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PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category26:WorldIdea>Chapter3:
Polarities,Complementaries,DualitiesofTheUniverse

Polarities,Complementaries,DualitiesofTheUniverse
Paradox,duality,nonduality
1

Paradoxisboththeprimalandthefinaltruth.Life,whetherweapproveofitornot,is
likethat.Thingsaredualandsoisman'snatureapairingofnegativeandpositive.But
evenmoreistheentirecosmositselfbothrealandunreal.
2

"Thetruestsayingsareparadoxical,"declaredLaoTzu,andtoproveitwrotealittlebook
whichwasfullofthem.Theproverbappliesasmuchtotheentireuniversewhichscience
isprobingastothemysteriousdivinitybehindit.Whatismore,wehumansmeetattimes
withthemostastonishingsituationswhichexemplifyparadoxtothefull.
3

LaoTzu'sTaoTehChingisabookofparadoxes.Yetitsummarizesthehighestwisdom,
theMysterybehindtheworld,life,everything.Itistheessenceofyinandyang,the
principleofpolarization,themethodofdialectics.
4

Everyindividualcomes,intime,intopossessionofthatverypeace.Theanswer,sooften
summedupinoneword,isparadox.Forthisiswhatsumsuptheworld,life,andman.
5

Thenatureoftheworld'ssubstanceisparadoxical.Thenatureoftheworldprocessis
dialectical.Questionsaboutthemcannottruthfullygetastraightclearcutanswer.Itisof
thosewhodemanditthatBuddhamusthavebeenthinkingwhenheremarked,"Grasping
aftersystems,imprisonedbydogmasintheworld."Heevenwentsofarastorefuseto
dealwiththesecontroversialmetaphysicalquestions.
6

Thefactisthatthehighertruthsareembeddedinpairsofthingsandforcesandparadoxes
ofsituationsandhappenings.Thisappliestotheuniverseasmuchastoman.
7

Thetruthofparadoxispossiblytoodeepformostpersonstoacceptapparentlyitistoo
selfcontradictory.Thatiswhythebalancedmindisneededtounderstandthatthe
contradictionisjoinedwithcomplementaryroles.
8

InChinesephilosophytheAbsoluteisoftenrepresentedbyasimplesymbol:aplain
whitecirclesurroundedbyaplainblackline.OutoftheAbsolutecomesforthapoint.
ThispointistheWorldMind.WithittheresimultaneouslymanifestswhattheBhagavad
GitacallsthepairsofoppositesandwhattheChinesecallyangandyin.Yangis
symbolizedbyakindofwhitecrescentwithablackdotinthebroaderend,yinbyablack
crescentwithawhitedot.Itisnotexactlyacrescentbecauseoneendswellsoutlikea
balloon,whiletheotherendremainssharpandpointedlikeacrescent.Whenthetwo
symbolsareputtogetherinasinglepicturesurroundedbythecircleoftheAbsolutethey
formasinglebutcompletesymboloftheAll.TheChinesecallittheTaiKi.InIndian
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philosophytheAbsoluteiscalledNondualityandthepolarizeduniverseiscalledDuality
ortobemorepreciseAdvaita,meaningthenottwo,andDvaita,meaningthetwo.Yang
isconsideredtobethepositiveelementandyinthenegativeonethereisnothinginthe
universewhichisnotsubjecttothetensionbetweenthesetwoelements.Thereforewe
humanbeings,whoarepartoftheuniverse,arealsosubjecttothem.Theirinteraction
bringsaboutbirth,life,anddeath.
9

IntheChinesefigurewhichsymbolizesthecosmicdualismofYinandYang,thetwo
curvinglinesonethickeningandtheotherthinning,oneemergingfromapointandthe
otherreturningtoit,onerepresentingMindAbsolute,andtheotherrepresentingMind
Active,thatis,theWorldMindweseeillustratedtheequilibriumwhichkeeps
everythingtogether.Thereisabalanceofforceswherebythosewhoknowhavetoliveas
iftheydidnotknowthatis,liveinthetumultuousworldasifitsphysicalrealitywere
theonlyoneitpossesses.
10

Everythingcomesinpairsasdeathwithlifeanddarknesswithlight.Whateverseemsto
benecessarytoexistenceissoonlybecauseitsoppositeisequallynecessary.Dualityisa
governingfactoroftheworldandeverythingwithinitincludingourselves.Thataloneis
outsidetheworld,isnondual,whichistheuntouchableReality.ThisistheChineseidea
ofyinandyang,andtheBhagavadGita'sexpression"thepairsofopposites"conveysthe
sameidea.Dualityisafact.Itishere.Butitisalsoanillusionandtheoppositetruth
whichcompletesitisthenondual.Wemaydeploretheillusorynatureofourexistence,
butweneednotgetlostinitforitisfulfilled,completed,andfinalizedinitscomplement
theReal.
11

