These couplets help portray the co-generating dynamics of Nature. They also hint at an approach to life that helps moderate stressful extremes. For a more background, see Using Yin and Yang to Pop Preconceptions.
The Co-generating Principle
The ancient Chinese symbol (right) is the “great pole” pictogram (太极图 tàijítú). It depicts the dynamics of Yin and Yang. White corresponds to Active (Yang), and black to Passive (Yin). It says visually what each couplet says verbally. The benefit of Couplets lies in how they substitute Yin and Yang for two unique words and their complementary antonyms. These four words make a distinctive statement about the natural process depicted in the symbol, yet are chock full of specific meaning imparted to the couplet by the four words comprising it.
The first step in creating a Couplet is choosing four words from the Correlations table. We’ll make a Correlations table by placing basic nouns, adjectives, and verbs with their respective antonyms into complementary categories: Active (Yang) and Passive (Yin).
| Active (yang) | Active (yang) | Passive (yin) | Passive (yin) | |
| (nouns & adj.) | (verbs) | (antonyms) | (antonyms) | |
| activity | works | PASSIVITY | RESTS | |
| bold | advances | MEEK | RECEDES | |
| day | warms | NIGHT | COOLS |
Now we’ll make the first Couplet by taking a word from each column above and using it to make a statement that succinctly describes the natural process represented by the “great pole” pictogram.
Contemplate this first Couplet:
Activity evolves forth into PASSIVITY as it works, yet PASSIVITY revolves back to activity as it RESTS; hence, work within the PASSIVITY, yet REST within the activity.
The white-left side: Activity evolves forth into PASSIVITY as it works, yet…
The black-right side: PASSIVITY revolves back to activity as it RESTS; hence…
The lower-white dot: work within the PASSIVITY, yet…
The upper-black dot: REST within the activity.
Here now are two more Couplets formed from the other Correlations above. Mull them over to get the feel of this dynamic.
Bold evolves forth into MEEK as it advances, yet MEEK revolves back to bold as it RECEDES; hence, bold within the MEEK, yet RECEDE within the bold.
Day evolves forth into NIGHT as it warms, yet NIGHT revolves back to day as it COOLS; hence, warm within the NIGHT, yet COOL within the day.
Note how each couplet begins with an Active term. The first half can be a little obscure, especially if you’re not used to viewing reality as a circular phenomenon. Is the second half, beginning with “hence”, more easily understood? Let’s see.
Take the first couplet we did. How do you work within the PASSIVITY, yet REST within the activity? First, obviously activity plays a larger role in life than PASSIVITY (e.g., the heart and lungs are active until we die). Nevertheless, we occasionally fall into periods of PASSIVITY (laziness, depression, fatigue, failure. illness, sleep). Work within the PASSIVITY suggests that in those times we will feel better if we hold ourselves up a little so that our life doesn’t fall apart. REST within the activity suggests that we will feel better in all life’s activities if we bring a RESTFUL attitude to activity, or as the Tao Te Ching #56 puts it, Subdue its sharpness, untie its tangles, Soften its brightness, be the same as dust, This is called profound sameness.
Buddha’s Path: Right Comprehension; Right Resolution; Right Speech; Right Action; Right Living; Right Effort; Right Thought; Right State of Peaceful Mind parallels this approach. While this balancing process is easy to ponder, following its wisdom is another matter… or is it? Actually, simply realizing (a.k.a., Right Comprehension) the cycle of extremes and the pathway to balance can be sufficient. As realization deepens, balance gradually increases naturally. There is no need to work at it, or worry about it. Just watch and ponder. As chapter 16 says…
Obviously, this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Nature makes all living things pay for balance. Couplets just reveal the price Nature asks. So, find some couplets that interest you on the list below and ponder them awhile.
Basic Couplet List
Activity evolves forth into PASSIVITY as it works, yet PASSIVITY revolves back to activity as it RESTS; hence, work within the PASSIVITY, yet REST within the activity.
Anger evolves forth into FEAR as it confronts, yet FEAR revolves back to anger as it EVADES;
hence, confront within the FEAR, yet EVADE within the anger.
Boldness evolves forth into MEEKNESS as it contends, yet MEEKNESS revolves back to boldness as it BOWS DOWN;
hence, contend within the MEEKNESS, yet BOW DOWN within the boldness.
Certitude evolves forth to DOUBT as it answers, yet DOUBT revolves back to certitude as it QUESTIONS;
hence, answer within the DOUBT, yet QUESTION within the certitude.
Chaos evolves forth into ORDER as it frees, yet ORDER revolves back into chaos as it INHIBITS;
hence, free within the ORDER, yet INHIBIT within the chaos.
