Paradoxical Unity Of Yin and Yang

Why is there so much darkness in the world ? This is a question we all ponder at some time in our lives, particularly when we are going through difficulties or challenges. The Taoist concept of paradoxical unity can be helpful. To Taoists, everything is on a yin-yang continuum; light and dark, good and bad. We can only understand something to be light because we have the dark, the two poles define each other - there is a paradoxical unity because they are really just two sides of the same coin. The goal of life to Taoists is to get to a place where we transcend dualistic judgments and see the unity.

The yin-yang symbol encompasses natural harmony and is wonderful for many reasons. First, the dividing line is flowing, to symbolise the fact that opposites are continually waxing and waning in the natural harmony and rhythm of life. This is why rigidly attempting to adhere to one or other of the poles doesn't work; the Tao is all about finding the balance between the two. Second, the seed of the yang is contained within the yin, and vice versa. This is how they transform each other, because in the darkness just a flash of light will be illuminating, and similarly a pinprick of darkness will be enough to dim the light.

In the case of suffering and happiness , the seed of happiness is in suffering; because happiness comes when you have learnt something amazing from challenges. Similarly, the seed of suffering is in happiness, because we only have to think of losing our happiness to feel suffering.

You can do this thought process with all continuums. The victim/oppressor continuum is a classic and is why victims of abuse often become the abusers and vice versa. To break out of that pattern one has to see it as a continuum of disempowerment/empowerment. The seed of empowerment is there in the disempowering situation; if you can find your inner strength just when everything in life seems to be against you - when you are a 'victim' - then you are no longer the one and have empowered yourself. And when you are feeling empowered, you only have to see yourself as disempowered for a second to slip back into victimhood.

This is why Nelson Mandela was never a victim. While in prison, he empowered himself through compassion for his persecutors because he knew it was they who were the ones who were truly suffering, not him. He had transcended the duality of victim/oppressor, and they hadn't, and he knew they would continue to suffer until they broke out of it. The beauty of the story is that in the end, Mandela's tormentors were so taken aback by his loving heart that they refused to torture him any longer. His prison guard Christi Brand became his lifelong friend. So yes, it's our choice whether we suffer, whether we see ourselves as victims or mighty oaks. Which one do you choose?

Authored by: Andrea Revell