Allhumanthoughtandexperiencemovethroughthecontrastsbetweentwothingsor
throughthedifferencebetweenthem.Otherwise,itwouldnotbepossibleforustothink
ortohaveexperience.Inallhumanconsciousnessthereistwoness:thoughtandthe
objectofthought,selfandthethingitisawareof.Butinthedeepesttrancelike
meditation,thisdualityvanishesandonlypureconsciousness,thenondualReality,exists.
12

NeitherYinnorYangcanstandalone:eachisnecessarytotheexistenceoftheother.In
thisworldofMaya,thatdualityisthefixedtruthbutintheworldofRealBeing,duality
istranscendedandneitherYinnorYangoperatesthere.
13

TheInfinitePowerdividessomeofitsownstillnessintothepairsofoppositesandsets
theminconstantvibrationandmovement.
14

Thepositiveenergyoftheuniverse,calledyangbytheChinese,waspicturedbya
straightunbrokenlinewhereasthenegativeenergythatiscalledyinwaspicturedbya
brokenline.Everythingintheuniverseaswellaseverythinginmanisacombinationof
thesetwoforcesneitherisabsentbuttheirproportionsmayvarywidely.Itisinteresting
toseewhythissymbolismwasused.Asolidlinestandsforastronglinewhereasthe
brokenonestandsforaweakone.However,althoughthebrokenlinealsostandsfor
femininityandthesingleoneformasculinitythisisnottosaythatthe"weakness"andthe
"strength"haveanymoralsignificationorjudgementitisneitherareproachnoran
approval.Itissimplyadifferenceoffunction:onegivingandtheotherreceivingone
developingoutofapoint,aseed,theotherreturningtothatconditiononeexpansion,the
othercontractiononethesun,theotherthemoon.
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15

YangisthecreativeagentinthecosmosYinisthedestructiveone.
16

Heartbeats,pulsationsofwrist,inandoutbreathings,wakingandsleep,restandactivity
allrhythms,alternations,andopposites=Yin+Yang.
17

Everythingispolarized,whetherinthevisibleuniverseorintheinvisibleforcesoflife
itself.ThisfactiswhattheHinduscallthepairsofoppositesandtheChinesecalltheYin
andYang.Allthingsarecomplementaryandcompensatory,yet,atthesametime,
antagonistic.IfYanggivesusenergy,Yingivesuscalm.Botharenecessary.
18

AllthroughNaturethesetwoopposingprinciplesYinandYangrevealthemselves.All
throughhumanexistencethesecontrariesshowthemselves.Mostoftheancient
mythologiesrecognizeditandcertainlymostoftheOrientalreligions,too,fromtheFar
EastinChinaandPersiatotheNearEastinLebanonandSyria.
19

MysticecstasyofunionwiththeuniverseisIshvara'screativityorYinandYang.Itis
Krishna'sandShiva'sDance,hencemysticdelight.Oneseeslight,feelslove,joybutit's
behindtheworldmiserywhichBuddhasaw.Botharetogether.

Oppositesconstituteuniverse
20

TheWorldMindisabletothinktheWorldIdeaonlyundertheformofopposite
conditionsexistingatthesametime.Noworldcouldpossiblycomeintoexistence
withoutthesecontrastsanddifferences.Theirpresenceaccountsfortheexistenceofthe
universetheirmovementtowardequilibriumwithoneanotheraccountsforitshistory.
21

Ifwehumanlydisliketheveryideaofthisduality,thisconstanttensionbetweentwo
forces,thisperpetualoppositionbyevil,disease,destruction,wemustrememberthatifit
didnotexistthenneithertheentireuniverseitselfnorthehumanbeingwithinitcould
existassuch.Thetwocontraryprinciplesmustexisttogetherornotatall.
22

WhatIlearnedfromtheHindutextsaboutBrahmabreathingouttheuniverseinto
physicalexistenceandthenbackintoHimself,notonlyreferredsymbolicallytothe
periodicreincarnationsoftheuniversebutalsoandactuallytoitsmomenttomoment
rhythmofinterchangeofcontrasts,differences,andevenopposites.Itisthisinterchange
whichnotonlymakesuniversalexistencepossiblebutalsosustainsuniversal
equilibrium.Withoutittherewouldbenoworldformantobehold,noexperiencesinit
forhimtodevelop,noconsciousawarenessintimeandspace.
23

EverythinginNatureisincludedwithinthislawofcontrastingconditions.Nothingis
exceptedfromit.Eventheuniverseofdefinite,sphericalformsexistsinitsopposite
formlessspace.Wehumansmaynotlikethelawwewouldpreferlightwithoutshadow,
joywithoutpainbutsuchistheWorldIdea,God'sthought.Itistheproductofinfinite
wisdomandassuchwemaytrustandacceptthatitcouldnotbeotherwise.
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24

Thepresenceofpain,cruelty,evenevil,seemsclearenoughonthisplanetatanyrate.So
menmustbeforgiveniftheydoubtandquestionGod'sgoodnessorbreakoutinopen
rebellionagainstGod'swisdom.Wemaytellthemthatnothingcanbecreatedwithout
alsocreatingitsopposite.Butthat,likealltheotherexplanations,willnotsatisfythe
deeplyprobingintellect,eventhoughthatsameintellectwouldbeunabletofindouthow
aonesidedplanetcouldpossiblyexist.
25