Civilized evolves forth into PRIMITIVE as it expands, yet PRIMITIVE revolves back into civilized as it CONSOLIDATES;
hence, expand within the PRIMITIVE, yet CONSOLIDATE within the civilized.
Cynicism evolves forth into FAITH as it doubts, yet FAITH revolves back to cynicism as TRUSTS;
hence, doubt within the FAITH, yet TRUST within the cynicism.
Desire evolves forth into SATIATION as it takes, yet SATIATION revolves back into desire as it GIVES;
hence, take within the SATIATION, yet GIVE within the desire.
Elite evolves forth into COMMON as it rises, yet COMMON revolves back into elite as it SINKS;
hence, rise within the COMMON, yet SINK within the elite.
Emotional evolves forth into SPIRITUAL as it excites, yet SPIRITUAL revolves back into emotional as it CALMS;
hence, excite within the SPIRITUAL, yet CALM within the emotional.
Extreme evolves forth into MODERATE as it goes, yet MODERATE revolves back into extreme as it WAITS;
hence, go within the MODERATE, yet WAIT within the extreme.
Famous evolves forth into ANONYMOUS as it wins, yet ANONYMOUS revolves back into famous as it LOSES;
hence, win within the ANONYMOUS, yet LOSE within the famous.
Folly evolves forth into WISDOM as it rationalizes, yet WISDOM revolves back into folly as it KNOWS;
hence, rationalize within the WISDOM, yet KNOW within the folly.
Future evolves forth into PRESENT as it hunts, yet PRESENT revolves back into future as it ELUDES;
hence, hunt within the PRESENT, yet ELUDE within the future.
Gain evolves forth into LOSS as it advances, yet LOSS revolves back into gain as it RETREATS;
hence, win within the LOSS, yet RETREAT within the gain.
Hate evolves forth into LOVE as it glorifies, yet LOVE revolves back into hate as it HUMBLES;
hence, glorify within the LOVE, yet HUMBLE within the hate.
Human evolves forth into ANIMAL as it progresses, yet ANIMAL revolves back into human as it REGRESSES;
hence, progress within the ANIMAL, yet REGRESS within the human.
Hypocrisy evolves forth into SINCERITY as it shows, yet SINCERITY revolves back into hypocrisy as it WATCHES;
hence, show within the SINCERITY, yet WATCH within the hypocrisy.
I evolve forth into THAT as I emerges, yet THAT revolves back into I as it RETURNS;
hence, emerge within the THAT, yet RETURN within the I.
Ignorance evolves forth into KNOWLEDGE as it speaks, yet KNOWLEDGE revolves back to ignorance as it LISTENS;
hence, speak within the KNOWLEDGE, yet LISTEN within the ignorance.
Illusion evolves forth into TRUTH as it complicates, yet TRUTH revolves back into illusion as it SIMPLIFIES;
hence, complicate within the TRUTH, yet SIMPLIFY within the illusion.
Imaginary evolves forth into REAL as it brightens, yet REAL revolves back into imaginary as it DIMS;
hence, brighten within the REAL, yet DIM within the imaginary.
Impulsiveness evolves forth into PATIENCE as it acts, yet PATIENCE revolves back to impulsiveness as it HESITATES;
hence, act within the PATIENCE, yet HESITATE within the impulsiveness.
Indulgence evolves forth into TEMPERANCE as it gobbles, yet TEMPERANCE revolves back to indulgence as it NIBBLES;
hence, gobble within the TEMPERANCE, yet nibble within the INDULGENCE.
Innocence evolves forth into GUILT as it ignores, yet GUILT revolves back into innocence as it NOTICES;
hence, ignore within the GUILT, yet NOTICE within the innocence.
Liberal evolves forth into CONSERVATIVE as it wobbles, yet CONSERVATIVE revolves back into liberal as it STABILIZES;
hence, wobble within the CONSERVATIVE, yet STABILIZE within the liberal.
Life evolves forth into DEATH as it visits, yet DEATH revolves back into life as it HOSTS;
hence, visit within the DEATH, yet HOST within the life.
Logical evolves forth into INTUITIVE as it tightens, yet INTUITIVE revolves back into logical as it LOOSENS;
hence, tighten within the INTUITIVE, yet LOOSEN within the logical.
Male evolves forth into FEMALE as it leads, yet FEMALE revolves back into male as it FOLLOWS;
hence, lead within the FEMALE, yet FOLLOW within the male.
Need evolves forth into SATISFACTION as it hurries, yet SATISFACTION revolves back into need as it DAWDLES;
hence, hurry within the SATISFACTION, yet DAWDLE within the need.
