Bridging Our Differences

How to Find Common Ground

We often see the world in pairs: day and night, hot and cold, right and wrong. We're on two sides of a big argument: politics, beliefs, or everyday choices. But imagine there's a better way to be - one that doesn't pick sides but finds a common middle ground.

“Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.”? — Hermitic principle of duality

This idea is familiar and tied to more than just one way of thinking. It's about seeing beyond our usual views to connect on a deeper level, realizing that we all want similar things deep down.

We need to broaden our understanding of the world to reach peace within ourselves. This means looking inward and finding quiet moments to understand who we are.

The Law of Polarity teaches us that everything has an opposite, but these opposites are more alike than we think. They're different sides of the same coin. For example, without knowing sadness, how can we genuinely appreciate joy? This duality isn't there to divide us but to help us grow and see that there's a chance for unity in every disagreement or difference.

Non-Duality: Seeing the Connection

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.”?—?Thomas Merton, Trappist monk

Non-duality takes us a step further, showing us that what seems like opposing forces are part of the same whole. It's like looking at a wave and seeing that the highs and lows are part of one continuous flow. This view doesn't ignore differences; it goes beyond them, showing us that everything is connected.

In our quest for knowledge, we encounter two types of thinking: exoteric, which is about the outer, visible world, and esoteric, which seeks deeper, hidden truths. Exoteric thinking often leads to divisions because it focuses on surface-level differences. Esoteric thinking, however, encourages us to look beyond these differences and find a shared path of understanding and love.

The Challenge of Embracing Both

“The Middle Way is the way of balance between extremes.”?—?Gautama Buddha

Understanding the world's visible and hidden aspects can help us gain a more complete view of reality. By recognizing the dance between opposites while also seeing their unity, we can overcome rigid views and embrace life's complexities with wisdom and compassion.

Our ultimate goal is love. We are beings of love and light, living in a world that can sometimes forget this truth. By opening ourselves to learning and letting go of our fixed views, we can overcome internal and external conflicts, live in harmony, and discover the unity that underlies all things.

Let's show kindness to those stuck in a one-sided view and remember the power of finding a middle way in all aspects of life. This understanding could reduce conflicts, bring us closer, and help us appreciate the simple things, like the dishes left in the sink or the toothpaste cap left off.

Here's to finding our way together before it's too late.