Teacher Liu Feng & Dean Kong Zhong | On the Trinity of Information, Matter, and Energy

• This article is based on a dialogue between Teacher Liu Feng and Dean Kong Zhong: Higher-Dimensional Wisdom, The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean.

Dean Kong Zhong:

Teacher Liu Feng, many people are exploring how the human life entity is constituted. Currently, there is a general consensus that humans are composed of three basic elements: matter, information, and energy. As we now know, from a scientific perspective, everything in the universe can indeed be reduced to energy, right? It’s just that this energy vibrates at different frequencies in different dimensions—or, in the language of our traditional culture, in different "heavens."

So if humans are truly made up of these three elements, then "matter" corresponds to our physical body—the flesh we can see and touch. When life persists, this physical body serves as a living carrier; when life ends, only the flesh perishes, not the "soul" you just mentioned. Now, we need to further reflect: what sustains the operation of our lives within this flesh is actually energy.

You just mentioned that "nature" is also an energy structure. I would like to ask you to share further: where exactly does this energy structure originate? Is it a comprehensive energy structure, or is it the most primal, fundamental energy of the universe? Or does each person inherently possess a unique internal energy structure, and if so, how does this individual internal energy structure differ from the energy structures of different energy spaces and dimensions?

Teacher Liu Feng:

Certainly—I roughly understand what you mean. In fact, when we study qigong or explore life sciences, we often encounter the concepts of energy, matter, and information. Some scholars have also proposed theories such as the "Three-Level Matter Theory." My research approach, however, is particularly simple: to find the most fundamental commonality among all forms of existence.

So what is the inevitable commonality between tangible and intangible existence? I’ve discovered that the only commonality among these three elements is energy waves. For energy waves are the carriers of energy; the structures formed by the resonance of energy waves constitute material structures, while the frequency and amplitude of the energy waves themselves constitute information.

A single sine wave, with its amplitude and frequency, represents a single piece of information. When two sine waves superimpose and resonate, they form an information combination. When a group of energy waves resonate and superimpose together, they form a set of information. Within this set, the frequency distribution of each wave constitutes a "spectrum." For example, there are light spectra in optics and musical scores in acoustics—essentially, all existence has its own "spectrum," i.e., its unique way of carrying information. Thus, matter, information, and energy are actually a trinity—essentially different manifestations of the same thing.

In the Eastern wisdom system, we generally refer to this generalized expression of energy as "qi." "Qi" can be said to be the most essential existence in the universe. If we were to describe it in language familiar to modern people, the closest concept would be "energy." Of course, if we limit our discussion of energy to three-dimensional space, we would categorize it into various properties—such as solar energy, thermal energy, light energy, mechanical energy, and so on. But in reality, behind these different forms of energy, their essence is the same: they are all manifestations of the same fundamental cosmic energy under different conditions.

So how do we infer the conclusion that "energy waves are the only existence" from our existing knowledge structure? This relates to a characteristic of our research—we constantly seek the commonality of all existence. For example, the commonality of all tangible matter is molecules; the commonality of molecules is atoms; the commonality of atoms is atomic nuclei and electrons; further down are protons, neutrons... As we decompose layer by layer, we find that all tangible existence is actually composed of the arrangement and combination of three basic particles: neutrons, positrons, and electrons. Modern science collectively refers to these as "elementary particles."

The commonality of elementary particles is that they all possess quantum properties, i.e., wave-particle duality. Sometimes they behave as particles, and sometimes as waves. So what is the commonality between waves and particles? In fact, a particle is a temporary stable structure formed by the resonance of waves. When an energy wave does not resonate, we cannot observe it, nor will it manifest into a specific form. Only when waves resonate and interfere with each other will they manifest as structures in this space—which is what we perceive as "particles." Therefore, both waves and particles can be unified under the concept of "waves." This also explains why quantum physics generally uses wave functions to describe phenomena—because waves are their essence.

From this, we can draw a conclusion: whether in particle state or wave state, their essence is energy waves. The structures formed by the particle state are essentially what Buddhism refers to as the Five Aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness)—which are also energy structures at their core. This is why we often use "projection" as a metaphor for the generation of the real world: the "form" we see is only the projection of energy structures in three-dimensional space; while "feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness" all correspond to energy expressions at different levels. This is exactly what The Heart Sutra means when it states: "Form is not different from emptiness; emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness; emptiness is form." Although it does not repeat this for the others, it adds, "Feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness are also like this"—meaning the same principle applies to them.

Therefore, only by conducting research starting from a most fundamental point can we arrive at true ultimate understanding. If we do not start from this point, we may fall into various dualistic oppositions—such as believing that matter is only three-dimensional, then debating whether matter exists in four or five dimensions, and further creating divisions between idealism and materialism. But in reality, if we limit our understanding of "matter" to tangible, formless things, then does energy count as matter? Is energy not around us at all times? Einstein’s theory of relativity has long clearly expressed the relationship between mass and energy conversion, and now everyone believes that mass and energy can be transformed into each other.

