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| abcradiology.blogspot.com |
Over one thousand years before the birth of Christ, Yin and Yang was first expressed. Chinese philosophy incorporated this belief during the Yin Dynasty (1400-1100 BC). But these two forces, or more appropriately, holistic force, has been maintaining the universe since its genesis. These polar forces, one negative and one positive, constantly interact. Neither is in absolute stasis. They exist to balance the universe.
Western science also has its version of this, in Newton’s third law, “For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.”
Each represents different conditions. Yin, the black fish, is negative, dark, passive, cold, wet, and feminine. Yang, the white fish, is positive, bright, active, dry, hot, and masculine.
There are four aspects of yin-yang:
1. They are Opposites
2. Interdependent: one cannot exist without the other. Notice that each fish’s eye is the color of the opposite fish. (Black fish has a white eye, and vice-versa). That is because all yin has yang and all yang has yin. Take, for example, day and night. Day (yang) turns into night (yin), but, there is an intermediate phase -- evening (when yin begins to fill the yang). A similar situation happens towards the end of night -- dawn (when yang begins to fill the yin).
3. Mutual consumption: levels of yin-yang are constantly changing, and though this is often harmonious, sometimes one is more powerful than the other, leading it to weaken (consume) the other. This accounts for many of what we deem as problems, (illness, depression, chronic anger), further explained in biological yin-yang.
4. Inter-transformation: one force changes into the other after it has reached its peak. Like when day turns into evening and then into night.
Notice that neither represents good or evil, because yin and yang forces both are necessary to maintain balance in the universe.
Each represents different conditions. Yin, the black fish, is negative, dark, passive, cold, wet, and feminine. Yang, the white fish, is positive, bright, active, dry, hot, and masculine.
There are four aspects of yin-yang:
1. They are Opposites
2. Interdependent: one cannot exist without the other. Notice that each fish’s eye is the color of the opposite fish. (Black fish has a white eye, and vice-versa). That is because all yin has yang and all yang has yin. Take, for example, day and night. Day (yang) turns into night (yin), but, there is an intermediate phase -- evening (when yin begins to fill the yang). A similar situation happens towards the end of night -- dawn (when yang begins to fill the yin).
3. Mutual consumption: levels of yin-yang are constantly changing, and though this is often harmonious, sometimes one is more powerful than the other, leading it to weaken (consume) the other. This accounts for many of what we deem as problems, (illness, depression, chronic anger), further explained in biological yin-yang.
4. Inter-transformation: one force changes into the other after it has reached its peak. Like when day turns into evening and then into night.
Notice that neither represents good or evil, because yin and yang forces both are necessary to maintain balance in the universe.
How exactly do they balance each other?
They arise from quiescence, or rest, and radiate until quiescence is reached again. For instance, when someone drops a stone into a calm lake, waves rise (yang) creating low points between the waves (yin). These waves will radiate until yin and yang balance out, meaning the lake calms down again, and its surface is once again flat.
In “Basics”, I used the concept of magnets, which are held by opposite polar ends with a force in the center that keeps them connected. This illustrates the universe in a mundane sense, where it is held together by opposite polar forces whose interactions are required to keep it together. These "opposite" polar forces are the very same thing we've been discussing --- yin and yang. Their, if you will, "magnetic" interactions create a force which keeps them unified and balanced. In turn, this force that they create gives rise to our universe.
Theoretically, of course.
Now, if you had two magnets and faced the positive end towards the negative, they would be attracted and join together. There is force in between them. But, what happens when you remove just one of those magnets? The force that once held them together would vanish. Such is the importance of yin and yang. Remove only one of them, and there is no longer a force. There is no longer a universe.
No need to fear, though. Yin and yang are, in their nature, energy, as is everything in this universe (including matter). And we all know that energy cannot be destroyed. But, what's interesting is this: energy can be converted. So, what if one day, yin and yang is converted into something else?
Yin-yang is drawn using trigrams, or a specific pattern of lines, that symbolize everything in the universe. Yang is expressed as – – while yin is —
These are then used in the Eight Trigrams, which symbolize everything in the universe. Here is what they look like:
They arise from quiescence, or rest, and radiate until quiescence is reached again. For instance, when someone drops a stone into a calm lake, waves rise (yang) creating low points between the waves (yin). These waves will radiate until yin and yang balance out, meaning the lake calms down again, and its surface is once again flat.
In “Basics”, I used the concept of magnets, which are held by opposite polar ends with a force in the center that keeps them connected. This illustrates the universe in a mundane sense, where it is held together by opposite polar forces whose interactions are required to keep it together. These "opposite" polar forces are the very same thing we've been discussing --- yin and yang. Their, if you will, "magnetic" interactions create a force which keeps them unified and balanced. In turn, this force that they create gives rise to our universe.
Theoretically, of course.
Now, if you had two magnets and faced the positive end towards the negative, they would be attracted and join together. There is force in between them. But, what happens when you remove just one of those magnets? The force that once held them together would vanish. Such is the importance of yin and yang. Remove only one of them, and there is no longer a force. There is no longer a universe.
No need to fear, though. Yin and yang are, in their nature, energy, as is everything in this universe (including matter). And we all know that energy cannot be destroyed. But, what's interesting is this: energy can be converted. So, what if one day, yin and yang is converted into something else?
Yin-yang is drawn using trigrams, or a specific pattern of lines, that symbolize everything in the universe. Yang is expressed as – – while yin is —
These are then used in the Eight Trigrams, which symbolize everything in the universe. Here is what they look like:
(courtesy of http://learningtaichichuan.com/bagua.html
Applying yin and yang to your daily life can have health benefits. Take the traditional Chinese diet, for example, which labels certain foods yin and others yang and makes sure to mix the two in each meal. When they are eating something cold, they make sure to have something hot as well. Same with dry and wet, sweet and sour, spicy and plain, and so on.
Here is a link that will explain more on yin-yang as medicine: http://www.sacredlotus.com/theory/yinyang.cfm
If you wish to experience yin-yang within you, practicing Tai Chi will help. Tai Chi involves a series of poses that stimulate the yin and yang forces in the body.
Achieving total awareness in meditation is also a product of balanced yin-yang. “Meditation” describes how to achieve this.
For those who have taken the spiritual path, understanding yin and yang will greatly help you on your journey --- for achieving total balance is key to enlightenment. When one has achieved this balance and total mastery of the world around them, they are ready to transcend, no longer needing to reincarnate.
Thank you for reading, and may you achieve balance in your life.
Namaste.