Throughouttheuniverseweseetheseoppositespairedtogether,forindeedtheuniverse
itselfisamanifestationofduality.
26

Theoppositescomeintobeingbecausetheyareneeded.WithoutthemtheGreatWorkof
theuniversecouldnotbeaccomplished.HenceLaoTzu:"Beingandnonbeingcreate
eachother."
27

TheWorldIdeaprovidesforanetworkofinterwovenforcesofcontrastingcolourand
opposingdirection.
28

Itisthisalternatetensionandreleaseofopposites,thisYangandYinprincipleofthe
Chinesesages,whichmakestheuniversewhatitis.
29

ThecourseoflifeissoarrangedthatitgivesclearevidenceofYinYang'sactivity.It
appearsinthecontradictions,theopposingattributesofimportantsituations,whether
personalornational,anditappearsinNatureinclimaticoppositionsduringthechanging
year.
30

ThetensionofoppositeswhichisdepictedinaTibetanmandala,withitsgroupingof
heavenlyandhellishforcesuponacommoncentre,referstothissameidea.
31

Wecouldseenoformofanythingatallifallwereinthedarknorevenifallwereinthe
light.Thecontrastofshadowandlightisneededtodefinetheform.Oppositesarealways
necessarytoeachother.Thisiswhytheyarepresentthroughouttheuniverseand
moreoverpresentinallpossiblecombinationsandproportionsinallpossiblerhythmsand
patterns.Itispresentinlife,inallthings,inplanetsandseasons.Itistheeternaland
invariablelawofmanifestedexistence.
32

Foranythingtoexistforusatall,itneedsanoppositetocompareitwith,oritwillremain
nonexistenttoourconsciousness.
33

Thinkingcannotcomeintoexistenceatallunlessitrecognizesthepairsofopposites.
34

WecouldnotappreciateGoodifwehadnotexperiencedEvil.Wecouldnotappreciate
RealityifwehadnotbecomelostinAppearance.Itmaybethatforushumans,the
ultimatemeaningofthecosmosliesimplicitinthistruth.
35

Theactingselfneedsanouterworldandaninneroneboth.
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36

Allthingsinman'sexperiencecanbeclassifiedintopairsofoppositesthatwhich
experiencesandthatwhichisexperienced.Ineachpairthefirstmemberitselfbecomes,
onanalysis,thesecondmemberofanotherpair.
37

Whateverwelookat,weseeonlyinarelationshipofcontrasttosomethingelse.Itisa
mistaketoconsiderthisoppositiontobeantagonistic.Onthecontrary,eachshouldbe
consideredapartoftheotherifourperceptionistobetrueandourjudgementcorrect.
Thisteachesustosynthesize,tolookatbothsidesofathing,toincludebothpointsof
viewinanargument,andtoaddthesimilaritiesalsoinsteadofnotingthedifferences
alone.
38

Itmaybeunusual,inconsistent,startling,toproposethatwethinkintermsofopposing
ideas,ofconflictingstatements,andfindidentityinvariety,butthatisNature'sownway
herYinandYang.
39

Itisateachingwhichplaysoncontradictionsandfindsroomforopposites.Itseesthem
bothinthestructureoftheuniverseandinthemovementofevolution.Itputstheminits
approachtohumanproblems.
40

Eachviewofathingorideaimpliestheexistenceofthecontraryview.
41

Tounderstandthattheuniversalevolutiondependsuponatwowayinterconnected
movement,andthatitscomprehensionrequiresustothinkaboutitinoppositionalterms,
istobeliberatedfromthenarrow,onesided,incomplete,andintolerantthinkingwhichis
responsibleforsomanyabsurditiesandmiseriesinhumanhistory.
42

Optimismbecomesasunreasonableaspessimismwhenbothignorethetwofaced
characteroffortuneandNature,theYinYanginterplay.
43

AviewoftheWorldwhichfailsorrefusestorecognizethattheoppositesareessentialto
it,whichacceptsitsbeautybutnotitsugliness,isnotcompleteandonlyhalftrue.
44

Nothingexistswithoutitscontrary:ifthereissufferingaswellassweetnessinlife,thatis
noaccident,norisitbroughtintotheschemeofthingsbyhumanevilalone.
45

Intheend,amanmustrecognizethattherearetwoforcesatworkinNatureand
thereforeinhisownlifetheonebenign,theotherhostile.
46

Thegoodandtheevilaresomingledtogetherthatitisfutiletoexpecttofindonewithout
theother.
47

Ifhehearsthelarksingingandnotesitsjoy,hehearsalsothecapturedpreyofhawkand
owlandnotestheirscreams.IfheadmiresthebeautyofHimalaya,heremembersthe
largenumberoflivingcreaturesburiedatitsupheaval.
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48

ThebrutalityofNatureiscertainlypresentbutsoisitsbeauty.Ifthepiranhafishdevours
anylivecreaturemercilessly,thelarkfliesdelightedly.
49

