22 Apr Koan 59

The mind easily convinces us of the illusion that we can square a circle.

It’s impossible to construct a square with the same area as a given circle.

The space inside a circle is the product of multiplying the squared radius of the circle and π (pi)

π is a transcendental number; an infinite, non-repeating decimal expansion. That means the knowable space inside a circle is imprecise.

The space inside a square is precise.

As an imprecise space cannot precisely fill a precise space, a circle cannot be squared.

Transcendental numbers arise naturally in exponential growth and decay processes. They are used extensively in calculus, probability, and mathematical analysis.

Transcendental is also the nature of the universe; infinite expansion and everchanging.

The mind is a square and the universe is a circle.

The mind convinces us of the illusion that we know the universe. Yet, the universe is transcendental. It cannot be precisely known.