OPPOSITES ARE COMPLIMENTARY IN NATURE

                                                    When all the world understands beauty

to be beautiful, then ugliness exists;

when all understand the goodness

to be good, then evil exists.

----- Lao Tzu

 

The subject of this article sounds not only paradoxical but perhaps counter­intuitive too. As per eastern philosophy, in nature, there is a basic oneness of everything. But definitely, that does not mean that all things are the same. The difference that we see between good and bad; pretty and ugly; pleasure and pain; heat and cold are all relative. This is what has been implied in the above quote of Lao Tzu the ancient Chinese philosopher. These are abstract ideas belonging to the realm of thought. The truth is that each is classified in a particular only with respect to the other which is opposite to it. For example, when there is anything good there has to be something not so good which therefore has to be termed as bad. And this what we say as bad, obviously is with respect to the one that we have termed as good. Hence we can see that the term bad and good are used as relative to each other. Thus good and bad; pleasure and pain; pretty and ugly; life and death are all relative terms and not absolute experiences belonging to different categories but are merely two sides of the same reality that are being perceived as extreme ends of a single whole. And similarly this same applies to all aspects of nature and its creations. These are within an all­ embracing unity in nature which the eastern mystics say as basic oneness in nature. And this relativity in nature between the two opposites is perceived and experienced by the human senses. This concept has been very appropriately represented in the ancient Chinese concept of the YIN and YANG. These are the two aspects that hold that every phenomenon in nature operates thru the mode of complement and counter­balance. It encompasses everything in nature as equal yet opposing components of an integrated whole which is the universe. The two are interdependent and constantly interacting with one another to maintain regularity in its process of operation as an integrated entity. Each one tries to dominate over the other but no total dominance ever happens as a permanent phenomenon because eventually, the other aspect takes over the dominant force. Thus there is a state of dynamic interplay which goes as a continuous process and that is the basis of change that occurs in nature and all creatures that exist in it. These two are archetypal poles termed as ' Yin and Yang ' in nature as represented by the bright and the dark (which can be seen in the below-given diagram), bright representing the male and dark representing the female. Viewing it from a visible and experienced human perspective would make it easy to comprehend the whole thing about Yin and Yang which has been represented by males and females. Yin is considered the complex female, intuitive mind whereas Yang the clear rational male intellect. *Yin the quiet, contemplative stillness of the sage, Yang the strong creative action of the king in the male.
 Each aspect cannot exist as independent without the other because both are interdependent and hence complement the other which together constitutes the whole. And that is why not only we human beings but every other organism is a creation that has emerged by virtue of the union of YIN AND YANG  in the form of both male and female.

*To understand the significance  better follow the link Yin and Yang  for further details on this subject

HOW THE OUTLOOK IMPACTS ATTITUDE AND EFFORTS IN HUMAN LIFE

 These are the three human attributes that play a big role and contributes to whatever a person achieves in life. Before going into further details on this subject let me state the reason for it. The reason for this is because these are the factors that are under human control. And these are directly related and proportional to each other, i.e. with a positive outlook and the right attitude in the given situation (good or bad) the person would have the motivation to move forward with his efforts till the desired results are achieved. First of all, let me define an attitude, well “It is the outer manifestation of a person’s mental state in the face of any situation (good or bad) and how he responds to it”. And this always precedes the efforts. So the point here is, in the first place how to develop the right attitude. In a happy or desirable or expected situation, the motivation for putting effort develops spontaneously, which is not the case in an adverse situation. In such a situation there is an initial mental block or resistance which has to be overcome. Well, another factor that precedes the formation of attitude is the nature of outlook that a person beholds, which is related to the formation of the attitude. There could be four categories of outlook which varies from person to person that impacts the formation of his attitude. They are as follows.

1.    A person who has a  negative outlook in any type of situation good or bad.
2.    A person who sees both the positive and the negative side but chooses to view it from a  

      negative perspective.

3     Does not have the ability to assess a situation and form an outlook as to what is to be done in the 

     given situation

4. A person who assesses both the positive and the negative side of a situation consciously ignores the negative and develops a positive outlook.

 

 Now let me address each of the above concerning attitudes in both positive and negative situations that a person faces in life.

1.      A negative outlook in any type of situation good or bad.

Such a person will have a negative approach to any type of situation, failing to see to the positive side because of his negative attitude which comes from his outlook. And hence he cannot handle the situation because his negative mindset prevents the application of his thought process to tackle it. Thus misses the opportunity to handle even when in a good situation.

 2.      A person who sees both the positive and negative side but chooses to view it from a negative perspective.

This category of person would see both sides of the situation. But he carries a premonition that his invested efforts (maybe even money) may fail to achieve the desired end results. And his this thinking overrules his positive thoughts and dictates the probable negative outcome of the event thereby preventing his developing the right attitude and putting in efforts.

 3.      Does not have the ability to develop  an outlook  

Such a person cannot assess a situation and develop any outlook. These are indecisive people. And such people remain complacent in the given situation preferring to remain in the status quo. And so does not achieve anything in life

 

4. A person who chooses to develop a positive outlook whatever may be the  

    Situation

   Such a person views any type of situation from a positive outlook with consciously ignoring the negative side of it. This is because he is pre-dominantly a person with a positive outlook or bent of mind. And so he has all the spirit to invest in the efforts which may incur expenditure of time, energy and maybe even money if necessary. Such a person can be an achiever having surmounted all obstacles that had come his way throughout his life.