ThisplayofoppositesexistsnotonlyinNaturebutalsoinhumandestiny.Weobserve
repeatedlyhowfortuneandmisfortuneareeitherintermingledorfollowoneanotherin
phases.ThemodernItalianwriterCesarePavesereceivedin1950thehighestliterary
praiseofhiscountry,yet,beforetheyearcametoitsend,hetookhisownlife.
50

Therearetwoprincipleswhicharefundamentalintheoperationsofouruniverse,even
thoughtheyareopposedtooneanother.Wehumanlylabelonegoodandtheotherbad,
notseeinghowoneisnecessarytotheexistenceoftheotherandbothtotheuniverse.
51

Aworldwithoutpain,withoutsuffering,isautopian,impossibleworld.
52

Thecompletetruthisthattheuniverseisneitherhostile,asmanyscientistsconclude,nor
friendly,asmanyreligionistsbelieve:itisboth.
53

Geometricalpatternsanddesignsnotonlysymbolizetheuniverse'sstructureandnature,
processandoperationtheyalsoshowitsharmoniesandsymmetries,conflictsand
oppositions,itslightsandshadows.
54

Bothforcesthestaticandthedynamicarepresentinexistence,inNatureandhuman
life.
55

Intheuniverseeverythinghasitsoppositetheonecannotexistunlessatsomepointin
timetheotheralsoexists.
56

Thecontradictionbetweenyinandyangisasurfaceoneonly.Theyinteractwitheach
otherandworktogetherdynamicallyinassociationwiththeWorldIdea.
57

Itwouldbeamistaketobelievethatthesetwoforces,althoughsoverydifferentfrom
eachother,arefightingeachother.Thisisnotso.Theyaretoberegardedas
complementarytooneanother.Theyarelikepositiveandnegativepolesinelectricity,
andtheymustexisttogetherordietogether.Theyareinseparable,buttheneedbetween
themiscorrectbalance,orequilibrium.
58

Thisistheuniverse'sfinalfact,life'slasttwinsecret.Thepairsofoppositesreally
secretlycombine,cooperateandassisteachother,despitetheiroutwardappearanceof
antagonism.
59

Thestructureoftheuniverseisbuiltontwoprincipleswhich,althoughoppositein
tendency,worktogethertoproduceNature'sharmoniousorder.
60

Heraclitustaughtthattheuniversewasaconflictofoppositescontrolledbywhathe
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calledEternalJusticeandwhatwecallKarma.
61

AllthingsinNatureshowthispolarityofopposedcharacters.Allforcesandmovements
inNatureshowitintheirstrivingtoadjust,balance,reconcileorunitetheircontradictory
activitiesandconflictingrhythms.
62

ThereishardlyanysituationwhichdoesnothaveitscompositionofYinandYang,good
andbad,atthesametime.Afavouredlifeisfaultedatsomepoint,anillfavouredone
compensatedforinsomeway.Theinexperienceofyouthisbalancedbyitsvitality,the
accumulatedexperienceofoldageiscounteredbyitsinfirmities.
63

EveryyinisrangedbyNaturealongwithayang,everywheretherearethepairsof
opposites.Herewhatwasonceaclearwateredlakeisbecomingrapidlypolluted,dirty
looking.Onthelakethewhiteswanswhichmovesogracefullycanbehavevery
viciouslytooneanother.AttheirfeedingtimeIhaveseenthembitetheyounger
membersoftheirtribetodrivethemaway.Ihavealsoseen,manyyearsago,aswan
literallybitethehandofachildwhichwastryingtofeeditandinflictaseverewoundon
thechild.Moreover,thispowerfulbirdhasbeenknowntobreakaman'sarmwitha
singleblowofitsbill.Yettheswanlookssoinnocentandbeautifulthatitoccupiesa
placeinthespiritualsymbolismofIndia.
64

WhenoneunderstandsthisplayofYinandYanginallexistence,andthereforethe
doublenatureofhumannature,onedislikespinningaprecisetagofclassificationon
anyone,puttinghimunderarigidcategoryofgoodnessaloneorbadnessalone.
65

ThepresenceofYinandYangshowsitselfeverywhere:inthehumanbeingso
admirableintechnologicalachievement,soignobleinpoliticalstrife.
66

YinandYangworksidebysideorfightfacetofaceorcompensateoneanother.
67

YinisforeveraccompaniedbyitsoppositeYang,whichflowsinanopposingcurrent.
68

TheseoppositetendenciescooperatetoproduceanequilibriuminNature.
69

ThenotionthatanythingoutsideofGodcanexistorhavemeaningbyitselfisafalseone.
Theuniverseiswhatitisonlybecauseitdependsonanequilibriumofopposingforcesor
ofpairsofthingsunitedinopposition.
70

TheobjectiveofBalanceisheldnotonlybeforemanbutalsobeforetheuniverseitself.
Themovementsandforceswithinitaresetforattractionandrepulsion,oppositionand
contrast,sothatastheybalancethemselvesitsownequilibriumismaintained.
71