However, in reality, converting energy into mass—what is known as "creating something from nothing"—is extremely difficult for life in three-dimensional space, as it requires creation at the level of the projection source. Converting matter into energy, on the other hand, is relatively easier—such as through combustion, which is a phase transition process. In Buddhism’s Four Great Elements (earth, water, fire, wind), "earth" represents solid energy, "water" is liquid energy, "fire" is the critical energy between tangible and intangible, and "wind" is intangible gaseous energy. The "fire" element is precisely the key to realizing the transformation of energy forms.

So returning to Dean Kong Zhong’s question earlier: first, matter, information, and energy are a trinity.

Second, I would like to talk about frequency. In three-dimensional logic, frequency has a very clear definition: the number of vibrations per unit time. However, once we enter the fourth dimension, time becomes a variable, and frequency also becomes variable—no longer fixed as it is in three dimensions. At this point, the importance of "dimension" surpasses that of "frequency." In three-dimensional space, the higher the frequency, the stronger the energy—and this is correct; but when you elevate to a higher dimension, no matter how high the frequency in three-dimensional space, it becomes something that can be governed by the energy characteristics of the higher dimension. Because higher dimensions are the projection source, which determines the basic structure of energy.

This is why humans often focus particularly on the physical body—it is so tangible that even the slightest discomfort is clearly felt. This physical body is indeed the energy or material entity most directly related to us. But according to the cosmic holographic theory, everything in this physical body corresponds one-to-one with everything in the entire universe. This is fascinating—the Bible says that God created humans in His own image; conversely, humans are also images projected from the higher-dimensional projection source, and there must be similarity between the projection source and the projected image.

However, after coming into this world, we develop various attachments at different levels of cognition. As I just mentioned, all existence is energy waves, and there are many types of energy waves—such as square waves, triangular waves, trapezoidal waves, and so on. But according to Fourier transform, all complex waves can ultimately be decomposed into the simplest sine waves. In Buddhism, a single sine wave corresponds to "one thought," hence the saying "one thought, one sentient being." In Taoism, the sine wave represents yin and yang—the most basic energy structure. In our traditional culture, this most fundamental energy wave is called the "dragon"; the dragon is the totem of the sine wave. Thus, I Ching (The Book of Changes) is regarded as the "root of all classics"—its opening chapters are entirely about sine waves, the simplest forms of existence. Therefore, our culture is the ancestor of all existence in this universe, and as long as there is existence in the universe, our culture will never be broken.

Starting from the simplest sine wave, I Ching discusses the superposition of two waves to form the Four Symbols and Five Elements, the superposition of three waves to form the Eight Trigrams, and the superposition of six waves to form the Sixty-Four Trigrams. These sixty-four energy distributions essentially constitute the basic frequency spectra of all existence in this space. All complex existence is the result of further superposition and resonance of these sixty-four types of energy. Thus, I Ching is based on mathematical principles, revealing the inherent laws of energy structures. These laws are inevitable—when a certain energy state occurs, how the next energy structure will manifest is determined by necessity. This is why I Ching can be used for prediction, and by modulating energy structures, we can change future manifestations—which is the principle behind Qi Men Dun Jia (an ancient Chinese metaphysical system).

It is evident that thousands of years ago, our ancestors had already clarified the basic structure of cosmic energy. The most simplified energy structure is the sine wave; its movement, resonance, and interference give rise to the birth, abiding, decay, and extinction of all things in the universe. Our physical lives are also the result of the integration of certain energies, undergoing birth, abiding, decay, and extinction, thus presenting birth, old age, illness, and death. But behind all this, it is the higher-dimensional energy structures in the projection source that determine everything.

If we only practice at the level of three-dimensional "forms" without entering the projection source to transform energy structures, then cultivation will be extremely difficult. True spiritual practice involves being able to enter the projection source and make changes at the metaphysical level. Confucianism—especially The Doctrine of the Mean—actually constructs the internal connection between the metaphysical, the mesophysical, and the physical. It tells us what kind of realistic manifestations are consistent with the expression of harmonious higher-dimensional energy structures. After discussing with Dean Kong Zhong, I am even more convinced that The Doctrine of the Mean is a very important cultivation system in Confucianism, closely linking higher-dimensional practice with life cultivation.

Finally, I would like to say: practice is the sole criterion for testing truth, but we must understand this clearly: three-dimensional practice can only test three-dimensional truth, and higher-dimensional practice can only test higher-dimensional truth. If we only engage in three-dimensional practice but attempt to verify higher-dimensional truth, it is as unrealistic as an ant trying to understand human thinking. Therefore, true spiritual practice is essentially higher-dimensional practice.

Our bodies—the flesh—are actually manifestations of the holographic projection of cosmic energy. Every detail of them is connected to the overall cosmic energy. Moreover, the universe each of us perceives is actually constructed by our own cognition. This cognition carries our limitations and biases—and this is our soul structure. With such a soul structure, we project our current life state. Spiritual practice is a process of continuously expanding one’s internal energy structure, and as a result, one’s life state will also change. All of this can be perceived and verified in reality. Therefore, the physical body and energy are inherently one; the body is our cultivation ground, and all states that occur in the body are closely related to our conscious energy and soul energy.