Yin and Yang

[Tamrin]

Eastern philosophy has much to offer the West. However, not all its concepts are beneficial. One which I suggest has become too popular, is that of Yin and Yang, which we occasionally see alluded to on this forum (albeit, there are similar Western concepts). According to simplistic versions of Yin and Yang, the universe is essentially dualistic and all manifestations and qualities belong to either Column A or Column B, with only a tempering of the other. All Yang things are associated with masculinity, activity, light, heat, etc. and all Yin things are associated with femininity, passivity, darkness, cold, etc.

My objection regarding the concept is, ironically, twofold. Firstly, not all phenomena are binary and many of those that are may be better understood in a dialectic sense. Secondly, there is often a non sequitur involved when associating one binary set with another. For instance, would we want to associate good and evil with Yin or Yang, as has been done?

While I know this is too much to hope for, I would be very glad if I never again saw references to active males and passive females used as if such associations were somehow natural and inevitable.

[imakegarb]

Bro. Philip, I think what is bothering you is the common effort to force flesh-and-blood men and women to conform to these Hermetic opposites. I agree with you, that is wrong. Because no man or woman conforms entirely to the hermetic opposites. Even the most manly-man has his feminine side; the most womanly-woman her masculine side. This is a concept, *not* something to live up to.

However, I find duality, as a concept, to be handy for meditation and study. It helps me to recognize that there is duality in life (good and evil, light and dark, etc). And in recognizing that duality, I learn a valuable lesson - that they are opposite ends of the same thing.

For instance, take a look at the Yin and Yang symbols above. You will notice that, in each of the light and dark halves is a point of dark and light. You will also notice the two halves, together, form a single circle.

However, the greatest lesson of the Yin/Yang is that the opposites are not apart, they are together. This implies there is no harmony when they are parted. Which would, itself, conform with the Pythagorean idea that duality itself - not either or both of the two parts that make up the duality - is evil.

Now, one more concept and I'll shut up. *If* the yin and yang are separated, they are two. Opposites. But when they come together, they create a single unit - their child, if you will. In many traditions, this is the basis for the mystery of trinity. For as Above, so Below. Each one of us is a child of our opposite natures.

[maat]

I don't think ying and yang are static.... ying moves to yang moves to ying...

Take away the words and look at the concept behind the words.

This, apparently is the origin of the sign and one I had not seen before. Its all about the Master Sun in the East, the SW Moon in the west and the t..f..i..g..

www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/YinYang.htm

Maat

[imakegarb]

Very cool link!!

So it would seem to have the same origins as our Point within the Circle. Somehow, that's not surprising ;D

[Tamrin]

Bro. Karen,

You are correct in saying, “Bro. Philip, I think what is bothering you is the common effort to force flesh-and-blood men and women to conform to these Hermetic opposites.” However, if the symbol was apt, the flesh-and-blood WOULD conform.

Thanks to Bro. Maat, I have a new-found appreciation for the elegance of the geometric figure. However, I still remain wary of the simplistic, symbolic usage whereby all things are assigned either to Column A or to Column B and are to be understood in those terms, with only a small circle in each half with which to accommodate the inevitable mismatches.

I repeat, many binary sets have no demonstrable relation to other binary sets (except when relying on circular reasoning) and I am especially troubled about associations which appear to justify prejudices or to sustain stereotypes (most especially attempts to categorise one category as good and the other as bad).

I suspect the binary symbolism derives more from our cognitive (perhaps innate, psychophysiological) habits in trying to explain our universe rather than from how the universe really is (we are adept at finding patterns, especially binary patterns, as Rorschach tests show). By endorsing or meditating on the symbolism of Yin and Yang, we may be reinforcing those habits and in doing so, I suspect our Mind becomes more closed rather than more open.

[imakegarb]

tamrin said:

However, if the symbol was apt, the flesh-and-blood WOULD conform.

Only if the symbol were intended in that way. I don't think it is.

[Tamrin]

imakegarb said:

Only if the symbol were intended in that way. I don't think it is.

However the symbol was first intended, others do see it that way now and it is their usage of the symbol to legitimise their prejudices which troubles me.

[imakegarb]

I likewise find it troubling.

However, I don't condemn the symbol for what others have done to it. Instead, I look with a sort of concerned compassion upon those who do this. And remind myself that, just because they see the symbol in this way does not mean I must also. Indeed, I believe I must not.

And even should the day come that I am the only one on earth who sees the symbol as I do . . . still I must not. For I want to know what really is. And a good symbol will point me in the right direction. Even if I'm the only one in the room who can properly interpret the sign, still I must see it that way. And then go there, not get caught up in the symbol. For it did its job, pointed in the right direction.

