We all experience loving kindness and deep tranquility and want to hug somebody as we look into their warm eyes, giving them everything we own - yes, even the last few cents in our pockets. Inversely, all of us get angry and want to punch somebody in their dull ignorant face. Right?
It’s fine. We are emotional creatures - no need to deny that or pretend to be otherwise.
In ancient Chinese philosophy, the idea behind the Yin and the Yang describes how these opposite forces may be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give birth to each other as they interrelate to one another.
In life, during specific situations whether it’s an argument, a long wait in line, or a contemplative practice of any kind, we can definitely witness these complementary forces rise from within - even at a cellular, subatomic level. They can manifest as the game of condemning, shaming, or loving, through the avenue of the ever-deceptive inner dialogue, or they can manifest as the warming or the cooling of our breath - the inhalation and the exhalation. Plainly said, they manifest in myriad ways, at all times.
These natural opposites can support us in a warm and cozy way or, at times, throw us under the bus, pushing every button potentially responsible for bringing out our deeply hidden emotional burdens and impediments to the outer and more subtle, workable levels of our being.
After such direct experiences of both Yin and Yang forces, we usually find some sort of balance between being a jerk and a saint. There usually follows a period of inner peace and understanding towards other beings and their struggles to find their own balance in life. During those quiet moments of tranquility, as we put down our protective shields that guard our strong sense of ego-self, the universe grants us access to a complementary halo. Understanding well the inevitable existence of these opposing forces, we can still remain kind and actually use these opportunities to do some real inner work before we point fingers at others. So whether we will later keep the halo or not will be ultimately up to us.
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