Counting Those Angels on That Pin

Maybe nerdiness isn't entirely useless

Here are two quotations from a book of chants¹ I use regularly. First, from His Holiness Drukchen Rinpoche’s Prayer:

Through listening and thinking and examining,
Especially about those teachings I practice,
May I be able to precisely determine their meaning.

Next, from The Four Dharmas of Gampopa and Longchenpa:

Bless and empower us that confusion itself dawns as primordial awareness.

Is that a contradiction? Let’s turn to Walt Whitman for the answer:

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

Whitman’s life did contain multitudes—as is true for all of us. The great poet excelled at expressing aspects of his being that resonate with all of us. For me, Buddhist teachings resonate as well. I grok the need to understand precisely and to be confused. Sometimes, the understanding is confusion itself.

Confusion, wisely experienced, takes one into the nonconceptual mind. Precise understanding is conceptual. That both are important for awakening is, in my opinion, a way of understanding the Middle Way (Madhyamaka) Buddhist philosophy, which calls on each of us to steer a course between the esoteric extremes and the day-to-day needs of reality.

In other words, Buddhist practice contains multitudes.

I’m fascinated by the philosophy as well as the metaphysics and daily practice of Buddhism. In fact, I’m such a nerd that I was wondering as I stepped out of the shower this morning about the old question:

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

For 70-some of my 78 years on Earth, I considered the question silly, an expression of how fine points of philosophy and ontology are a waste of time. While I still reject the importance of who said what when and what it is called,² I have come to enjoy and appreciate exploring the various paths—counting angels.

So, I decided to write a post about those angels and that pin and began by asking my A.I. research assistant, Perplexity, about the history, meaning, and use of the expression. Here’s its reply:

The question "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" has a rich history and intriguing meaning that extends beyond its literal interpretation. This seemingly whimsical query has roots in medieval philosophical and theological discussions, though its exact origins are somewhat misunderstood.

Historical Context

Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that medieval theologians seriously debated this specific question. The earliest known reference to it appears in William Chillingworth's 1638 book “The Religion of Protestants: A Safe Way to Salvation," where he mentions "whether a million of angels may not sit upon a needle's point.”

However, medieval scholastics did engage in discussions about the nature of angels and their relationship to physical space. For instance:

• Thomas Aquinas pondered whether two angels could exist in the same space simultaneously.

• Saint Bonaventure explored questions such as whether angels occupy corporeal places and if multiple angels can be in the same place at once.

These discussions were part of a broader attempt to understand the nature of spiritual beings and their interaction with the physical world.

Meaning and Interpretation

The question about angels dancing on a pin's head serves as a metaphor for several concepts:

1. Abstraction vs. Practicality: It highlights the tension between abstract philosophical inquiries and practical, real-world concerns.

2. Limits of Human Understanding: The question touches on the boundaries of human comprehension when dealing with spiritual or metaphysical concepts.

3. Infinity and Space: It prompts consideration of the relationship between infinite beings (angels) and finite spaces (a pin's head).

4. Nature of Spiritual Beings: The question indirectly explores the properties of non-corporeal entities and their interaction with the physical world.

Modern Usage and Significance

Today, the phrase is often used idiomatically to refer to:

1. Pointless Debates: It's invoked to describe discussions perceived as overly abstract, impractical, or irrelevant.

2. Academic Overspecialization: The question can be used to criticize scholarly pursuits that seem disconnected from real-world applications.

3. Thought Experiments: In philosophy and theology, it can serve as a starting point for exploring concepts of materiality, spirituality, and the nature of existence.

4. Scientific Analogies: Some modern thinkers have drawn parallels between this question and concepts in quantum physics, such as the behavior of virtual particles.

While the question about angels dancing on a pin's head may seem frivolous at first glance, it has endured as a powerful symbol of the human quest to understand the nature of reality, the limits of our knowledge, and the relationship between the physical and the metaphysical. Its persistence in cultural discourse demonstrates our ongoing fascination with questions that challenge the boundaries of human comprehension and imagination.

It's not a bad job for a research assistant I pay only $20 a month. As with all A.I. output, I looked it over for errors and decided that it may be wrong about Chillingworth in 1638 being the first to mention angels and a pin, but, hey, why sweat the details (or number of angels)? I was most impressed by how much Perplexity's points in the last two sections brought up thoughts of the Madhyamaka philosophy, so I asked it to make a comparison. Here’s the result:

The Madhyamaka, or Middle Way philosophy in Buddhism, shares several interesting parallels with the concepts discussed under "Meaning and Interpretation" and "Modern Usage and Significance" of the question about angels dancing on a pin's head. Let's explore these connections:

Abstraction vs. Practicality

The Middle Way philosophy, as developed by Nāgārjuna and other Madhyamaka thinkers, emphasizes a balance between extremes, much like the tension between abstract philosophical inquiries and practical concerns. The Madhyamaka approach seeks to avoid the extremes of eternalism (the belief in permanent, independent existence) and nihilism (the denial of all existence). This parallels the way the angel question highlights the contrast between abstract metaphysical speculation and more concrete, practical matters.

Limits of Human Understanding

Both the angel question and Madhyamaka philosophy touch on the boundaries of human comprehension:

1. Conceptual Limitations: Madhyamaka argues that ultimate reality (paramārtha) is beyond the reach of language and conceptualization. This aligns with how the angel question prompts consideration of concepts that challenge our normal understanding.

2. Two Truths Doctrine: Madhyamaka's distinction between conventional truth (saṃvṛti satya) and ultimate truth (paramārtha satya) reflects the idea that our everyday understanding is limited. This resonates with how the angel question suggests different levels of reality or understanding.

Nature of Existence

The Madhyamaka concept of śūnyatā (emptiness) bears some similarity to the angel question's implicit exploration of the nature of spiritual beings:

1. Emptiness of Inherent Existence: Madhyamaka posits that all phenomena lack svabhāva (inherent existence or essence). This can be compared to how the angel question indirectly explores the properties of non-corporeal entities.

2. Dependent Origination: The Madhyamaka emphasis on pratītyasamutpāda (dependent origination) suggests that all things exist only in relation to other things. This relates to how the angel question prompts consideration of the relationship between spiritual beings and physical space.

Modern Relevance and Intellectual Discourse

Both the angel question and Madhyamaka philosophy have ongoing relevance in modern intellectual discourse:

1. Scientific Parallels: Just as some thinkers have drawn parallels between the angel question and concepts in quantum physics, Madhyamaka ideas have been compared to modern scientific concepts, particularly in physics.

2. Challenging Assumptions: Madhyamaka philosophy, like the angel question, serves to challenge fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality and existence.

3. Interdisciplinary Dialogue: The ongoing interest in Madhyamaka philosophy, particularly its engagement with modern science, mirrors how the angel question continues to spark discussions across various disciplines.

In conclusion, while the specific content differs, both the angel question and Madhyamaka philosophy serve as tools for exploring the limits of human understanding, the nature of reality, and the relationship between abstract thought and practical concerns. They both challenge us to think beyond conventional boundaries and consider the fundamental nature of existence and knowledge.

If you’ve been nerdy enough to have read this far, thanks for indulging me in some conceptual exploration. Now would be a good time to meditate in nonconceptual awareness.

And, most of all, please don’t tell Perplexity it deserves a raise.

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1. Dzogchen Center Prayer Book, Ninth Edition. To my knowledge, it’s not publicly available.

2. In writing blog posts, I try to be meticulous about accuracy, but I expect that to be important and visible to only a small percentage of readers.