[matt]

Most symbols have a gross literal meaning cloaking the sublime truth it holds within. Even our existence follows this pattern. There will always be those who suffer the pains of misinterpreting a symbol and accepting its literal meaning. As masons, we are exposed to the idea that most profound teachings hide within a cloak. I feel the same way as Bro. Tamrin in regards to those who accept literal translations of any symbol system.

The problem is throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Many people are quick to judge christianity or Islam or whatever religion for the world's problems. The system is nothing more than a set of symbols and cant be blamed for people's ignorance. It is the ignorance of what the symbol holds that ends up leading to intolerance and ultimately hatred. So instead of attacking the symbol itself, we should work to help people grow and realize that there is something more behind that particular symbol.

The real battle is against ignorance and intolerance.

[imakegarb]

matt said:

The real battle is against ignorance and intolerance.

Indeed, I think you are right. And that it has always been this way.

It seems to me that the further we get from an individual, the more ignorant we become. An individual Christian/Jew/Muslim can seem to be very holy and pious (and, indeed, they often are). However, when we stop looking at the individual and start looking at the institution under which they are umbrellaed . . . I think we cannot do this. Not and remain cluefull and tolerant.

But it's an old problem and bigger than I can wrap my very little mind around. But there are masters who came before us, and are still with us, who say this struggle is not in vain, that there is a purpose to it. And this gives me much solace and hope. Albert Pike wrote, in the 19th Century:

"Through the eternal ages the light of God's beneficence shall shine hereafter, disclosing all, consummating all, rewarding all that deserve reward. Then we shall see, what now we can only believe. The cloud will be lifted up, the gate of mystery be passed, and the full light shine forever; the light of which that of the Lodge is a symbol. Then that which caused us trial shall yield us triumph; and that which made our heart ache shall fill us with gladness; and we shall then feel that there, as here, the only true happiness is to learn, to advance, and to improve; which could not happen unless we had commenced with error, ignorance, and imperfection. We must pass through the darkness, to reach the light."

Morals and Dogma, Chapter 15 "CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX", page 240, full text available here.

(little smile)

[1wizardstone]

I have always thought of the yin and yang symbol expressing something to the tune of "you cannot have one without the other" or "you can't have the black without the white" or "you can't know what is true without knowing what is false". After understanding the Kybalion principles of polarity, the symbol has taken on a great, different meaning. Thank you.

[mgc]

this is an xelent thread imo..
it deals with several issues we seem to be bumping into atm;
-the origin of the craft
-co-masonry (or equality in general)
-validity of values subscribed to symbols

[Augur]

Well, I have to agree with the argument that it's somewhat ridiculous to take issue with a symbol because people insist on mis-interpreting and mangling it to suit their own purposes. That's silly.

That being said, the Yin-Yang energy is the manifestation of the same energy. It's not different. They're expressions of the same force in the same way you might show the front or back of your own hand. Two poles of the same field.

Even then this force is a fluid one. It's always changing. It's shape is based on the movement of water. Also once this force becomes too much of one kind of energy it reverses and becomes the other. Too much Yang becomes Yin. Too much Yin becomes Yang. This is a very important concept in Taoism and particularly medicine.

So let's not be upset with a symbol because people are ignorant. Part of the problem is also that just because you group certain attributes does not mean they equal one another or are one and the same. If you are going to set up something as being dualistic it naturally follows that you'll end up with a half that's active and another that's passive, then male/female, light/dark and so on....

The mistake is then to directly associate maleness with light and activity. Or the feminine with darkness and passivity. This doesn't logically follow. Such direct comparisons are best left to within their own systems. It's akin to dividing up the world between things that move and things that don't and then deciding that since both rocks and skyscrapers don't move that they somehow share an essential nature with each other as well as with trees and corpses because they don't move either.

Correspondences then, like many things, can be a useful tool in the hands of someone smart enough to know how to apply them. That they can be misunderstood and misused doesn't negate their usefulness any more than the fact that a power tool can be used incorrectly means that we should enforce a ban on them.

P.S. In the above two Yin/Yang symbols, the topmost is horribly incorrect with Yang descending while the one below that Tamrin has defiled with his crossed out circle is the correct image.

[letterorhalveit3]

Study Classical Chinese Medicine (as I have) and you will see a muliplicity of meaning to that symbol that you never even imagined. That symbol is only a finger pointing at the moon of eastern thought and belief and esoteric meaning. Its not just right, wrong, male, female, hot, cold....that symbol represents the ideas which govern and entire school of philosophy. Look at it and if you need a western reference, study the medieval idea of the bodily and univeral humors. then rethink your feeling about this concept.