One of the principle tenets in taoism is that of the duality of all things, often portrayed as the Yin and Yang symbol. Yes, we all know the symbol here in the west, there's a version of it right above this paragraph. Ask the average person what it means and they will tell you it's about opposites; male and female, light and dark, good and bad etc. This post, however, is to explain something very simple, and it starts with...
"Buddy, you're doing it wrong".
The western interpretation of taoist duality has led to a stunted appreciation of what this little axiom of life can do for you. Change the viewpoint and a new vista of hope unfolds that can be used daily in everything we do.
Here's a word, becoming. Defined as 'the process of coming to be something or of passing into a state'.
There is no duality in taoism, there is the illusion of it existing, the truth is that everything is seen as becoming in relation to where it is initially viewed from within the idea of a duality.
Why is this important to an aspie?
Many people on the spectrum, myself included, like certain things to remain as they are because we can be overwhelmed by change if it is up close and personal. At home I have a place for everything, which makes me happy because, at work, everything is about change. So my home is my stable datum. It's also an illusion that, if left unchecked, can stop me moving forward in life.
Let me inject an image here so as to save a thousand words.
The duality of Yin and Yang can best be expressed as a sine wave (above), here we then see movement. That movement can be measured in seconds or billions of years, in the latter, because of our short span of life, we may well perceive the 'state of being' as unchanging even though the truth is very different. The truth is, everything becomes something but the speed of that becoming will vary.
To grasp, truly grasp, the idea that everything about you is becoming something is to take charge of your life. It is to see that your life is not the 'same old, same old' that you may believe it is, but that it is a dynamic dance that you can flow with effortlessly. This is what becomes 'wu wei', the art of non action, but we will leave that concept for the moment.
Here's another image, one that shows the sine wave in action.
In the image there is no Yin or Yang although the duality exists at both the start and end, what is there is the true nature of becoming. How does an image of a rotting apple help us?
If we accept that everything we are conforms to the rule of becoming we can see that...
Apply the following concept to something.
"When I start something it also begins a process of becoming. As a result I should allow for change and react to that change without undue effort".
Not strictly true but it's a good place to start.
"Buddy, you're doing it wrong".
The western interpretation of taoist duality has led to a stunted appreciation of what this little axiom of life can do for you. Change the viewpoint and a new vista of hope unfolds that can be used daily in everything we do.
Here's a word, becoming. Defined as 'the process of coming to be something or of passing into a state'.
There is no duality in taoism, there is the illusion of it existing, the truth is that everything is seen as becoming in relation to where it is initially viewed from within the idea of a duality.
Why is this important to an aspie?
Many people on the spectrum, myself included, like certain things to remain as they are because we can be overwhelmed by change if it is up close and personal. At home I have a place for everything, which makes me happy because, at work, everything is about change. So my home is my stable datum. It's also an illusion that, if left unchecked, can stop me moving forward in life.
Let me inject an image here so as to save a thousand words.
The duality of Yin and Yang can best be expressed as a sine wave (above), here we then see movement. That movement can be measured in seconds or billions of years, in the latter, because of our short span of life, we may well perceive the 'state of being' as unchanging even though the truth is very different. The truth is, everything becomes something but the speed of that becoming will vary.
To grasp, truly grasp, the idea that everything about you is becoming something is to take charge of your life. It is to see that your life is not the 'same old, same old' that you may believe it is, but that it is a dynamic dance that you can flow with effortlessly. This is what becomes 'wu wei', the art of non action, but we will leave that concept for the moment.
Here's another image, one that shows the sine wave in action.
In the image there is no Yin or Yang although the duality exists at both the start and end, what is there is the true nature of becoming. How does an image of a rotting apple help us?
If we accept that everything we are conforms to the rule of becoming we can see that...
- no single thought we ever have can remain the same, second to second
- no relationship will stay as it was at the start point
- no illness we have will illicit the same response from our body at any other moment
- any concept of an unchanging safe space is erroneous
- that you remain the same person day after day is just wrong
- the only place that your life remains the same is in the recesses of your mind, not in your world
Apply the following concept to something.
"When I start something it also begins a process of becoming. As a result I should allow for change and react to that change without undue effort".
Not strictly true but it's a good place to start.