Thecosmoshasitsownintegralbalance,oritcouldnotremainacosmos.Anditmust
keepthisbalanceallthetimeandinallplaces.
72
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Abruptchangesinhistoryandbrusquechangesinideascameinourtimepartlybecause
theywerekarmicallydue,orevenoverdue,andpartlybecauseofpressurefromthe
World,Idea.Allthismeansthatthesocalledgoodandthesocalledbadinterplayagain
tofindatemporaryequilibrium.
73

Naturekeepsherequilibriumbybringingincounterforces,orcomplementaryones,to
correctorbalanceanyconditionwheretoomuchhasgonetoofar.
74

Whenthepairsofopposites,thecontradictoryforces,arebroughtintoareciprocalunity,
equilibriumisestablishedandharmonyprevails.
75

Theoppositesandthedifferentmeethere,areheldinequilibrium,balanceand
supplementoneanother.
76

Itincludesopposites,reconcilescontradictories,unitesdifferences.
77

Inthisworld,everythingexistswithanopposite,asstatedintheBhagavadGitaand
referredtointheChinesedoctrineofyinandyang.Theseoppositesarecontrasts,butalso
complementsandinthissensedependentupononeanother.Theartoflife,sofarasthese
oppositesaffectus,istoestablishaproperequilibriumbetweenthem.
78

Itistheequilibriuminwhichthepairedoppositesandthetensionbetweenthemcometo
rest.
79

Experienceteacheshumanbeingsthatlifeisgovernedbyduality,thatlikeNatureitself,it
holdscontrastsandoppositionswithinitself.Justasdayandnightarepositiveand
negativepoles,soarejoyandsorrow.Butjustasthereisapointwheredaymeetsnight,a
pointwhichwecallthetwilight,soinourexperience,humanexperience,thejoysand
sorrowshaveaneutralpointandinNature,anequilibrium.Sothemindmustfindits
ownequilibrium,andthusitwillfinditsownsenseofpeace.Toseethatdualitygoverns
everythingistoseewhyhumanlifeisonetremendousparadox.
80

Heacceptsthetensionthatexistsbetweentheindivisibleandinterdependentopposites
whichcomposelifebutputsitintohisowninnerharmonyandtranquillity.
81

YinandYangarenottheopposingprinciplesofgoodandevilinlifebutaretheheavenly
andearthlyenergies.Theycomplementeachotheralthoughindependent,theeffectisto
worktogether.Theoneispositiveandtheotherispassive.Finally,theytestandcomplete
eachother.Thephilosophicidealistobalancethetwoharmoniously.
82

Thepolarityofyinandyanggoesthroughallexistenceandthereforeallexperience.
Neithercanbedestroyed,butwhatcanbedoneistobringthemtogether,toreconcile
themonahigherplane.

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Cyclicunfoldment,reversal
83

TheWorldIdeaisnotlikeahumanarchitect'splanning.Itisamightycreativeidea,
pressingforwardintoactivity,orretreatinginwardtorepose,accordingtocyclicneed.
84

TheWorldIdeacontainsthetwinforcesofevolutionandinvolutionthetwogo
togetherbutalthoughtheyaresimultaneouslypresentinthewhole,theyactseparately
andatdifferenttimesoneachindividualcell,entity,creature,orsubstance.Their
presenceandactivitycanbeseenbothinNatureandinhumanlife.
85

Thehistoryofuniversalevents,theceaselessdevelopmentsandevolutionsaswellasthe
retrogressions,cataclysms,anddestructions,theenergiesandsubstances,expressthe
WorldIdea.Itisinherentinallthings,latentinalllawsofNature.
86

Thereareideaswhichbecomeobsoleteandareallowedtodie.Butthreeideasareso
fundamentalthattheywillalwaysreappear.Theyarebuiltintotheuniverseandtherefore
intomanhimself.
87

ThesethreecosmicforcesAttraction,Repulsion,andRestconstitutethetriune
manifestationoftheWorldIdea.Youwillfindthemineverydepartmentofexistence.
88

Thereisamovementintheuniversewhichduringonephaseseemsconstructive,butina
laterphaseseemsdestructive.Butbotharereallypartofitsorder,itsdivineorder,forthe
twophasesbelongtoeachother,complementeachother,andarenecessarytoeachother.
89

Therearetwopolesofthisuniversalmovement:theone,agoingout,affirming,andthe
otheracomingbackanddenying.Allnatureisbisectedbythistwowayprocess.
90

Thelifeoftheuniversemovesthroughaseriesofevolutionaryoscillationsbetweenrest
andactivity.
91

Itistheincreaseofonemovementwhichrunsparallelwiththedecreaseoftheother
movement.Oneisconstructiveevenwhiletheotherisdestructive.
92

Therhythmiclifealternatesandreacts.Itbringsalternationofthealternationsand
reactionsagainstthereactions.
93

Justashumansandanimalspassthroughtheircyclesofinfancy,youth,maturity,and
senility,sodoestheplanetitselfwhichistheirabode.
94

Thecycleofexistenceisneverending.Whoeverunderstandsthistruthandhisown
relationshiptoitwillbecomehumble.
95

