimension, and English orients to the '4'th dimension. The number '1' is odd (Yang) and the number '4' is even (Yin). As well, Chinese became a distinct language '1'st (Yang), and English became a distinct language '2'nd (Yin). Therefore, Chinese is Yang to the Yin of English.

                    Yang                Yin
                   Chinese             English

Yang and Yin symbolize a relationship, a balance. To say that man is Yang and that woman is Yin means that, while they share the same qualities of Yang and Yin by virtue of both being humans, all distinctions between man and woman can be understood and expressed in terms of distinctions of Yang and Yin, wherein man will in all cases relate to the Yang aspect of the distinction and woman will in all cases relate to the Yin aspect of the distinction. As well, just as with Yang and Yin, neither man nor woman can exist without the other.

2.3 English In The '2'nd Dimension

To the ancient Greeks and Romans, the awareness of similarities and differences among things was also symbolized by grouping each recognized thing or aspect of nature into one of two polarities, such as the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, man and woman, day and night, etc.

The ancient Greeks and Romans considered all of nature to be manifestations of 'gods', and they assigned to each of them a gender, either masculine, like man, or feminine, like woman. In fact, although English no longer does so, the very nouns that name each thing or attribute in nature were originally designed to reflect the gender that was attributed to each. For example, in modern Spanish, there are two forms of the word 'the', in order to identify clearly the gender that has been attributed to each noun; 'él' symbolizes the masculine gender and 'la' symbolizes the feminine gender. Many factors have influenced the rules for assignment of gender over the millennia, and therefore the Spanish gender does not always match the Yang/Yin attribute, particularly for the more abstract concepts, but just as with Chinese, the Spanish words for 'heaven', 'sun', 'man', and 'day' are symbolized as masculine 'things', and the words 'earth', 'moon', 'woman', and 'night' are symbolized as feminine 'things'. (Because English lacks adequate '2' dimensional equivalents to the words 'Yang' and 'Yin', these words will be applied to English.)

              Yang                    Yin
          Él (masculine 'the')    La (feminine 'the')
          Cielo (Heaven)          Tierra (Earth)
          Sol (Sun)               Luna (Moon)
          Hombre (Man)            Mujer (Woman)
          Día (Day)               Noche (Night)

Just as with the Chinese, the ancient Greeks considered odd numbers to be masculine, and even numbers to be feminine.

However, unlike the Chinese civilization, because of the nature of the ancient civilization that evolved into that of modern English, the ancient speakers of that language became accustomed to orient themselves in space by observing the point in space where the sun begins to rise, due east. The very word 'orient' was originally a word that symbolized the 'sunrise'. When people orient, or face, the sunrise, the right hand is on the side where the sun passes overhead, and the left hand is on the side where it does not. As the presence of the sun was considered masculine, and its absence was considered feminine, it was 'natural' that the ancient ancestors of English came to consider the right side, right hand, etc. to be masculine, and the left side, left hand, etc. to be feminine.

                Yang                Yin
                Odd numbers         Even numbers
                Masculine           Feminine
                East                West
                Right               Left

Whereas Chinese has a primary orientation to space, English has a primary orientation to time. In English, time is '1'st (Yang) and space is '2'nd (Yin). As time is Yang in English, vertical is Yang. As space is Yin in English, horizontal is Yin.

                Yang                Yin
                Time                Space
                Vertical            Horizontal

Speakers of Indo-European languages symbolize the polarities of 'good' and 'evil' in this same manner. 'Good' is Yang, just as the right side is Yang. 'Evil' is Yin, just as the left side is Yin. Therefore, in English, for example, the word 'right' is identified with 'good' attributes, such as 'correct' (not 'incorrect'), 'innate prerogative' (such as 'human right'), 'righteous' (following the 'right' way), 'adroit' ('skillful', from French 'droit' = 'right'), 'dexterous' ('skillful', from Latin 'dexter' = 'right'), etc. As well, the word 'left' is identified with 'evil' attributes, such as 'sinister' ('evil', from Latin 'sinister' = 'left'), 'gauche' ('socially awkward', from French 'gauche' = 'left'), 'awkward' ('clumsy', from Middle English 'awke ward' = 'in the awke direction', where 'awke' implies 'left'), etc. As well, 'right hand man' is someone on whom a person can rely, just as 'Benjamin' is Hebrew for 'son of the right hand', etc., whereas a person who is 'out in left field' is someone who 'doesn't know where he is', etc.

The English word 'right' is a Germanic word that is related to the Latin word root 'rect'. For example, the word 'correct' means 'right' (from Latin 'con' = 'with' and 'rect' = 'right'). The root 'rect' also means 'straight', as in 'direct', 'erect', 'rectangle', etc. Therefore, in English, to be 'straight', just as with to be 'right', means to be 'good'. In the same way, to be 'curved' is to be 'bad'. For example, a person who is 'crooked' (curved) is evil (Yin). Such a person can become good (Yang) by 'going straight'. In English, straight is Yang and curved is Yin.

                Yang                Yin
                Right               Left
                Good                Evil
                Straight            Curved

Because of their subdivision of all of nature according to human gender, for the ancient Greeks and Romans the number '2' also symbolized awareness of the relationship of mankind to the interaction of time and space. The god of the heavens was identified as a male father figure, and the god of the earth was identified as a female mother figure. The union of the heavens and the earth was believed to produce all life, and to enable the earth to bear fruit, just as the union of man and woman produces life, and enables women to bear children.

