(An
article inspired by my friend, Mandy Peterson's book.
What
is Duality and what is Isness, and why does it matter what we
believe?
Duality
by dictionary definition is:
duality (djuːˈælɪtɪ )
Definitions
noun
(plural) -ties- the state or quality of being two or in two parts; dichotomy
- (physics) the principle that a wave-particle duality exists in microphysics in which wave theory and corpuscular theory are complementary. The propagation of electromagnetic radiation is analysed using wave theory but its interaction with matter is described in terms of photons. The condition of particles such as electrons, neutrons, and atoms is described in terms of de Broglie waves
- (geometry) the interchangeability of the roles of the point and the plane in statements and theorems in projective geometry
Isness
by dictionary definition: (also known as Being)
being (ˈbiːɪŋ )
Definitions
noun
- the state or fact of existing; existence
- essential nature; self ⇒
she put her whole being into the part
- something that exists or is thought to exist, esp something that cannot be assigned
to any category ⇒
a being from outer space
- a person; human being
- (in the philosophy of Aristotle) actuality Compare becoming (sense 3)
be1 (biː ; unstressed bɪ )
Definitions
verb
Word forms: 1st person singular present tense am
Word forms: 2nd person are
Word forms: 3rd person is
Word forms: plural present tense are
Word forms: 1st person singular past tense was
Word forms: 2nd person were
Word forms: 3rd person was
Word forms: plural past tense were
Word forms: present participle being
Word forms: past participle been
intr- to have presence in the realm of perceived reality; exist; live ⇒
I think, therefore I am
,not all that is can be understood
- used in the perfect or past perfect tenses only to pay a visit; go ⇒
have you been to Spain?
- to take place; occur ⇒
my birthday was last Thursday
- copula used as a linking verb between the subject of a sentence and its noun or adjective complement or complementing phrase. In this case be expresses the relationship of either essential or incidental equivalence or identity ( John is a man; John is a musician) or specifies an essential or incidental attribute ( honey is sweet; Susan is angry). It is also used with an adverbial complement to indicate a relationship of location in space or time ( Bill is at the office; the dance is on Saturday)
- takes a present participle forms the progressive present tense ⇒
the man is running
- takes a past participle forms the passive voice of all transitive verbs and (archaically) certain intransitive
ones ⇒
a good film is being shown on television tonight
,I am done
- takes an infinitive expresses intention, expectation, supposition, or obligation ⇒
the president is to arrive at 9.30
,you are not to leave before I say so
- takes a past participle forms the perfect or past perfect tense of certain intransitive verbs of motion, such
as go or come ⇒
the last train is gone
Word Origin
Old English bēon; related to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, Greek phuein to bring forth, Sanskrit bhavati he isTranslations for 'being'
- British English: being You can refer to any real or imaginary creature as a being. NOUNPeople expect a horse to perform like a car, with no thought for its feelings as a living being.
- Brazilian Portuguese: ser
- Chinese: 生物
- European Spanish: ser
- French: être
- German: Lebewesen
- Italian: essere
- Japanese: 生命体
- Korean: 존재
- Portuguese: ser
- Spanish: ser
To
the untrained eye, it may appear that there are always pluses and
minuses. Good or evil, love and hate, war and peace, cold and heat,
or light and darkness. Up, down, left, right, inside and outside,
forwards and backwards. But you may be surprised to know that by a
process we call relativity we can arrive at many other points of
conclusion and or debate. Duality would have us believe that both
exist side by side and that there is only one thing or the other,
with it's opposite at the point of us determining our viewpoint.
For
example.
If
we are cold, that means there is an absence of heat. Heat exists as a
concept like everything else, therefore if we are not experiencing
it, we are subjected to it's diverse opposite. The amount to which we
are experiencing it is determined by our personal decision about
where one ends and one begins. Quantifying. In this theorising model,
both heat and cold are the same thing, just adverse ends of a
spectrum of sensation felt by our bodies sensory receptors, with
determinable advances towards or away from each end. Which of course
also indicates/theorizes that there is/are no ends, on this linear
scale.
If we go up, by relativity, we are no longer going down or stationary. Right means less left, and so on... I'm sure you are beginning to get my point. So if we move from one to the other both still exist in the material and tangible world in which we perceive this experience to be taking place, whilst another potential truth also exists. That we can move and not move and whilst we are moving, one of the perceived ends appears closer, but also that the non movement requires a silence, a pause which in and of itself is neither of the ends of the scale.