Existenceisanendlessaffairbutithasperiodsofrestandwithdrawal,changesofform
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andbody,ofconsciousnessandselfhood.Wearedevelopmentsbroughtforthfromitand
takenbackintoit.
96

TheuniverseplaysitslittlepartonthesurfaceofunknowableandineffableMindandis
goneonlytoreappearatsomeimmenselyfarofftime.
97

Worldscomeintobeing,aremaintainedforalongorshortwhile,change,anddissolve.
Aswecanreadilyseebyobservationandexperience,thisisnotlessthesituationforthe
creaturesincludinghumancreatureswhoinhabittheseworlds.Yetmostpeoplearetoo
unprepared,tooweakandtooshallow,tobewillingtotakeinthesetruths.
98

InfiniteMindreleasesfromwithinitselfaninfinitevarietyofsuns,stars,planets,
substances,plants,andcreatures.Eventheprocessitselfisaninfiniteone,counteredonly
bynecessarydissolutionsanddestructions,pausesandrests.Evenuniversesgetoldand
dieoff.Allthatisreleasedintomanifestationissubjecttothisperpetuallawofmovement
andchange,growth,decay,death,reappearance,andrecurrence.
99

Theuniversecomesintobeing,maintainsitsvariedoperations,orpassesintodissolution
byinherentnecessity.
100

TheentireuniversewilldissolveandvanishintotheunseenPowerwhenceitcame.But
therearemanyotheruniversesandgalaxiestoreplaceourown.
101

Dawnfollowsnightinthevastcosmoswithrhythmicalrecurrence.Thereforethesages
saythatthereisneitherbeginningnorendtotheuniversebuttheperennialflowof
eternity.TheFinalislikewisetheFirst.Wemustunderstandclearlythatcreationand
dissolution,evolutionandinvolutioncontinuetorecurperpetually.Itisnotaquestionof
longperiodsoftimecomingtoafinalclose.Thisrhythmoftheuniverseisincessant.
AccordingtotheChinesewisdom,wheneitherofthetwoaspectshasdevelopedtoits
utmostlimit,thenitbeginstotransformitselfintothepolaroppositeofitsownaccord.
Ourownproverb"Thenightisdarkestjustbeforedawn"isalsoapthere.Intheskywe
seethesamephenomenon.Themomentwhenthewaxingmoonhasreacheditsfullestis
immediatelyfollowedbythemomentwhentheprocessofwaningbegins.Thehighest
positionofthemountingsunisnosoonerattainedintheoverheadskyatnoonthegreat
orbbeginsitsdownwarddescent.Atnewmoonthewaningprocesscomestoanendand
thereverseprocessoccurs.Thesameturningpointisreachedatwinterandsummer
solstices.Theinterrelationofthesephenomenawiththelargerphenomenonofthe
universalcreationanddissolutionmaybeseen.Attheextremepointofeitherprocess
thereisaturning.
102

EverymovementinNatureultimatelyreversesitself,butthepointofreversalisnot
reacheduntilithasgonetotheextreme.Withthereversalitbeginstodevelopopposite
qualities.ThisisanoldandwellknownideainChina,notonlyamongthepeoplebut
alsoamongthephilosophers.LaoTzu,forinstance,says,"Togofartherandfarther
meanstorevertbackagain."
103

Inthisshuttleandloom,twowayalternatingrhythmoftheuniverse,whentheforces
attainthemidpointoftheirarc,theystartworkinginreverse,goingdowninsteadof
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evolvingup,decayinganddestroyinginsteadofnurturingandvitalizing,yieldingpain
insteadofpleasure.
104

Everyconditioninman,everyeffectinNatureisforeverseekingtoattainitsown
fullness.Yetthemomentthatisattainedandapauseensues,itreversesitsdirectionand
beginstoseekunionwithitsopposite.Thusitbalancesitselfintheend.
105

Evolutionisneverastraightline.Itcouldnotbe,inatwoway,universe.Atthecrisis
pointoneachwayashockbecomesnecessarytoforceaturnabout.Thisisthesamepoint
referredtobyancientGreekthinkers,whereeverythingdestroysitselfintheendbyits
ownexcess.Heraclitusmeantthesamewhenhetootaughtthatallthingstendtoturninto
theiropposites.
106

Themovementinonedirectionsoonerorlaterprovokesacountermovementinthe
oppositedirection.Thisreactionleadstoresistanceatsomepointorpointsitmayalso
leadtofrictionandthentofighting.
107

Eachphaseofthistoandfromovementcoverslongperiods.Whentheimpetusinone
directionexhaustsitself,theopposingimpetusawakensfromtranquillityandisactive.
108

Whenthemovementinonedirectionhasexhausteditself,thereisapause,andthena
reversaldirectsthemovementintotheoppositedirection.
109

TheflowofNaturefollowsthecourseindicatedbythePrincipleofReversion,which
throwsitbackafteratimeintheoppositedirection.
110

Whenthepointoffarthesttravelisreached,theforcesreversethemselves.Inthisway,
excessdisciplinesandevendefeatsitself.Inthiswaytootheuniverseandallthedifferent
kindsofexistencesinitarekeptinequilibrium.
111