The heavens (Yang), the masculine (Yang) father figure, is symbolic of time (Yang), and it is the motion of objects through the heavens that enables mankind to count cycles of time. The earth (Yin), the feminine (Yin) mother figure, is symbolic of space (Yin), and it is the motion of objects on the earth that enables mankind to measure space.

Many ancient cosmologies recognize the oneness of time, of the heavens, of Yang, as giving rise to space, to the earth, to Yin, with the coming of light. These cosmologies reflect an awareness of the pattern of the universe.

2.4 Chinese Finger Symbolism In The '2'nd Dimension

When people see motion in the distance in space, how do they understand this motion? They symbolically look at their fingers. The fingers are positioned immediately in front of the face. For each person, 'my' fingers symbolize 'my' space. People symbolize the earth (space) and the heavens (time) about them on the basis of relationships that they see on their fingers, relationships that their fingers symbolize here, immediately in front of their face, now.

The description of finger symbolism throughout this book should be thought of as symbolic of a pattern of orientation to time and space. It is not that each person physically counts in this way, but that civilizations have collectively evolved to become aware of the patterns of nature in this manner. Symbolically, each person orients constantly to time and space in this manner.

In the first dimension, mankind was only aware of a unity of space-time at the point, right now, right here. In the second dimension of awareness, there was a subdivision of the unity into '2'. These '2' are known as Yang and Yin. (In Chinese, these are called 'Yin and Yang', as space (Yin) is '1'st (Yang) and time (Yang) is '2'nd (Yin) in Chinese. However, as this book is written in English, for which time (Yang) is '1'st (Yang) and space (Yin) is '2'nd (Yin), in this book they will consistently be called 'Yang and Yin'.) Yang and Yin symbolize a subdivision of the unity of the universe into time (Yang) and space (Yin). Yang symbolizes the heavens, where mankind observes time, and Yin symbolizes the earth, where mankind observes space. To observe time, it is necessary to look 'vertically' into the sky. To observe space, it is necessary to look 'horizontally' across the earth. Therefore, vertical symbolizes time and horizontal symbolizes space.

In the universe, time gave rise to space. In the universe, time was '1'st (Yang) and space was '2'nd (Yin). However, 'awareness' of time and space follows a symmetrical pattern. Human awareness of space is '1'st and awareness of time is '2'nd.

It is widely recognized that at one time the ancestors of human beings walked on four legs, and that it was a major stage in the evolution of mankind when they began to walk upright on two legs. In other words, mankind '1'st had a 'horizontal' orientation to the earth, where the head, neck, and back were all parallel to the earth, and '2'nd had a 'vertical' orientation to the earth, where head, neck, and back were all perpendicular to the earth. Therefore, in the evolution of human awareness, horizontal (space) was '1'st and vertical (time) was '2'nd.

The life of each person follows the same pattern. A baby '1'st crawls, with a horizontal orientation to the earth, and '2'nd walks, with a vertical orientation. When a baby crawls, the eyes point downward (Yin) toward the earth (Yin). When the eyes incline upward (Yang), the baby can look horizontally across space. When a person walks vertically, he can observe forward across space. When the eyes incline upward, they can observe time in the heavens. Therefore, a horizontal baby can only observe the earth (Yin), and space (Yin), and only once he becomes vertical can he begin to observe the heavens (Yang) and time (Yang).

As Chinese is genetically the 'youngest' modern language, Chinese orients to space '1'st and to time '2'nd. Therefore, for speakers of Chinese, space is Yang, and horizontal is Yang; time is Yin, and vertical is Yin.

One dimensional mankind did not have one fixed point of orientation to time and space, but reoriented constantly in time and space. The earth does not have a constant orientation to the sun, but rotates on its axis, constantly changing its orientation to the sun. The earth and the sun are the main centers of gravity in the solar system, and each person's orientation to the two centers of gravity is constantly changing.

The bodies of people with awareness of one dimension would orient as a unit to the gravity around them. Therefore, the hands are symbolically relaxed (Yin), and are allowed to hang down (Yin) at the sides. The fists are closed (Yin), and the thumbs rest (Yin) alongside the index fingers. (Photo 2.4-1)

Photo 2.4-1

Over the course of the day, the body will symbolically mark out a 360 degree circle. Originally, this would have been from right to left, in a counter-clockwise direction, because the homeland of mankind in Africa is south of the equator, and the sun, moon, etc. rise on the right.

At the time of awareness of one dimension, the ancestors of the speakers of Chinese left Africa. They went north across the equator, and headed east. Once across the equator, the sun, moon, etc. would rise on the left, and the ancestors of the Chinese would symbolically rotate from left to right.

People would symbolically reorient throughout the day to the point of the sun in the sky. Each time that a person would orient to a point, there is no awareness that the point has a 'past', where it was 'before', or a 'future' where it will be 'after'. There is only awareness of an object as long as it is at the point that it, the sun, is 'now', because upon reorientation to another point, that point becomes the only point of awareness.

Eventually, mankind became aware of the second dimension, and became aware that the body has '2' arms, which symbolize Yang and Yin. Instead of reorienting constantly throughout the day, rotating in a 360 degree circle, one dimensional people began to orient continuously to a single one dimensional 'point' in time and space. The single most distinctive point in the '2' dimensional cycle of the day is the point at which the light (Yang) of the heavens is at its maximum and darkness (Yin) is at its minimum. This is the point when the sun (Yang) is highest (Yang) in the sky (Yang), at noon.

