Behind every complexity there is a simplicity
It seems to me that extremely polarisation in on way or another in society ends in chaos, and although chaos is the natural part of the process towards order, it still is a matter of understanding the reasons and energy behind polarisation. My way to understand this energy shift from chaos to order (cosmos) is very much inspired by the symbol of yin-yang. So as I mentioned in another blogpost, when people ask me if I’m anxious about the chaos in the world today, the answer is no I’m not. Maybe it’s because I always have worked with metaphysics in so many years. During my studies at the university in philosophy, my professor David Favrholdt taught me how to think the Taoist way to understand energy combined with thinking the Quantum Physics way. It might at first glance looks very complicated, but actually when you understand the universal principles behind energy, it is actually very simple. Understanding the simplicity in metaphysics is also the reason why I work as a holistic psychologist, combining the metaphysics with e.g. Carl Gustav Jungs analytic psychological approach and Roberto Assagiolis psychesynthesis (the danish version is called Energy Psychology). I like to inspire you to understand more of the energetic transformation that’s constantly going on in an inner/outer order. What I can show you here is just a tiny part of the understanding, but it still is something.
Systems of interconnectedness
A human is not “just” a human, but as such always a part of a system of interconnectedness. So when the philosopher Alan Watts explained the Watercourse Way to Western people, it was to get humans to understand the Taoist approach to life. Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao Tzu, and in the work of Alan Watt “translated” to a Western approach in life. To be loyal to the original Lao Tzu poetry (and just a little side note; have you noticed that a lot of metaphysical understanding is “translated” to poetry?) I give you a “taste” of Lao Tzu from “Tao Te Ching”:
The Tao is like an empty container:
it can never be emptied and can never be filled.
Infinitely deep, it is the source of all things.
It dulls the sharp, unties the knotted,
shades the lighted, and unites all of creation with
dust.
It is hidden but always present.
I don’t know who gave birth to it.
It is older than the concept of God.
[ Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching (Arcturus publishing edition)]
To me this Taoist poetry is SO beautiful, and intuitively I understand the simplicity behind complexity, e.g.order behind chaos, when I read Tao Te Ching, and I recommend if you’re curious about the order behind chaos to read it too. Tao or Dao means “way” a natural balanced order of the universe. The way to approach life in a taoistic way is to follow these four principles; 1) understand simplicity, patience and compassion, 2) going with the flow (the concept of wu wei), 3) Letting go and 4) live in harmony e.g the concept of yin/yang. So I live by these 4 principles in my everyday life, not perfectly but I intuitively make choices in life based on these principles, that is not to say that I live like a Zen Buddhist, but I’m very inspired to integrate it in my everyday life (I have just posted a newsletter about how I integrate these simplicity principles in every day life. Get my newsletter by clicking here https://janniansel.com/community/ )
The Golden Mean
I combine this Taoist approach with e.g. an Western Aristotelian Golden Mean principle. It is a principle of finding the balance in the middle way of two extremes. So it is up to you to understand your subjective approach to a situation and try to balance it. Aristoteles said:
To hit the mean in feelings and actions is hard, because it is hard to be good and to find a middle point (…) Not everyone can find the centre of a circle (…) Anyone can get angry or give and spend money, these are easy, but doing them in relation to the right person. In the right amount at the right time, with the right aim in view, and in the right way, that is not something anyone can do, nor is it easy. This is why excellence in these things is rare, praiseworthy and noble.
So what Aristoteles said was, that it is possible to understand the Golden Mean through daily practice in an everyday situation and in daily relations with people in your life. Compared to the Eastern version of the golden mean by Kung Fu Tse. The principle of Zhonggyong – a balance between extremes to live an essential life in harmony. When I observe our society today from this Golden Mean perspective, I understand that our society is chaotic because it has developed to extremes in consumerism, stress, complexity etc. The solution is that we as individuals try to find our golden middle way in our everyday life, and that will have a ripple effect on the collective level e.g. society. So it’s not about perfection, but knowledge about balance that makes the difference. With words of Kung Fu Tse; all Truth passes through three stages: 1) it is ridiculed, 2) it is violently opposed and 3) it is accepted as being self-evident.
Your heart knows the Way
As i mentioned above “a lot of metaphysical understanding is “translated” to poetry” and a way to this golden mean approach could be listening to your heart, your inner knowing, your intuition – as Rumi a Persian poet and mystic once said: “Your heart knows the Way. Run in that direction”. “Life is a balance between holding on and letting go”. I can’t say I master these principles everyday in my life, but they give me a sense of direction, and I understand the patterns behind what’s going on behind the surface in society today – not only in a philosophical and metaphysical way, but also in a holistic psychological way. You can do the same by following your heart, your bliss – your natural call for balance in your life.