Inthetoandfromovementofanimalbreathing,wehaveakeytohumandevelopment.
Studyitwellwiththisaidandyouwilldiscernaforwardandbackwardmovement,a
pendulumlikeswing,heretoo.
112

Everythingintheuniverseissubjecttoapendulumlikemovement.Itshuttlestoandfro
withacomingtobeandaceasingtobeeffect.
113

Atimecomeswhenhemustwearyofhisparadise,whenadesireappearsforthe
conditionswhichhewasformerlygladtoleavebehindbutnowwouldbegladtotakeup
again.Thusitisthatmanshuttlesthroughthisuniverseofopposites.
114

Justastheinkribbonofrecentlyoutmodedtypewritersautomaticallyreversesitselfwhen
theendisreached,andthenwindsintheoppositedirection,sodoestheflowofanation's
historicdevelopmentchangeitsoutwardandinwardcoursewhenkarmicrequitaland
balancingneedcallforsuchreversal.
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115

Physicsfindsthatnothingisultimatelypermanent,thateverythingmovesfromitspresent
conditiontoitsopposite.Needwebesurprisedthathistoryfindssomewhatthesame
cyclicmovementintheactivitiesofmankind,thatdeteriorationofeventhebestcomes
withtime,thatimprovementofeventheworstfollowstoo?
116

ItisastrueinthedomainofinnerlifeasintheouteronethatNaturemustrestore
equilibriumwhenitislacking,mustcompensateopposingforcesbybalancingthem.
Therecouldnotbeanystableuniverseifitwerenotcontinuouslybeingequilibratedin
someofitsparts.Thisishappeningbyobediencetoalaw,notbychance.Itishappening
whereverthemovementordevelopmentofmanandNaturereachesanextreme,whenit
forcesareversalofdirectionofthemovementbackwardtowardtheotherandtotally
dissimilarextreme.Thepatternfollowedisthereforearhythmicone,shuttlingbetween
onepoleanditsopposite.
117

Inthehistoryofman,whenthepointoffullnessinanyparticulardevelopmentis
approached,acontradictorymovementbeginstocomeintoplayand,atfirstgraduallybut
latersuddenly,reversesthedirectionofhistendencies.Inthiswaynotonlyareneglected
potentialitiesactivatedbutalsosomesortofanequilibriumismaintained.Thesecritical
turningpointsarealwaysmarkedbygreatandviolentupheavals.
118

Theuniverseisnotonlyconstructedbydivineintelligenceonatwowayoscillating
rhythm,butalsoonabalancingforcebetweenbothmovements.
119

IfmanupsetsNature'sequilibriumbyexcess,shesetsupareversalincompensation,a
movementtowardlack,restraint.Thisistheendlessoscillationofthings,history.
120

Thereisathreefoldmovementinnatureandlifeforward,backward,andneutralizing.
121

ThereisaBuddhisttheorythateverythingthathasbeenwillbeagain,repeatingitselfby
aprecisemathematicallawwhenthesameparticlesofmatterarebroughttogetheragain.
ThereisalsoaHindutheoryofperpetualalternationbetweenchangeandchangelessness,
ofendlessrhythmandperiodicitywhichprovidesnoevolutionarygoalbutmakeslifean
endinitself.
122

TheviewheldbyOuspenskyandGurdjieff,andbycertainBuddhistsectsfromwhomthe
latterderivedit,thatEternalRecurrenceistheeternallaw,thatperpetualrepetitive
movementistheuniversalcondition,isquestionableattheveryleast,unjustifiableatthe
verymost.Ifthehumanrace,forexample,weredoomedtorepeatallitsmistakesand
misdeedsagainandagain,itslifewouldbesenseless.Suchanoutlookisnotfarfromthe
merelymaterialisticone.
123

TheideaofrecurringhistoriccyclesisnotaloneBuddhistandAsiatic,butalsoGreekand
European(heldbyNietzscheinmoderntimesandPythagorasandZenoinancienttimes).

Spiralmovementofuniversalflux
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124

Allthingsmoveforward,stop,andwheelbackonthemselves.Theyincreaseand
strengthenbutalsobendandsubmit.Thisadvanceandretreatisbothacycleandaspiral.
Itisnotblind,forthusitestablishesequilibriumandobeyslaw,thatis,itgivesmeaning.
125

NowhereinNaturedoesasituation,acircumstance,acreature,orapersonrecurexactly
asbefore.ItistruethatNaturerepeatsherself,butduringtheintervalthespiralhas
wounditswayonward.
126

Inthespiral'sformweseethecomingtogetherofthatwhichisthehiddenbeingandthat
whichisthevisibleone,sothefulltruthisrevealed.Itistrueofacreatureoraglobe.
127

Whereveryouseeaspiralforminnature,youwillfinditstandsforaformwhichis
developing,growing,changing,ormoving.
128

ThespiralexpressesthisYinYangpolarityasittwistsfromeachsidetotheopposite
one.AmongthepowerphenomenaofNature,thewhirlwindtakesthesameform.
129