People who lived south of the equator would face the north pole at noon. People who lived north of the equator would face the south pole at noon. A vertical 'area' of space and time that passes from the sun at noon through the midline of each person's body would subdivide the earth, the equator, and the '2' (Yin) poles into '2' (Yin) halves, east and west. At this time, all of mankind was in a north to south orientation, just as most people lived either north or south of a small segment of the equator.

Chinese is younger than English. Just as 'younger' comes before 'older', Chinese was '1'st (Yang) and English was '2'nd (Yin). As Chinese (Yang) was '1'st (Yang), Chinese has '1' (Yang) direction of orientation to both space and time. The point of the south in the sky is the Chinese point of orientation to space and time. As Chinese became aware of space (Yang in Chinese) '1'st (Yang), the Chinese have a primary orientation to space, and therefore face the point in the sky in the south.

When speakers of Chinese face toward the point in the south, they face away from the point in the north. The point of the north is the Yin to the Yang of the south.

When speakers of Chinese face the point in the south, the point at the end of the segment that extends from the left shoulder to the horizon is 'east'. This is the point from which the sun and the moon, the givers of time, rise each day. The point at the end of the segment that extends from the right shoulder to the horizon is 'west'. This is the point where the sun and the moon set. Since south and north are '1'st (Yang) and east and west are '2'nd (Yin) in Chinese, the south and the north are Yang to the Yin of the east and the west.

The midline of the body forms a segment with the point of the south and the point of the north. This segment subdivides the body, the earth, the heavens, the unity of the first dimension, and all of nature into '2' distinctions, Yang and Yin. Because the sun rises (Yang) in the east and sets (Yin) in the west, the east is Yang to the Yin of the west.

The left side of the body is closer to the east, and therefore 'left' is Yang. The right side of the body is closer to the west, and therefore 'right' is Yin. Any part of the body that is closer to east is Yang to the Yin of any part of the body that is closer to west.

In the universe, time is Yang, and the heavens, the givers of time, are Yang. Therefore, up is Yang, and down is Yin, and any part of the body that is above any other part of the body is Yang to the Yin of the part of the body that is below.

The hands and arms are what enabled mankind to become aware of the patterns of nature. The body has '2' hands. The left hand is Yang and the right hand is Yin. Each of the hands has '1' thumb, which is the largest and most distinctive part of the hand, and which is the closest part of the hand to the south (when the hands are relaxed alongside the body). The thumb is therefore Yang to the other fingers, and so becomes active (Yang) '1'st (Yang).

Subdivisions of the unity can be endlessly subdivided, as symbolized by the fact that each '1' thumb has '2' bones. This demonstrates the universal principle that there always exists Yang within Yin and Yin within Yang. Of the '2' bones, the bone that is closer to the south or to the east or to up is Yang to the Yin of the other bone, which is closer to the north or to the west or down.

Time is measured by observing changes in the heavens. To observe these changes, the eyes must be inclined upward (Yang) toward the point of the south in the sky. Space is measured by observing changes on the earth. To observe these changes, the eyes are not inclined (Yin) as they look toward the point of the south on the earth.

In order to orient to space (Yang) and time (Yin), in order to observe space and time, in order to be aware of space and time, in the '2'nd dimension, the arms can no longer remain relaxed (Yin) by the sides, but must become more active (Yang). The ancestors of the 'youngest' language, Chinese, orient primarily to space '1'st, just as a baby orients to space '1'st. Therefore, the ancestors of the speakers of Chinese, who were north of the equator, faced south (Yang) and oriented horizontally (Yang) '1'st (Yang).

The cycle of nature that enabled awareness of the past and the present of time and the there and the here of space was the cycle of light and darkness. There is light (Yang) and there is darkness (Yin).

Just as the '2' dimensional cycle of time, the day, has '2' halves, light (Yang) and darkness (Yin), and just as the '2' dimensional cycle of space, the earth, has '2' halves, south (Yang) and north (Yin), the repositioning of the hands and arms that were at rest (Yin) by the side of the body in the '1'st dimension in order to observe time and space in the '2'nd dimension can be subdivided into a '1'st (Yang) half and a '2'nd (Yin) half. Each half can be further subdivided into a Yang and Yin half. (Photo 2.4-1)

Photo 2.4-1

In the Yang half of the cycle, the movements are Yang. In the '1'st (Yang) half of the '1'st (Yang) half, the movement is a large (Yang) motion, and in the '2'nd (Yin) half of the '1'st (Yang) half, the movement is a small (Yin) motion. The arms move forward (Yang), directly toward the south (Yang), and rise upward (Yang), until they are horizontal (Yang). (Photo 2.4-2) When the arms have become horizontal (Yang), the bones of the forearm are still vertical (Yin) with respect to each other. Therefore, the thumbs are rotated outward (Yang), such that the '2' bones of the forearms become horizontal (Yang). (Photo 2.4-3)

Photo 2.4-2Photo 2.4-3

In the Yin half of the cycle, the movements are Yin. The movements in the '2'nd (Yin) half are symmetrical to the movements in the '1'st (Yang) half. In other words, in the '2'nd (Yin) half of the cycle, Yin becomes '1'st (Yang) and Yang becomes '2'nd (Yin). Therefore, in the '1'st (Yang) half of the '2'nd (Yin) half, the movement is a small (Yin) motion, and in the '2'nd (Yin) half of the '2'nd (Yin) half, the movement is a large (Yang) motion. The thumbs, which point outward (Yang), rotate inward (Yin). (Photo 2.4-4) The bones of the upper arms and the forearms, which are aligned in '1' (Yang) direction, reorient to '2' (Yin) directions, by moving the forearms rearward (Yin) toward the face in the north (Yin). (Photo 2.4-5) The '2' bones of the forearm remain horizontal (Yang) with respect to each other, and the forearms remain horizontal (Yang) to the upper arms throughout the movement.

