“When I am in tatters and about to cave, in elementary matters: be the particle and the wave.”- The Levins
This weekend, my wife Julia and I gathered within a wonderful community to see Joe Crookston, a master musician, songwriter and beloved cheerleader of humanity. Before the concert, I had a conversation with a friend who has a different political point of view. We agreed on many points but in the end, there was no swaying her from her stance. I had to say that I was grateful that we were willing to converse at all. Our beliefs can become a citadel from which we are unwilling to emerge. Recognizing that I care for someone who does not see or feel as I do, awakens the love from which all things become whole.
Of course, there is a process that takes place before love comes into the picture. There is a gambit of emotions that come into play that must be honored before I can authentically facilitate a greater understanding. Sometimes, however, I can find myself going down the rabbit hole with bad feelings and I have to remind myself that love is an option. That way I can manually shift gears.
We are the awareness that animates everything and yet we seem to be in a separate form from everything around us. What can bring us peace is quietly observing the drama of life as it unfolds without needing to over-identify with it. Swirling around duality, our consciousness can silently become unified.
For a long time, there was a scientific argument about what light consisted of. There were proponents of the Particle theory who said that light was made of particles. There were proponents of the Wave theory who said light was made of waves. They were like two political parties attacking one another. Each side said they were right and that the other was wrong. Now we know that light is both a particle and a wave. It has both properties and depending on how you look at it, it may change from a particle to a wave. It may do the opposite. All that time arguing may have been wasted, or it may have provided the breakthrough in understanding. It is a paradox.
Paradox comes from the Greek words para and dokein which mean “to seem contrary.”
We live in a world where there seems to be endless conflict without the hope of us reconciling our differences. Perhaps, if we can use the idea of the particle and the wave, we can learn to embrace the paradox and find a way to live in peace.
Here are some examples of paradox found throughout the world’s wisdom traditions:
In Judaism, a cherished practice started by Rabbi Bunim of P’shiskha, urged people to put these two statements in their front pockets. One on the left and one on the right:
“The world was created for me.” ( from the Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 37B) and
“I am but dust and ashes.” ( from Genesis 18:27)
Saul, a man who killed Christians then became Paul, Christianity’s chief proponent. He said:
“For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.”- Romans 11:32
A mystic Sufi was executed for proclaiming, “I am the Truth.” Paradoxically, some saw this as a man claiming divinity, while others saw it as a humble denial of the ego which allowed divinity to shine through him.
The Taoist Lao Tzu said: “Heaven and Earth are long-lasting. The reason why Heaven and Earth can last long is that they live not for themselves, and thus they are able to endure.”
The psychologist Carl Jung had this to say: “The paradox… reflects a higher level of intellect and, by not forcibly representing the unknowable as known, gives a more faithful picture of the real state of affairs.”
The poet, TS Elliot said: “Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.”
Mooji, a teacher of the Hindu Advaita Vedanta (which means “not-two”) says: “Paradoxically, the most powerful force in the universe is doing nothing at all.” And “Without the physical, the spiritual cannot be known or experienced. Go deep. Find and Be the Real!”
As a fitting last float in this Paradox Parade, here are the lyrics to one of Joe Crookston’s songs, which both did and did not revive the Buddhist poet and leader, Thich Nhat Hahn from a coma:
Fall down as Rain
When my life is over
And I have gone away
I’m gonna leave this big ole’ world
And the trouble and the pain
And if I get to heaven
I will not stay
I’ll turn myself around again
And fall down as the rain
Fall Down as the rain
Fall Down as the rain
And when I finally reach the ground
I’ll soak into the sod
I’ll turn myself around again
Come up as goldenrod
Come up as goldenrod
Come up as goldenrod
And then when I turn dry and brown
I’ll lay me down to rest
I’ll turn myself around again
As part of an eagles nest
Part of an eagles nest
Part of an eagles nest
And when that eagle learns to fly
I’ll flutter from that tree
I’ll turn myself around again
As part of the mystery
Part of the mystery
– Joe Crookston
We may never understand one another or ourselves and that in itself is a reason for rejoicing.
-Ira Scott Levin
Originally published at www.streamoflightblog.com on February 7, 2017.
Originally published at medium.com