A Taoist friend I knew a long time ago started a self-media channel and already has tens of thousands, perhaps even more, followers. What I’ve been thinking about is: what is the real value of these metaphysical theories? Nihilism has spread throughout this era, and traditional universal value systems are gradually collapsing, so humanity increasingly needs metaphysical transcendental frameworks to anchor the spirit.

Things of the idealist realm—belief, meaning, hope, or even metaphysics—seem to be far removed from material reality, but in the end they still act on the material world through material mechanisms. For example, the placebo effect: the placebo itself is useless, but people who take it with strong belief will have their brains release substances like endorphins, leading to real physiological improvements.

Subjective belief is a neural process that can be influenced. These metaphysical attachments are transformed into real healing and meaning-oriented therapy through material mechanisms. No wonder metaphysical fortune-telling and the manifestation track have become increasingly popular on major social media platforms.