Photo 2.4-4Photo 2.4-5

The upper arms are horizontal (Yang) with respect to the forearms, the '2' bones of the forearms are horizontal (Yang) with respect to to each other, and the two fists are horizontal (Yang). The proximal bones (the '1'st, or Yang, bones) of the fingers of each hand touch the equivalent bones of the other hand. The thumbs are flexed (Yang), such that they remain at the level of the proximal bones of the index fingers. The thumbs cross each other horizontally (Yang), with the left (Yang) thumb above (Yang) the lower (Yin) right (Yin) thumb. The '2' thumbs are flush with the nose, and the tip of the nose is inserted in the depression between the thumbs.

In Chinese, the tip of the nose is symbolic of the 'I', the 'self'. When speakers of Chinese refer to themselves, it is common to touch the tip of the nose.

This is the 'base' position for the hands and arms to observe space for the second dimension and all subsequent dimensions. Because time is first in the universe, and because time is first to speakers of English, the language in which this book is written, it will be more meaningful to examine time first, as this will make it easier to understand space.

Time

In order to position the hands to observe time, begin with the hands in the base position to observe space (Photo 2.4-5), where the thumbs touch the tip of the nose, the 'I'. In Chinese, space (Yang) is '1'st (Yang), and this '1'st (Yang) hand position is the proper orientation to observe space. The flow of motion from the position of the one dimensional body to the position to observe two dimensional space now continues in the same direction of motion, until it reaches the position to observe time.

Photo 2.4-5

In Chinese, time is vertical (Yin). Therefore, the upper arms rotate downward (Yin), until they are vertical (Yin). The upper arms are vertical (Yin) with respect to the forearms, the '2' bones of the forearms are vertical (Yin) with respect to each other, and the two fists are vertical (Yin). The fingers of the hands do not lose contact with each other throughout the movement. Instead of the proximal bones, the middle bones (the '2'nd, or Yin, bones) of the fingers of each hand touch the corresponding bones of the fingers of the other hand. The thumbs are flexed (Yang), and are alongside each other vertically (Yin), with the left (Yang) thumb to the left (Yang) of the right (Yin) thumb. The tip of the nose is positioned between the '2' thumbs. (Photo 2.4-6)

Photo 2.4-6

This is the 'base' position for the hands and arms to observe time for the second dimension and all subsequent dimensions.

The '2' fists face each other vertically (Yin). The proximal bones of the fingers of the hands are level with the top of the nose, making it possible to look over the fingers toward the point of the south. Next, the upper arms are inclined slightly forward (Yang). While the upper arms remain still, the forearms are extended outward (Yang) until they form a ninety degree angle with the upper arms. Thus, while the bones are still fairly vertical, to observe time (Yin), the arms progress downward (Yin) as they move outward (Yang) from the body. The thumbs are rotated slightly outward (Yang), such that the '2' bones of the forearms are horizontal (Yang) with respect to the upper arms, and such that the thumbnails are even with the outside of the eyes. The wrists are in line with the forearms, and are not flexed or extended forward or backward or left or right relative to the forearms. (Photo 2.4-7)

Photo 2.4-7

The hands are now positioned to observe time. When looking forward vertically (Yin), across the sky to the point of the south, the eyes look through the hands, enabling maximum awareness of observing time in the sky, in order to recognize patterns between the sky and the hands.

The time in the heavens is subdivided into '2' halves by the '2' hands. The left (Yang) thumb points to the half of the sky that is Yin, where the sun sets. The left (Yang) thumb 'orients' to the Yin half of the sky; in other words, the distal bone of the thumb, the bone that is farther from the body, is closer to that half of the sky than the proximal bone, and the proximal bone of the thumb, the bone that is closer to the body, is farther from that half of the sky. Therefore, the left (Yang) thumb symbolizes darkness (Yin). The right (Yin) thumb points to the half of the sky that is Yang, where the sun rises. The right (Yin) thumb orients to the Yang half of the sky, and therefore symbolizes light (Yang).

Let us follow the flow of Yang and Yin through the bones of the '2' thumbs to observe time in the '2' dimensional cycle of nature. Because time is Yin, observation of time begins with the right (Yin) hand.

When the thumbs touch the nose, both are flexed (Yang). Once they move outward (Yang) into time, one thumb will always be Yang to the Yin of the other thumb; in other words, each thumb will always be as active (Yang) as the other thumb is still (Yin).

