The Basics of Yin-Yang

Suggested by: RLC

The Yin-Yang Symbol shows Yin as the dark eye in the white fish-shape that is Yang and conversely. The principle of yin-yang is to describe the essence of all that we see--exemplifying the metaphysical approach of describing Reality with one all encompassing concept. Although some may claim to not believe in yin-yang, the terms are merely a way of describing easily observed processes: day changes to night, youth into age, heat into cold, light into darkness, and etc. When you realize that the principle of yin-yang is all encompassing, though; it is possible to grow in a greater understanding of Reality that would be impossible if we view yin-yang as having no real value. No matter what we call the Yin-Yang Principle, the Principle does operate in our daily lives in all things we do. This important Principle should then be used to increase our ability to be successful in accomplishing our good purposes. The Six Divisions of Yin-Yang are: Heat/Cold, Excess/Deficiency, and Exterior/Interior.

The Yin-Yang Principle holds that all objects or phenomena in the universe can be understood as limitless pairs of opposites which interact according to the following principles:

The Source of all opposites is that which is unified and unchanging

Although yin-yang denotes change and separation, their source is unchanging and unified. Therefore, a Chinese philosopher stated, "The Great Ultimate is Unmoved." The Bible tells us, "I am the Lord; I do not change."

The Yang principle is active while the Yin principle is passive; yet nothing is purely yang or yin.

This fact is illustrated in the symbol above by the black eye in yang and the white eye in yin. Chinese wisdom states that in order to understand anything we must first consider its opposite. See the example application below.

If either Yin or Yang predominate, the one in excess tends to consume the other.

If we work long and hard in the heat (yang) without drinking fluids (yin), we will become overheated. How many times have we displayed extreme emotion and then regretted how we acted afterward.See the example application below for another application.

Example Application: Understanding the Yin-Yang of GOD's Love (Agape)

Considerable effort has been spent explaining GOD's Love through other writing on this web site. The following aspects of HIS Love have been explained:

Love is the aspect of living individuals that unify them.

This is even partially true for self-serving love. With self-serving love, the use of unity is used loosely because the unity is superficial only and most likely short lived.

Love is always expressed toward a purpose--not individuals or things with one exception.

This may be a difficult concept for us to understand, but attempt to explain how any kind of love can be expressed for an individual. What is it that produces unity? It is the sharing of a specific purpose for which we may see the individual or individuals we "love" as necessary in accomplishing the purpose. Therefore, the focus and expression of our love is for the purpose--not the individual or individuals needed to accomplish the purpose. Yes, it is a common practice to define this need as love; but the expression of love results in activity (yang), An expression is away from its source. A need is not active, but receptive or passive (yin)--drawing toward the emptiness. It is a void that must be filled. Recognizing the difference is important in understanding GOD's Love. A need produces the desire that moves us to accomplish the purpose we love. Once the need is satisfied, the unity is maintained by a continuing desire by all for the purpose they love.

Love requires the ability to make freewill choices.

No one can be made to love another. There must be a common purpose that each Loves.

GOD's Love (Agape) is the purest expression of Love.

GOD's Love is for the highest Purpose possible. What purpose can an infinite entity have who encompasses all that is? HE is already totally self-sufficient, but one of HIS Main Aspects is Love. Love must be expressed toward a purpose to exist. The highest purpose possible is another individual like HIMSELF except for the fact that such an individual's existence will depend on GOD (see Word Picture). This individual will only lack self-sufficiency. This individual is who we call Christ, the Son of GOD. To Love, Christ must grow through freewill choices from the Alpha to the Omega. Agape does not have a self-serving aspect. The expression is totally self-less. Since Christ is an individual and the Purpose, Christ is the one expectation mentioned above for both GOD and Man.

Yin is feminine while Yang is masculine. Love is a feminine aspect, and Spirit is a masculine aspect. Spirit is the beginning or onset of all change, but it is Love that determines the focus or purpose of Spirit by expressing the need.

Love as yin expresses a need and Spirit as yang produces the desired changes . The opposite of Love is hate. Love is also feeling or a living quality. We become what we love (* see below). It is not an intellectual quality except in a small way. How then must we hate? For hate to be yin and produce balance, it must be without feeling or life? In this way Spirit never allows hate to produce change or be expressed with feeling. What we hate is merely seen as having no value for the purpose we love. Therefore, what we hate is only recognized intellectually and then rejected. To attach feeling to what we hate is to become that what--as we see it to be to us. Such feeling produces a life in us that "needs" what we hate to continue to live--therefore, giving it value to us. We have all done this in the past, therefore, what we hate becomes a part of who we are.

* Naturally we do not become the individual or thing. We actually become part of a relationship with that individual oe thing. The life in us is the qualities needed to produce and maintain our connection with the relationship. If we form a relationship with a thief, then we must contribute to acts of thievery to remain in the relationship. If we enter the relationship of the body of Christ, then we must seek his Purposes to remain in his body.

Consider how we can use the yin-yang principle in understanding what we see daily, our meditations, and improving our ability to grow spiritually. Recognizing the yin-yang principle in various situations daily can be a very good habit to practice.

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