How Things Work – A Brief History of Reality
Book I – Dualism (Eastern Dualism)
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Tuesday, November 9, 2021
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”
― Albert Einstein
Preface
Understanding the true nature of dualism has never been of more consequence. There are multiple movements currently attempting to “destroy” or “dismantle” “Western dualism” as the essential means of improving the world. However, there are three key reasons why this is absurd. First, most of the people leading these movements do not know, or understand, what Western dualism is. Second, there is also “Eastern dualism,” that mirrors, or contrasts, Western dualism. Although, often considered the “true” expression of duality, Eastern dualism also has negative consequences of its own. Third, and most important, dualism is naturally how human beings experience reality; you cannot “destroy” or “dismantle” that perception. The only way to move beyond dualism is to transcend it. How to transcend the reality of dualism, is the key distinction between Eastern and Western culture and civilization. This week we will consider the traditional Eastern perspective of dualism.
“The quintessence of traditional Eastern thought and philosophy involves balancing and unifying the opposite forces in nature.”
Essentially, Eastern traditions work “within” the concept of dualism in order to overcome it; the average person learning to “balance” opposites and the Master learning to “unify” opposites. Transcending the experience of duality requires seeing beyond the illusion of opposites in order to embrace the unity of “Oneness.” You cannot “destroy” the illusion, the “illusion” is real! You can, however, recognize and understand the nature of the illusion, rendering it meaningless. The quintessence of traditional Eastern thought and philosophy involves balancing and unifying the opposite forces in nature. Here’s how it works.
Consideration #4: Eastern Dualism
(Emphasis in quotations such as italics and bolded text are mine)
Chapter 2: Eastern & Western Dualism
Eastern & Western Dualism
The thought of both East and West (philosophies) can indeed be integrated into a higher truth. They show us that the West is correct in maintaining that life is about progress, about evolving toward something higher. Yet the East is also correct in emphasizing that we must let go of control with the ego. We can't progress by using logic alone.
– James Redfield
This dichotomy of opposites, active and passive dualism, is manifested in the world as Eastern and Western culture. While both cultures share the same roots of experience, and recognize the dualistic nature of the world, they separate into opposing camps regarding its ultimate, and appropriate, intention and application for humanity. Whereas Eastern tradition focuses on experiencing the innate power and wisdom of nature as the pinnacle of human understanding and wisdom, Western tradition focuses on the possibility of using that knowledge to directly alter and influence the actual manifestation of our reality and existence. In simple terms, Eastern tradition embraces the intuition of non-action, whereas Western tradition exemplifies the power of conscious thought manifested through direct action.
Eastern Dualism
Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it?
I do not believe it can be done.
The universe is sacred.
You cannot improve it.
If you try to change it, you will ruin it.
If you try to hold it, you will lose it.
So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind;
Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily;
Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness;
Sometimes one is up and sometimes down.
Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.
Lao Tzu – Tao Te Ching #29
From an Eastern perspective, the entire universe is in reality self-generated, and therefore you are in direct control of it. The way you change the universe is to change yourself. This is a relatively simple concept which does not require Western skills such as analysis and deductive reasoning, it only requires discipline and awareness. This is because knowledge and understanding regarding the innerworkings of reality is not the goal of duality in Eastern tradition. To eliminate the manifestation of opposites and become one with reality is the goal. In the end, it is not so much about changing reality, as it is about accepting it for what it really is, and that changes you. Eastern tradition is not interested in manifesting reality, it is interested in becoming one with reality. This is not accomplished through reason, logic, education, or action; it is achieved through awareness and meditation.
Taoism
The Tao begot one.
One begot two.
Two begot three.
And three begot the ten thousand things.
The ten thousand things carry yin and embrace yang.
They achieve harmony by combining these forces.
Lao Tzu – Tao Te Ching #42
Founded by Lao Tzu (604-531 BCE), Taoism predates Buddhism, with some mystical elements dating back to prehistoric times. It is also linked to the I Ching, or Book of Changes, a classical Chinese text consisting of 64 geometrical figures (patterns) used to describe a world in fluxing evolutions; explaining how to exploit such knowledge through divination and contemplation.
The Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu, is the fundamental text of Taoism, expressing the entire essence of its philosophy in just 81 chapters composed of only 5,000 classic Chinese characters. The oldest excavated remnants of the Tao Te Ching date back to the late fourth century BCE. Taoism had a great influence on many other Chinese systems of thought including Legalism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Many of China’s classic artists, poets, calligraphers and even gardeners considered the Tao Te Ching to be the source of their inspiration.
“This dualism shows up in the world as contradictory possibilities which are essentially an illusion that keeps us from experiencing our true reality.”
