Whenever we want something, the mind is directed to one end of polarity while seeing the opposite end of it in almost any comparison. This comparison arises from the conditioning of our upbringing. The constant conflict of “what is” and “what should be”.

For instance, when we are feels unhappy our default actions usually steer us toward the direction of seeking happiness rather than finding out what the root cause could be. Most of the time, fixing the root cause is better than letting it fester like an open wound.

• write about krisnamurti of what is to what should be that us human always like to do

Example

Let’s use confidence as an example, you’re not confident in giving speeches and presentations to a crowd. You also understand that you should be able to do so because in class and work you need to perform well in this to be noticed. Now, the conflicts start.

You can either fake confidence until it’s part of you or you see within to see what is causing the lack of confidence. Possible reasons as follows: It could be lack of knowledge in the subject, not good in doing impromptu, does not understand how to sell an idea to an audience yet, lack of proper attire, etc.

The Old Sage

Lao Tzu knows about this duality as you can read the translated text below.

Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.
All can know good as good only because there is evil.

Therefore having and not having arise together.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Long and short contrast each other:
High and low rest upon each other;
Voice and sound harmonize each other;
Front and back follow one another.

Therefore the sage goes about doing nothing, teaching no-talking.
The ten thousand things rise and fall without cease,
Creating, yet not possessing.
Working, yet not taking credit.
Work is done, then forgotten.
Therefore it lasts forever.
– Chapter 2 – Translated by Gia-Fu Feng

I like the translation from Gia Fu Feng in Chapter 2 of Tao Te Ching. The translation put it perfectly to express the duality of the mind. This duality is useful when we want to gain knowledge but most of the time we use it to compare with others perpetually until crazed.

Things, in reality, are not dual and no one state will be the ultimate state you yearn for or can hold onto. Like two sides of the same coin or how the Buddhist put it as non-duality. Our minds like to see things on 2 sides mostly to keep things simple.

Watching Movies

When we’re watching a show or movie, as an audience we like to get a hint to know who is the good and bad guy early on. It gives us some reassurance to root for the good guy even though they did not start strong because everyone loves an underdog narrative and wants the good guy to win at the end.

Let’s take Star Wars for instance. It’s the same old story of good versus evil (see, the duality again). Color is subtlety applied between 2 groups, Darth Vader and Sith Lords always wear darker color to indicate suspicion and warning while the heroes are always in a lighter color to show they can be trusted and is good.

Duality of Thoughts

By now you should be able to see what I am talking about if not then below is a list of contrast that’s commonly used. So, recognize this pattern of thinking exists and how it works.

For instance,

• good and evil/bad
• success and failure
• black and white
• this or that
• positive and negative
• me and you
• us and them
• like and dislike
• right and wrong
• suffering and happiness
• wisdom and ignorance
• rich and poor
• consumption and creation

Non-dualism

I think everything runs in a very big process but our mind can be a very fine scalpel to slice things up into smaller and smaller bits until we got lost in it. The Buddhists had been teaching their disciples about non-dualism since its inception.

The whole thing is one single process that keeps moving forward, whether we interpret that as going up or down, us or them, good or bad. It’s just doing its thing, dancing. In an unending continuous stream endlessly perpetuating.

As a species, we have learned that dividing things up, grouping them, and putting a label can be useful. It’s how we gather knowledge about our world and make all the cool stuff like the smartphone in your pocket now.

There are obvious benefits by dividing the world up but we often missed out on what reality is, the now, this present moment is all that is.

All phenomena inter-exist and nothing is separated like a spiderweb. We build magnificent and complex worlds in our minds to judge ourselves and the world. I’m getting a little philosophical here 😂

Undulating Away

So, don’t be misled that being successful is all there is, and being a failure is a bad fate worst than death. The world just undulating away not caring what you think or how you feel.

No one knows why the universe does what it does but as a human race, we still put in a good effort trying to make sense of our collective lonely existence floating in this vast empty universe. Maybe our consciousness would start to change if we encounter another civilization in this dark forest.

All these writings are just an attempt to understand what all these means 🤨