The point of orientation to time in Chinese is the point of the south in the sky at noon, when light (Yang) is at its maximum (Yang) and darkness (Yin) is at its minimum (Yin). As the right (Yin) thumb is active (Yang) '1'st (Yang) to observe time (Yin), the right (Yin) thumb begins fully extended (Yang) in the '1'st (Yang) half of the cycle. The thumb is fully extended (Yang), such that it points upward (Yang) and outward (Yang), toward the far (Yang) sky (Yang) and away from (Yang to) the near (Yin) tip of the nose. Extension (Yang) upwards (Yang) symbolizes motion (Yang), and extension (Yang) of the right (Yin) thumb symbolizes that light (Yang) is in motion (Yang); in other words, it is light. The right thumb is maximally extended (Yang), which symbolizes that the light (Yang) of the sun is at its maximum at the point of noon. At this time, the left (Yang) thumb is still (Yin), and it rests (Yin) hanging downward (Yin) from the other fingers. This symbolizes that darkness (Yin) is at rest (Yin), and that it is now not dark. The left thumb is maximally relaxed (Yin), which symbolizes that darkness (Yin) is at its minimum at the point of noon. The '2' thumbs are now parallel, but they face in opposite directions. The extended (Yang) thumb points upward (Yang) and outward (Yang). The relaxed (Yin) thumb points downward (Yin) and rearward (Yin), and points directly toward (Yin) the tip of the nose, the point of the 'self'. (Photo 2.4-8)

Photo 2.4-8

As the sun begins to fall (Yin), and as the light (Yang) begins to decrease (Yin), the motion (Yang) of the right thumb begins to still (Yin). As the same time, as darkness (Yin) begins to increase (Yang), the stillness (Yin) of the left thumb begins in motion (Yang). The right thumb begins to relax (Yin) and the left thumb begins in motion (Yang). At the point of the sunset, the '2' thumbs are level with each other, and point in opposite directions. (Photo 2.4-9)

Photo 2.4-9

As the darkness (Yin) continues to increase (Yang), the left (Yang) thumb continues to extend (Yang), such that it points upward (Yang) and outward (Yang), symbolizing that darkness (Yin) is in full motion (Yang), and that it is now dark. The left thumb is maximally extended (Yang), which symbolizes that darkness (Yin) is at its maximum (Yang) at the point of midnight. At the same time, the right (Yin) thumb continues to relax (Yin), such that it points downward (Yin) and rearward (Yin) toward (Yin) the tip of the nose. This symbolizes that light (Yang) is still (Yin), and that it is not light now. The right thumb is maximally relaxed (Yin), which symbolizes that light (Yang) is at its minimum (Yin) at the point of midnight. (Photo 2.4-10)

Photo 2.4-10

As the darkness (Yin) begins to decrease (Yin), the motion (Yang) of the left thumb begins to still (Yin). As the same time, as light (Yang) begins to increase (Yang), the stillness (Yin) of the right thumb begins in motion (Yang). The left thumb begins to relax (Yin) and the right thumb begins in motion (Yang). At the point of the sunrise, the '2' thumbs are level with each other, and point in opposite directions. (Photo 2.4-11)

Photo 2.4-11

This cycle repeats. The right (Yin) thumb extends (Yang) as light (Yang) increases (Yang) in motion (Yang), and the left (Yang) thumb relaxes (Yin) as darkness (Yin) becomes still (Yin). Then, the left thumb extends as the right thumb relaxes, as light evolves into darkness.

Each thumb can evolve in '1' (Yang) direction, an extended (Yang) thumb can only become relaxed (Yin), and a relaxed (Yin) thumb can only become extended (Yang). Day can only evolve into night, and night can only evolve into day.

In the first dimension, space and time were a point, the point of the here and the now. In the second dimension, space and time subdivided. Space subdivided into a 'there' (Yang) as well as a 'here' (Yin). Time subdivided into a 'past' (Yang) as well as a 'present' (Yin). The point subdivided into a ray. A ray is defined by '2' points, the there and the here of space and the past and the present of time. The '2' points are symbolized by the '2' distinctions of the thumb. The thumb can be extended/flexed (Yang) or the thumb can be relaxed (Yin).

In the '1'st (Yang) half of the cycle, the right (Yin) thumb is extended, symbolizing that there is light (Yang) in the present (Yin). In the '2'nd (Yin) half of the cycle, there is no longer light (Yang) in the present (Yin). The light (Yang) has moved into the past (Yang), as there was light 'before' (Yang). The left (Yang) thumb is now extended (Yang), symbolizing that there is darkness (Yin) in the present (Yin). In the next half of the cycle, there is no longer darkness in the present. The darkness (Yin) has moved into the past (Yang), as it was dark 'before' (Yang). As darkness (Yin) evolves into light (Yang), the present (Yin) evolves into the past (Yang), because the darkness moves from the now (Yin) into the 'before' (Yang). As light (Yang) evolves into darkness (Yin), the present (Yin) again evolves into the past (Yang), as the light moves from the now (Yin) into the 'before' (Yang). The flow of the '2'nd dimensional cycle of nature is in one direction, the present evolves into the past, and then the new present evolves into the past, and so on.

In the '1'st half of the cycle, when Yang (light) is in motion, the Yang (left) thumb is relaxed (Yin), and hangs down (Yin) pointing to the 'here', the tip of the nose. In the '2'nd half of the cycle, when darkness (Yin) is in motion, the right (Yin) thumb points to the 'here', the tip of the nose, and the left (Yang) thumb is no longer 'here', but has extended (Yang), and has moved up (Yang) to the point of the 'there' (Yang), 'before' the nose. When observing time (in the sky), 'before' (Yang) is in the direction of up (Yang). When the left (Yang) thumb has moved up (Yang) into the 'before' (Yang), as there was light (Yang) 'before' (Yang) and there is darkness (Yin) now (Yin), the right (Yin) thumb has now (Yin) moved down (Yin) to the point of the 'here' (Yin). The flow of the '2'nd dimensional cycle of nature is in one direction, the here evolves into the there, and then the new here evolves into the there, and so on.

