From duality to balance
True story
Walking through the old city of Nafplio, I see a woman on the side of a busy touristic street. She holds a baby less than one year old. I watch her “setting the scene” as she takes her place on the sidewalk. She sits the baby next to her and places an empty plastic baby plate in front of the baby. The baby with an inexpressive face simply watches what her mother (?) does. She is barely reacting, almost motionless. I immediately feel a tense sensation in my stomach. As I walk by them the woman (well fed as per her appearance) begs me for money so that she can provide food for the baby (as she claims). I carry not even 10cent in cash with me so I politely apologize that I don’t have any money and continue walking. Yet the baby’s image haunts me. My inner knowing is that this woman is most likely a “professional” in this (begging) sport, her baby is just her tool. I feel an urge to withdraw money from my bank account, give her like 50 euros and ask her to get her baby and go home. This is the way my brain thought in that moment that could help that baby get off the streets.
But can I actually help this baby by doing this? Probably not. Only she (her mother) has the power to do that. Even if I’d give her all the money I have, she will probably continue to do the same. It’s her way of survival. It’s her chosen (or better learned) way of living. My emotions are running high and I am starting to cry from anger and powerlessness. I watch a couple of other young kids walking by me with their moms or dads, spotless, fully dressed in brands from head to toe. They seem to be given everything and live a much wealthier and happy life that the little girl that haunted me a few moments ago. And then a question pops up in my mind.
How do you know?
Who tells you that that little girl lives a less happy, free or authentic life than the boy with the branded clothes? How many cases don’t you know where kids from “good families” that seemed to have it all suffered and felt suffocated by their parents demands and expectations of them? What makes you the superior judge who feels sorry for other people and seeks to save them from their perceived misery? Who tells you your perception of the situation is true? Could it be simply what you’ve been told and learned to be true? Could it be your own perception you’re operating from?
Transcend duality to reach inner peace and world balance
Our human brain is trained to operate in duality (opposing parts). Good or bad, right or wrong, true or false.
We tend to treat these dualities, around whatever subject or in any situation, as “carved in stone”. Like an external source forced them upon us. We forget that these are man created and man imposed perceptions and ‘boundaries’ at a certain point in time and based on various -yet specific- intentions, values and conditions. These ‘boundaries’ are simply another man made concept or construct which most of the time, through out the history of mankind, are made from a few for the many. They essentially serve to control the masses and ensure “peace” (at least for a certain period of time).
Ideally, in developed and sophisticated societies, where the animalistic instincts have been naturally subsided in favor of the creative mind, no self empowered human being needs anyone to control them (i.e. decide beforehand the boundaries or what’s right or wrong) because they will naturally act for the good of the collective as this would serve also their own. They would operate from an “AND” consciousness instead of a “ME or YOU*”.
Excluding or eliminating duality from the picture is not an option as physical life is built upon duality. Transcending duality becomes, however, possible when you transcend (i.e., recognize, accept and consciously release) the (opposing) part that you have control over in the moment. There can be no taker without a giver, no victim without a villain, no beggar without a savior and no truth without a lie.
Examining our own minds, perceptions and beliefs we can see on which “side” of this duality equation we stand on and transcend that part of us simply by accepting its existence and choose to releasing its energy in the present moment. Choosing to create inner peace and balance is a way to possibly bring more balance into this world. Afterall we are (part of) the world.