Thecycleswhichshowthepathofuniversalmovementarenothorizontalones,but
ascendingspirals.Ifthereisareturntothesameplace,itisonahigherleveleachtime.
130

Theinwardgoingandoutwardturningforcesofthecosmosworkwithperfect
reciprocityandcarryeverythingwiththembyturns.Thelinetheyfollowisaspiral
curve.Theneutralpointswheretheymeetarepointsofrestandinactivity.Thus,although
theyopposeeachother,theyalsobalanceeachother.
131

Themovementofeveryenergyandtrendtakesacurveddirection.Thisiswhythereisno
straightline,lapsefreeevolutioninhumannatureorhistory.Andthecurvedevelops
itselfwithtimeintoacircle,andthisagainwithfurthertimeintoaspiral.
132

Thehistoryoftheuniverseisahistoryofcycles:ofbirth,development,disintegration,
death,andrestendlesslyrepeatedonhigherandhigherlevels.Theenergyimpulses
whichrisefromtheVoidandaccumulateaselectrons,onlytodisperselater,reproduce
thesamecyclesthroughwhichtheentireuniverseitselfpasses.
133

Thelargeclearcosmologicalvistasofphilosophyrevealtheunfalteringreturnofthe
evolutionaryspiraluponitselfandhelpustoappreciatethesuperbharmonyofthe
WorldIdea.
134

Witheveryfinishedcycletheevolutionarylinemovesuphigherandthusbecomesa
spiral.
135

Theevolutionarymovementmovesthroughaseriesofadvancesandretrogressions,and
throughslowstepsbrokenperiodicallybyviolentspurts.
136
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Evolutionthreadsitswayspiralfashion,mostlybyslow,unhurriedinchesbutatcritical
periodsbymountingleaps.Norisitseenarightunlessitscomplementandcorollary,
involution,isseenalongwithit.
137

Allthingsandallbeings,alleventsandallphenomenaareinterrelatedinanendless
chain.Inthiswayevolutioncirclestheuniverseagainandagain,spirallike.
138

Evolutionisnotonlyaccomplishedbyaseriesofrisingandfallingarcsbutalsoacross
longflatplains.
139

Developmentisnotcontinuous.Itmovesforwardthroughalternationsoflullsand
renewals,peaksandvalleysandplateaus,inrhythmicfluctuation.
140

Thecoursetakenbytheuniversalmovementmaybeupwardinspiralevolutionor
downwardinspiralretrogression.
141

Thematerialistwhoassertsmantobewhollytheproductofenvironmentishalfright.
Theimmaterialistwhoassertstheoppositeislikewisehalfright.Thisisbecause
developmentmovesalternatelyintwoopposeddirections,neverstaysinasingleone.
142

Thecoursetakenbyeachlifeentityinitsslowdevelopmentisneitherstraightnordirect,
butawindingone,goingforwardandbackwardupwardanddownward,curvedlikea
seriesofinterwovenspirals.
143

Whyshouldthewavesoflifeentitiestakethisspiralliketwowaycourse?Whydothey
notgoalongadirectsingleone?Theansweristhattheyhavetogatherexperienceto
growifthisexperienceincludestotallyopposedconditions,allthepartsofeachentity
cangrow,allitslatentqualitiescanbestirredintounfoldment.Intheoppositionsofbirth
anddeath,growthanddecay,inbreathingandexhaling,youthandage,joyandsuffering,
introversionandextroversion,spiritformandbodyform,itfulfilsitself.
144

Ifthesealternatingsequencesthroughwhicheveryentityhastopassweresubjectto
endlessrepetition,wewouldbeentitledtocriticizetheabsurdityanduselessnessofitall.
Buttheyarenot.Iftherepetitionsdooccur,theydosoonahigherleveleachtime.The
netresultisgenuineevolutionoftheentity.
145

Thecosmicmovementtracesacircularpath,whichiswhytheevolvingentityhastopass
throughoppositeextremesandwhyitisguaranteedafullnessofexperience.Innoother
waycoulditsprogresstowardahigherlevelbemadesurebytheperiodicarrestofits
downwardcourses.ContrastanddifferenceareinnateinthedivineWorldIdeatocontrol
andadjusttheconflictingandopposingforces.
146

Lifesubjectsmanto"thepairsofopposites,"throwshimintotheconditionsheneedsto
balancehisexperience.Inundergoingthisreversalofpattern,heiscompelledtodraw
uponallhislatentresources,notmerelyupononeofthem.
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147

Themovementalongaturningspiralroadthroughonebirthafteranother,willintime
passthroughseeminglyunrelatedextremesandunfriendlyopposites.
148

Weseeaperpetualstrugglegoingoninthecosmosbetweentwocontraryforces.It
appearsnotonlyinNature'soperationsbutalsoinman'sinnerbeing.Thusthereisno
continuousupwardmovementbutratheranalternation,whichisofacyclicandspiral
kind.Repulsionfollowsattractioninthehumanmind,decaycontradictsgrowthinthe
universallife.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.

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