The younger that a child is, the more that the child will tend to focus on and be aware of what is immediately in front of his face. Chinese is the 'youngest' language, and speakers of Chinese look at their hands that symbolize time and space in a position maximally close to the face. Speakers of Chinese symbolically observe their finger patterns of space and time constantly at the same time as they observe space and time. This is because Chinese orients to the first dimension, and in the first dimension of awareness time is a unity at the point of the now. There is therefore no 'time' after observing space or time to then, at a subsequent point in time, look to a different point in space to observe the patterns of space and time on the fingers. In terms of Chinese grammar, there are no verb 'tenses' that enable the expression of awareness of time. Existence in space and time must be observed at the same time as the finger patterns are observed in order to be aware of both, because at a later point in time there will no longer be awareness of earlier points in time.

Space

Return to the base position for the hands and arms to observe space. (Photo 2.4-12) The '2' fists face each other horizontally (Yang). The backs of the hands and the forearms are level with the top of the nose, making it possible to look over the backs of the hands toward the point of the south. Next, the upper arms are inclined slightly upward (Yang). While the upper arms remain still, the forearms are extended outward until they form a ninety degree angle with the upper arms. Thus, while the bones are still fairly horizontal, to observe space (Yang), the arms flow upward (Yang) as they move outward (Yang) from the body. The thumbs are rotated slightly outward (Yang), such that the '2' bones of the forearms are horizontal (Yang) with respect to the upper arms, and such that the thumbnails are even with the outside of the eyes. The wrists are in line with the forearms, and are not flexed or extended forward or backward or left or right relative to the forearms. (Photo 2.4-13)

Photo 2.4-12

Photo 2.4-13

The hands are now positioned to observe space. When looking forward horizontally (Yang), across the earth to the point of the south, the eyes look through the hands, enabling maximum awareness of observing space on the earth, in order to recognize patterns between the earth and the hands.

The space on the earth is subdivided into '2' halves by the '2' hands. The left (Yang) thumb orients to (points to) the half of the earth that is Yin, as it corresponds to the half of the sky where the sun sets. The right (Yin) thumb orients to the half of the earth that is Yang, as it corresponds to the half of the sky where the sun rises.

Let us follow the flow of Yang and Yin through the bones of the '2' thumbs to observe space in the '2' dimensional cycle of nature. Because space is Yang, observation of space begins with the left (Yang) hand.

When the thumbs touch the nose, both are flexed (Yang). Once they move outward (Yang) into space, one thumb will always be Yang to the Yin of the other thumb; in other words, each thumb will always be as active (Yang) as the other thumb is still (Yin).

The point of orientation to space is the point of the south at noon, when motion (Yang) is at its maximum (Yang) and stillness (Yin) is at its minimum (Yin). As the left (Yang) thumb is active (Yang) '1'st (Yang) to observe space (Yang), the left (Yang) thumb begins fully flexed (Yang) in the '1'st (Yang) half of the cycle. The thumb is fully flexed (Yang), such that it points upward (Yang) and outward (Yang), toward the far (Yang) horizon and away from the near (Yin) tip of the nose. Flexion (Yang) upwards (Yang) symbolizes motion (Yang), and flexion (Yang) of the left (Yang) thumb symbolizes that there is maximum awareness of motion (Yang). The left thumb is maximally flexed (Yang), which symbolizes that the motion on the earth is at its maximum at the point of the south. At this time, the right (Yin) thumb is still (Yin), and it rests (Yin) hanging downward (Yin) from the other fingers. This symbolizes that there is minimum awareness of stillness (Yin). The right thumb is maximally relaxed (Yin), which symbolizes that the stillness on the earth is at its minimum at the point of the south. The '2' thumbs are now parallel, but they face in opposite directions. The flexed (Yang) thumb points upward (Yang) and outward (Yang). The relaxed (Yin) thumb points downward (Yin) and rearward (Yin), and points directly toward the tip of the nose (Yin), the point of the 'self'. (Photo 2.4-14)

Photo 2.4-14

As the sun begins to fall (Yin), and as light (Yang) begins to decrease (Yin), awareness of motion (Yang) on the earth begins to decrease (Yin). As well, the motion (Yang) of the left thumb begins to still (Yin). At the same time, as darkness (Yin) begins to increase (Yang), as awareness of stillness (Yin) begins to increase (Yang), the stillness (Yin) of the right thumb begins in motion (Yang). The left thumb begins to relax (Yin) and the right thumb begins in motion (Yang). When the left thumb points to the point of the west, the '2' thumbs are level with each other and point in opposite directions. (Photo 2.4-15)

Photo 2.4-15

As the awareness of stillness (Yin) continues to increase (Yang), the right (Yin) thumb continues to flex (Yang), such that it points upward (Yang) and outward (Yang), symbolizing that stillness (Yin) is in full motion (Yang), and that the earth is now still. The right thumb is maximally flexed (Yang), which symbolizes that stillness (Yin) is at its maximum (Yang). At the same time, the left (Yang) thumb continues to relax (Yin), such that it points downward (Yin) and rearward (Yin) toward the tip of the nose (Yin), and through the nose it points to the point of the north. This symbolizes that motion (Yang) is still (Yin), and that there is no awareness of motion now. The left thumb is maximally relaxed (Yin), which symbolizes that motion (Yang) is at its minimum (Yin) at the point of the north. (Photo 2.4-16)

