opposites complete you and judgment is meaningless ~ the universal necessity for differences
How do they complete you? By completing the universe.
The motions of the world, and all of life, flow in a balance of opposites. There are pairs of opposites and multiples of opposites for everything; for example the five elements ~ fire, water, earth, air, and space are the fundamental opposites needed for life to exist. which one is like the others? Which element can you live without?
From the pattern of our universal roots all balance is set in motion – the balance and motion of opposites.
Nature shows that life rises up in the same pattern. The balance of opposites: symbiosis, is also called mutual arising. This means everything is created by the motion and growth of all other things evolving together. You’re here because all things are here.
The balance of opposites moves in harmony and conflict simultaneously. For example: a cat will always be the mortal enemy of a pigeon. A cat is a killer. That’s all it does. Does this mean the cat shouldn’t exist? The cat and the pigeon both move in perfect harmony with all of nature, and yet they will always be perfect enemies. All are part of the balance and motion of the universe constantly sorting itself into order.
A cat is a natural piece of the puzzle. Every occupation needs to be done. And some occupations seem painful and cruel. In order to do the various jobs in the world everyone needs to have a unique personality and a desire to do different things. If everyone wanted to be a baker the world would stand still. To be a great baker you must think like a baker not a banker or a barber. Seven billion occupations and seven billion unique characters fit perfectly into the puzzle. The balance of opposites reveals that the best outcome for everyone is that they need to be unlike you in many different ways.
JUDGMENT AND THE DESIRE TO CREATE CHANGE IN OTHERS
Your behavior is rooted in your character, cultural background, beliefs, and the wounds you carry. If others tell you to change your character can you do it? Can others force you to change your beliefs? Can others heal the wounds within you? You know that personal change is very difficult to do. If you can see this in yourself you can see it that it’s also true for others. When you tell others to change you ask others to do something which you have found to be extremely difficult. If this is true for you why do you think that others can change easily? Why do you think they can do it just because you tell them to?
You have complete control over one person – yourself. Can you change?
The leopard doesn’t change his spots. Ten thousand leopards don’t change their spots. The balance of opposites is universal. The pigeon is one of one trillion pieces of a giant puzzle. The cat is another piece. Every piece fits and because of this all things get done. If everyone became like you who would do the jobs you dislike doing? How many people would be in competition with you to try to get your job. Would this make life easier? Could you exist without rain forests, deserts, or mountains? Could you be here without lions, rabbits, and dolphins? Opposites serve a profoundly important purpose.
Passing judgment is like banging your head against a mountain to change the shape of it. Your head hurts because the changes you want don’t happen. Because of this frustration and misery are always in the same room as Judgment. Each time you try to force a piece of the puzzle to fit your ideals you increase frustration, misery, and conflict within yourself.
You can do battle with your enemy for a thousand years and tomorrow he is still here.
WHEN YOU PASS JUDGMENT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IS A BETTER LIFE
You want the pain to go away. You want improvements to come. So let’s look at ways to get there which will actually work. The pigeon can’t destroy the cat. If the pigeon wants a better life, self-improvement is the only way to get there. When you feel a desire to pass judgment against others contemplate yourself instead.
Your enemies, rivals, and opponents are teachers.
Don’t look to pass judgment against others, look to find the lessons they teach, the lessons which help you to improve yourself. All of nature reveals this ~ the only way to a better life is self-improvement.
Enemies are teachers of self improvement but they are not teachers of right and wrong actions. The cat has claws. The bird has wings. Contemplate yourself. Who are you?
What do you like? What do you dislike? Who inspires you? These are truths about you that you can use to find yourself and move in the right direction. Which improvements fit your character? You fit into the world because you’re unique. Grow in those directions.
All self-improvement begins within. To learn improvement, you must unlearn the obstacles within. You must unlearn the lessons which bring you to judgment.
Judgment causes problems in your life in several ways:
It causes misery and frustration
and the changes you want never happen
On the other hand if you decide to make improvements to yourself those changes can and will happen.
Judgment is the opposite of self-improvement – you want others to change, so that you won’t have to.
When you pass judgment you resist the push towards self-improvement. When you resist the push towards self-improvement, you resist the momentum of 4 billion years of evolution; the natural balance, motion, and perpetual changes, of the universe – which is within you.
Is anyone strong enough to resist the rhythms of the universe?
Don’t resist the push.
Look beyond yourself and your personal enemies. Look for universal truths.
When you feel a desire to pass judgment contemplate yourself instead. The way to a better life is self-awareness. Enemies push you to try harder, and opposites make the world complete.
All are teachers
All are students
To restore yourself to the flexible open mind you were born with, ask questions and, let curiosity take you there.
