Duality

Last week, we received a variety of feedback on the topic of Good & Evil, so I would like to expand on it.

Black and White, Masculine and Feminine, Liberal and Conservative, Yin and Yang, Genius and Madness, Joy and Sorrow are all opposite sides of the same coin, and the essential building blocks of the universe. 

While it is important to strive for unity by overcoming duality, the reality is, it takes two to tango as One. E pluribus unum.

I can continue waxing poetic on the topic, but instead, I will let Kahlil Gibran, one of my favorite poets, more elegantly make the case using Joy & Sorrow as an example.

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. 

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. 

And how else can it be? 

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. 

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? 

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? 

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. 

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. 

— Sina.