Photo 2.4-16

As the sun begins to rise (Yang), and as light (Yang) begins to increase (Yang), awareness of motion (Yang) on the earth begins to increase (Yang). As well, the motion (Yang) of the left thumb begins to increase (Yang). At the same time, as stillness (Yin) begins to decrease (Yin), as awareness of motion (Yang) begins to increase (Yang), the motion (Yang) of the right thumb begins to still (Yin). The right thumb begins to relax (Yin) and the left thumb begins in motion (Yang). When the right thumb points to the point of the east, the '2' thumbs are level with each other and point in opposite directions. (Photo 2.4-17)

Photo 2.4-17

This cycle repeats. The left (Yang) thumb flexes (Yang) as there is awareness of motion (Yang), and the right (Yin) thumb relaxes (Yin) when there is no awareness of stillness (Yin). Then, the right thumb flexes as the left thumb relaxes, as motion evolves into stillness.

Each thumb can evolve in '1' (Yang) direction, a flexed (Yang) thumb can only become relaxed (Yin), and a relaxed (Yin) thumb can only become flexed (Yang). Motion can only evolve into stillness, and stillness can only evolve into motion.

In the '1'st (Yang) half of the cycle, the left (Yang) thumb is flexed, symbolizing that there is motion (Yang) in the present (Yin). In the '2'nd (Yin) half of the cycle, there is no longer motion (Yang) in the present (Yin). The motion (Yang) has moved into the past (Yang), as there was motion 'before' (Yang). The right (Yin) thumb is now flexed (Yang), symbolizing that there is stillness (Yin) in the present (Yin). In the next half of the cycle, there is no longer stillness in the present. The stillness (Yin) has moved into the past (Yang), as it was still 'before' (Yang). As stillness (Yin) evolves into motion (Yang), the present (Yin) evolves into the past (Yang), because the stillness moves from the now (Yin) into the 'before' (Yang). As motion (Yang) evolves into stillness (Yin), the present (Yin) again evolves into the past (Yang), as the motion moves from the now (Yin) into the 'before' (Yang). The flow of the '2'nd dimensional cycle of nature is in one direction, the present evolves into the past, and then the new present evolves into the past, and so on.

In the '1'st half of the cycle, when there is awareness of motion, the right (Yin) thumb is relaxed (Yin), and hangs down (Yin) pointing to the 'here', the tip of the nose. In the '2'nd half of the cycle, when there is awareness of stillness, the left (Yang) thumb points to the 'here', the tip of the nose, and the Yin thumb is no longer 'here', but has flexed (Yang), and has moved up (Yang) to the point of the 'there' (Yang), 'before' the nose. When observing space (on the earth), 'before' (Yang) is in the direction of south (Yang). When the right (Yin) thumb has moved up (Yang) into the 'before' (Yang), as there was motion (Yang) 'before' (Yang) and there is stillness (Yin) now (Yin), the left (Yang) thumb has now (Yin) moved down (Yin) toward the point of the 'here' (Yin). The flow of the '2'nd dimensional cycle of nature is in one direction, the here evolves into the there, and then the new here evolves into the there, and so on.

2.5 English Finger Symbolism In The '2'nd Dimension

As each person grows older, and as each person has passed through more time, and so has more experience with time, each person becomes more aware of time. As mankind as a species grows older, people become more aware of time.

Over time, people from Africa progressively migrated toward the east. As mankind spread across a larger segment of the equator, the total population of humans came to have a more west to east orientation than a south to north orientation.

As people in Africa (but not the 'young' ones who had already left) looked in the direction of east, where the others had gone, they became aware that, as they stood on the equator looking east, an 'area' that passes through the midline of their bodies subdivides the earth and the '1' (Yang) equator into '2' (Yin) halves, south and north.

The ancestors of the speakers of English oriented to time '1'st, just as older children learn to orient more to time than to space, and so space was '2'nd. Therefore, speakers of English, who while still in Africa looked east to the largest population of mankind, orient vertically.

English is genetically an 'older' language than Chinese. English was '2'nd (Yin) to the '1'st (Yang) of Chinese. Whereas Chinese (Yang) orients to '1' (Yang) direction, the south, for both space and time, English (Yin) orients to '2' (Yin) directions, '1' for time and '1' for space. Speakers of English orient to space by looking forward to the point on the horizon of the earth where the sun rises, 'east'. This point can also be found by orienting to the point where the sun is highest in the sky, at noon, and then by looking over the left shoulder to the point of the horizon. The point of the east on the horizon is the English point of orientation to space. Speakers of English orient to time by turning the body forty-five degrees toward the north of east. The point of the northeast is the English point of orientation to time. As English is '2'nd (Yin), English has '2' (Yin) primary directions of orientation, and therefore English speakers symbolically face the point of the northeast to orient to time (Yang) '1'st (Yang) and face the point of the east to orient to space (Yin) '2'nd (Yin). (Note that the 'points' to which speakers of English orient are actually not 'points' of space-time, but are 'areas'. The word 'point' will be used herein until the word 'area' is more clearly defined.)

When speakers of English face toward the point in the east, they face away from the point in the west. The point of the west is the Yin to the Yang of the east.

