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Fool's Philosophy - by Nate Bartling

On Yin and Yang

October 4th 2006 11:47
Yin & Yang
"The common mistake of most martial artists is to identify these two forces as Yin and Yang, as dualistic............... Yin/Yang is one inseparable force of one unceasing interplay movement.................. If this "oneness" is viewed as two separate entities, realization of the ultimate reality of gung fu won't be achieved." - Bruce Lee (from the book 'The Warrior Within' by John Little)


As stated above the most common misconception, with regards to Yin and Yang, is to consider them opposites, or conflicting, as opposed to two mutually dependant halves of one whole. The shape of the symbol gives you the impression of Yin and Yang chasing each other around, both changing into each other and back again in the same manner as day and night. However, nothing is ever entirely Yin or Yang, as symbolised by the dot in both halves, just as light and dark, hot and cold etc. are just varying degrees with no definite boundaries between each other.

Erwin Schrodinger (Wikipedia)
"The world is given to me only once, not one existing and one perceived. Subject and object are only one. The barrier between them cannot be said to have broken down as a result of recent experience in the physical sciences, for this barrier does not exist." - Erwin Schrodinger, one of the founders of modern physics. (source - wikiquote)


Yin represents darkness, femininity, night, cold, earth etc. while Yang represents light, masculinity, day, heat, heaven etc.

Bruce Lee's modified Yin Yang (Wikipedia)
A good example of the cyclic nature of Yin and Yang is the relationship between work and rest. Work could be seen as the Yang element which is only possible because of the Yin of rest, and vice versa. Personally, I find it extremely difficult to sleep if I haven't burnt off enough energy. Furthermore, could a rest even be considered a rest if you haven't been doing any work?
It all depends on your point of view, but I find it makes much more sense to think of these things as not only the cause and effect of each other but also as their necessary compliments.

Take the example of male and female. Surely it is more productive to think of a man and wife as complimentary halves of a whole instead of antagonistic and opposing. The more we look at things from this perspective the easier it becomes to gain a sense of unity, to see the necessity in the variety of the world and to understand how all things are both the cause and effect of each other.

"All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else." - Siddhartha Gautama/Buddha (source - wikiquote)

Relevant Links -
Article on Yin and Yang
Bruce Lee essays and biography etc
Wikipedia article on Erwin Schrodinger
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Comments
3 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Anonymous

October 4th 2006 12:14
interesting post!

Comment by Dan

October 4th 2006 13:49
Well said. I've read up on Fang Shui and the Yin Yang symbol etc etc, and couldn't really wrap my head around it. You've done a good job in discussing it.

Comment by WeR1Family

October 8th 2006 01:56
Great!
It's the correct perspective so far of i have learned to see the duality as ONENESS!
Everything is ONE!

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