Essentially, Taoism is a collection of teachings and meditations conveying how to live a life of peace and harmony with yourself, your neighbors, and your society. In that sense, it is very practical. It is a non-theistic discipline of thought that focuses on balancing the two opposing forces of nature known as Yin and Yang. This dualism shows up in the world as contradictory possibilities which are essentially an illusion that keeps us from experiencing our true reality. To move beyond the illusion of opposites and experience the “oneness” of all things represents complete understanding, or enlightenment, which is the highest possible state of human awareness. One of the most important ways to balance these opposing forces is through “wei wu wei”, or “action through non-action.”
Lao Tzu explains that in nature all physical things and living beings are at one with themselves and their natural surroundings. Their essence and actions are pure, uncontrived, and natural. According to Lao Tzu, action through “being” represents your true self and is compatible with the Tao, whereas action by “doing” is a form of imposing your will on natural events, which is contrary to the Tao.
“One of the key lessons is that there is a natural ebb and flow in life (patterns), and our attempt to “do too much” or to use our individual will in order to influence the natural direction of that flow is out of balance with the Tao and will lead to disaster.”
It is this essence of “effortless action” that was infused into the internal martial arts system of the Shaolin. One of the key lessons is that there is a natural ebb and flow in life (patterns), and our attempt to “do too much” or to use our individual will in order to influence the natural direction of that flow is out of balance with the Tao and will lead to disaster. In essence, we would be fighting with nature and nature always wins. Therefore, learn nature’s way and go with it. Become the ebb and flow. Become one with the natural patterns of life, and become detached from the illusion of opposites:
Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfillment.
Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed
by desire for change.
Lao Tzu – Tao Te Ching #15
Based on a deep understanding of dualism, Taoism develops a deeper sense of its possibilities by recognizing how seemingly simple complexities of possibility can be generated into virtually infinite possibility. In the Taoist symbol for yin and yang, both contain a part of its opposite within itself. Thereby creating an endless cycle of possible dualities within dualities. To pick either opposite only manifests a new duality of opposites within itself.
“The illusion of opposites leads us into the illusion of separateness.”
This is connected to the Eastern concept of karma. The illusion of opposites leads us into the illusion of separateness. Emotional attachments related to the contrary nature of life causes us to take actions that ironically deepen this illusion. Those attached to the illusion of opposites are bound by the wheel of karma, whereas those free of these attachments see the true reality of existence and become enlightened; no longer acting out of illusion.
In simple terms, in Eastern tradition the only way to truly see and understand the nature of the world is to stop being a part of it. To perceive the truth of things with no expectations or preferences. There is no desire to impose your will or intention on the world. You are always at peace with the way things are; because that is the way they are supposed to be. You are simply an observer.
In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired.
In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.
Less and less is done –
Until non-action is achieved.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
The world is ruled by letting things take their course.
It cannot be ruled by interfering…
Lao Tzu – Tao Te Ching #48
Not only is Eastern tradition unconcerned with learning the secrets of manifesting reality, it is seen as the essential illusion that keeps human beings from becoming enlightened and liberated from the wheel of karma. All action leads to additional action. All division leads to more division. All illusion leads to even greater illusion. The closer you think you are getting to the answer, the more the solution slips away.
The Tao is forever undefined…
Once the whole is divided, the parts need names.
There are already enough names.
One must know when to stop.
Knowing when to stop averts trouble.
Tao in the world is like a river flowing home to the sea.
Lao Tzu – Tao Te Ching #32
Eastern tradition represents a wholistic approach to dualism; replacing the illusion of division by opposites with the reality of eternal unification through oneness. You cannot discover the truth of something by focusing on its apparent incongruities. The only way to truly understand reality and existence is to become one with it.
Postscript
The difference between “East” and “West” was once considerably more pronounced than it is today. However, it would be wrong to think that the deep cultural roots of these traditions has vanished. The world was once clearly demarcated between the “Occidental” world of the West and the “Oriental” world of the East. The term “Oriental” has taken on a negative connotation in the modern world even though it is simply a Latin translation for the word “eastern;” anything “east” of Rome, or Europe, would have been considered “the Orient.”
There is no geographical difference between “Asian” and “Oriental.” “Asian” refers to a person from the continent of Asia, the largest continent in the world, which includes China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Iraq and Iran, among others. The word “Oriental” comes from the Latin “orient,” meaning Eastern.
Ben Davis – What is the Difference Between Asian and the Orient? (June 15, 2019)
Therefore, Eastern and Western philosophy and culture were once considered distinct and separate entities in terms of recognizing and understanding reality. The Eastern concept of transcendental “Oneness” was so connected to Eastern culture that it became a parody and stereotype of Eastern culture in the West. Think of the mystical message in your fortune cookie that was manufactured in New York City! However, the West attempted to transcend dualism through the addition of a third factor to the process: reason and logic. This is the process that led to the Scientific Revolution of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Next Week: Western Dualism
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