I
merely offer another perspective that you and I can consider, to be
able to diversify our relative thinking, and see this in and of
itself as somewhat limiting to our being, our Isness.
Duality
gives us a reason to feel comfortable in the main, because we can fit
things into a neat box. We label it up and pigeon hole it and go away
thinking nothing bad can come our way because we have organised our
world as we wish it to be. Compared to the theory of complete chaos,
relativity and duality appear very sound and dependable. Have we
considered our own limiting minds in all of our calculations? Our
emotions, beliefs, prejudices and bias, not to mention our paranoia
that we don't know everything and our rationality dictating our
soundness of mind? Duality really implies that something is,
and it is, because of what it is not. And by definition, there
are many things it is not, all at the same theoretical moment
in what we have constructed to evaluate this and called this time.
Being,
Isness however allows us to
accept all things as equal, as being one with each other. This Isness
means logically that each occurrence is as important as any other.
That what holds each thing together is as important and relative as
any of the other component parts which it bonds/holds/controls to
keep them where they are, will and should be.
Significantly
we as human beings have for centuries tried desperately to control,
understand and manipulate everything in our material and tangible
existence, but without the wisdom to see that we cannot and do not
have the power to control everything. There does seem to be a type of
order in the realms of the known universe, and the tangible reality
we have called life. And yet there is also a lot of mystery, chaos and
apparent tragedy in it too.
My
personal experiences have shown me that following a particular path
can lead to treasure as also it can lead to disappointment. No one
way is superior to any other in discernible and or credible values,
other than does it serve me or not. For this reason I cannot judge
one way as being inferior or superior, despite what other human
beings state of their experiences. My truth is only that. My truth.
It is a truth, based
upon present considerations and data. Tomorrow it may change, or it
may not, depending upon what event comes along to offer me a new way
of evaluating that new data.
From my perspective, I still find myself attached to outcomes, despite having been on a mission to lose that attachment. I have experienced no great move towards the things I sought, despite having renounced a desire to achieve them. In this duality I feel sure that there exists another caveat, another possible way to conceive and understand through theorizing and action that outcomes are not relative to desire and passion and determination alone. My friend makes a rather interesting point in her book, I am the Lotus, not the muddy pond.
Mandy
says:
So,
I now believe that the Truth or 'Secret' lies not in anything we
have, own or experience within the material world. It lies with
understanding that we will continue to materially need and want
something until we simply do not need or want it anymore – and do
not need to control our minds and thoughts in an attempt to receive,
avoid and acquire it.
When
I read this I knew immediately that it resonates with me deeply.
Applying it is somewhat more difficult, though the experiences I have
had so far, no doubt have been necessary to achieve the outcome I
wish to arrive at. All of my successes have come from repeated
failures. (Perceived failure) I believe my eventual vindication will
be that life has taught me the value of all things through experience
and not as a result of regrets over what I didn't do.
Please
have a look at the book and Mandy Peterson's website as I'm sure that
you will also be rewarded for your efforts to see through the veil of
illusion.
Because
our very consciousness depends upon our awareness of what we must do
in the collective process of, not human beings having a spiritual
experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience.
Time
is here for a new shift in our joint consciousness, and the place is
here where that can take effect. Be bold, be courageous and let not
doubt hold you back.
I
just wanted to share something else with you before you go. A song
that I wrote the lyrics to which is about Love and Peace and a
tribute to John Lennon and Yoko Ono and their attempt to share this
same message in Give Peace a Chance. Not a new subject by any
means, but one that has stirred the hearts of poets and songwriters
since time began no doubt. With the incredibly intuitive music and
performance by one of my brothers and collaboration of many members
of my family I share this song with you here.
A
special thanks goes to S.M.Peterson.
I
am the Lotus, not the muddy pond.
Love, Peace and Hugs to
everyone.
Peaceful Warrior.
You are one truly impressive lady. Thank you for sharing your mind with us!!!
ReplyDeleteNamaste' Mandy 8~)
Thank you Steve.
ReplyDeleteYes she is a very impressive talent at sharing this light with us.
May my continued respect shed more light on her wisdom.
Namaste to you also.
Love n light.
Thanks both of you! and Namaste to you as well and to Nature! :D I finally figured out how to post a comment! Have to sign in to Google first!
ReplyDeleteThank you for popping by my humble blog.
DeleteI am working through your book and it is still an amazing eye opening read. So much food for thought and many happy recollections of the stuff I'd forgotten...
Take care and have a great weekend.
Much love, light and hugs.
P.W.