The point at the end of the segment that extends from the right shoulder to the horizon is 'south'. The point at the end of the segment that extends from the left shoulder to the horizon is 'north'. Since east and west were '1'st (Yang) and south and north were '2'nd (Yin) in English, the east and the west are Yang to the Yin of the south and the north. Since east was '1'st (Yang) and south was '2'nd (Yin) in English, the east is Yang to the Yin of the south.

The midline of the body forms a segment with the point of the east and the point of the west, which subdivides the body, the earth, the heavens, the unity of the first dimension, and all of nature into '2' parts. These '2' correspond to Yang and Yin. Because the sun passes along the south and does not pass along the north, the south is Yang to the Yin of the north.

The right side of the body is closest to the south, where the sun passes, and therefore 'right' is Yang. The left side of the body is closer to the north, where the sun does not pass, and so 'left' is Yin. Any part of the body that is closer to south is Yang to the Yin of any part of the body that is closer to north.

Up, the direction of the heavens, is Yang, and down is Yin, and any part of the body that is above any other part of the body is Yang to the Yin of the part of the body that is below.

Because the eyes look vertically into the sky to observe time (Yang), vertical is Yang in English. Because the eyes look horizontally across the earth to observe space (Yin), horizontal is Yin in English.

In order to orient to time (Yang) and space (Yin) in the '2'nd dimension, begin by facing northeast to orient to time and east to orient to space, with the arms relaxed by the sides. In the second dimension of awareness, the arms can no longer remain relaxed (Yin) by the sides, but must become more active (Yang). The ancestors of 'older' languages, such as English, orient to time '1'st, just as older children come to orient to time '1'st. Therefore, the ancestors of the speakers of English oriented vertically (Yang) '1'st (Yang).

Just as the '2' dimensional cycle of time, the day, has '2' halves, light (Yang) and darkness (Yin), and just as the '2' dimensional cycle of space, the earth, has '2' halves, east (Yang) and west (Yin), the repositioning of the hands and arms that were at rest (Yin) by the side of the body in the '1'st dimension in order to observe time and space in the '2'nd dimension can be subdivided into a '1'st (Yang) half and a '2'nd (Yin) half.

Chinese orients to space, which is Yin. For Chinese, there were '2' different halves of the cycle, the '1'st (Yang) half was Yang and the '2'nd (Yin) half was Yin. English, however, orients to time, which is Yang. For English, both halves of the cycle are the same (Yang), not different (Yin) as in Chinese. (Photo 2.5-1)

Photo 2.5-1

In the '1'st (Yang) half of the cycle, there is '1' (Yang) movement, and the movement is Yang. The arms move forward (Yang), directly toward the south, and rise upward (Yang), until they are horizontal. When the arms have become horizontal, the bones of the forearm remain vertical (Yang) with respect to each other. (Photo 2.5-2)

Photo 2.5-2

In the '2'nd (Yin) half of the cycle, there are '2' (Yin) movements, and the movements are also Yang. The arms continue to move forward (Yang) and upward (Yang), until the arms are again vertical (Yang) with respect to the body. The arms are now above (Yang) the body, and the relaxed (Yin) thumbs hang downwards (Yin) from the hands. (Photo 2.5-3) Finally, both relaxed (Yin) thumbs are flexed (Yang). (Photo 2.5-4)

Photo 2.5-3Photo 2.5-4

As the arms are raised from vertical (down) to horizontal to vertical (up), the horizontal position is reached '1'st, and mankind was aware of space '1'st. The vertical position is higher (Yang) than the lower (Yin) horizontal position, as vertical orients to time (Yang) and horizontal orients to space (Yin).

It is not meaningful to attempt to analyze distinct changes in finger positions for English when observing time and space in the second dimension. Although the thumbs can be considered to flex and relax, the eyes cannot see these positions, and so the changes could not be incorporated into the language as a distinct dimension. Expression of the awareness of the second dimension became integrated with the third dimension, and the second dimension has no distinct expression in English.

Although it might appear that it is a disadvantage not to express awareness of the second dimension, it should be understood that this enables a more evolved (older) form of grammatical expression. It was never the case that people who were only aware of two dimensions of time and space actually used this orientation of the hands to express their awareness. As mankind aged, and as mankind became aware of more dimensions of time and space, it became natural to orient more to time than to space. The ancestors of the speakers of English were aware of four dimensions of time and space at the time that they left Africa. Because of their awareness of later dimensions, they were able to organize and integrate the second dimension with the third dimension, which was a natural step in orienting to time instead of space.

In order for the people with a one dimensional orientation who came to speak Chinese to become aware of the second dimension, the arms are symbolically extended (Yang) forward (Yang) into space (Yang in Chinese), toward the horizon (Yang) in the south (Yang), where space (Yang) is observed. In order for the people with a four dimensional orientation who came to speak English to evolve to a primary orientation to time, the two dimensional arms are symbolically extended (Yang) upward (Yang) into time (Yang in English), toward the heavens (Yang) above (Yang), where time (Yang) is observed.

Because English uses the two dimensional finger position to achieve a vertical orientation to time as Yang, the second dimension is not recognized as a distinct dimension. Instead of five dimensions, the English language only recognizes and relates to the world from an orientation to four dimensions of space. For this reason, Geometry recognizes only four distinctions in space; the point, the line, the plane, and 'space'. Just as with the grammar of the English language, in Geometry the ray is not recognized as a dimension that is distinct from the dimension that is symbolized by the line.