Objective evolves forth into SUBJECTIVE as it thinks, yet SUBJECTIVE revolves back into objective as it FEELS;
hence, think within the SUBJECTIVE, yet FEEL within the objective.
Obvious evolves forth into AMBIGUOUS as it awakens, yet AMBIGUOUS revolves back into obvious as it SLEEPS;
hence, awaken within the AMBIGUOUS, yet SLEEP within the obvious.
Pain evolves forth into PLEASURE as it resists, yet PLEASURE revolves back to pain as it YIELDS;
hence, resist within the PLEASURE, yet YIELD within the pain.
Politics evolves forth into RELIGION as it forgets, yet RELIGION revolves back into politics as it REMEMBERS;
hence, forget within the RELIGION, yet REMEBER within the politics.
Present evolves forth into PAST as it diverges, yet PAST revolves back into present as it CONVERGES;
hence, diverge within the PAST, yet CONVERGE within the present.
Pride evolves forth into SHAME as it cleans, yet SHAME revolves back into pride as it DIRTIES;
hence, clean within the SHAME, yet DIRTY within the pride.
Rare evolves forth into COMMON as it narrows, yet COMMON revolves back into rare as it WIDENS;
hence, narrow within the COMMON, yet WIDEN within the rare.
Repulsion evolves forth into ATTRACTION as it pushes, yet ATTRACTION revolves back to repulsion as it PULLS;
hence, push within the ATTRACTION, yet PULL within the repulsion.
Solitude evolves forth into COMPANIONSHIP as it detaches, yet COMPANIONSHIP revolves back to solitude as it CONNECTS;
hence, detach within the COMPANIONSHIP, yet CONNECT within the solitude.
Something evolves forth into NOTHING as it fills, yet NOTHING revolves back into something as it EMPTIES;
hence, fill within the NOTHING, yet EMPTY within the something.
Sophisticated evolves forth into NAIVE as it sharpens, yet NAIVE revolves back into sophisticated as it DULLS;
hence, sharpen within the NAIVE, yet DULL within the sophisticated.
Sorrow evolves forth into JOY as it moves, yet JOY revolves back into sorrow as it STAYS;
hence, move within the JOY, yet STAY within the sorrow.
Sound evolves forth into SILENCE as it flows, yet SILENCE revolves back into sound as it EBBS;
hence, flow within the SILENCE, yet EBB within the sound.
Spontaneity evolves forth into CONSTRAINT as it abandons, yet CONSTRAINT revolves back into spontaneity as it RESTRAINS;
hence, abandon within the CONSTRAINT, yet RESTRAIN within the spontaneity.
Success evolves forth into FAILURE as it grows, yet FAILURE revolves back into success as it STAGNATES;
hence, grow within the FAILURE, yet STAGNATE within the success.
Teacher evolves forth into STUDENT as he illuminates, yet STUDENT revolves back to teacher as he PUZZLES;
hence, illuminate within the STUDENT, yet PUZZLE within the master.
Transitory evolves forth into PERPETUAL as it appears, yet PERPETUAL revolves back into transitory as it VANISHES;
hence, appear within the PERPETUAL, yet VANISH within the transitory.
Ugly evolves forth into BEAUTY as it biases, yet BEAUTY revolves back into ugly as it BALANCES;
hence, bias within the BEAUTY, yet BALANCE within the ugly.
War evolves forth into PEACE as it stirs, yet PEACE revolves back into war as it STILLS;
hence, stir within the PEACE, yet STILL within the war.
Young evolves forth into OLD as it decides, yet OLD revolves back into young as it DELIBERATES;
hence, decide within the OLD, yet DELIBERATE within the young.
Before moving on to Using Yin and Yang to Pop Preconceptions.
You’ll need to ponder how words correlate to pop preconceptions. For example, what do pleasure and pain correlate to? That’s a tricky one. Considering the experiences these words define can help. Scan your experience for instances that indicate whether or not pleasurable experiences tend to be more calming than painful ones. Next, how do pain and pleasure correspond to need and fear? Normally, fear is painful and need promises pleasure once satiated.
Yet, I have correlated pain and need as the complementary opposites of PLEASURE and FEAR. Pain and need both stir up a lot of energy—struggle and emotion. PLEASURE and FEAR are both more passive. Thus, on balance, I must correlate pain and need to Active (yang) and PLEASURE and FEAR to Passive (yin). Yet, this isn’t set in stone. Correlating these words differently would not be wrong as long as you’re diligent and honest. The real purpose of working with correlations is to put some emotional and cognitive distance between you and the words with which you think. As you become impartial concerning word meaning, your chances for truly thinking outside the box improve greatly. Put simply, you’re training yourself to distrust the words with which you think, and thus your thoughts as well. As the end of chapter 16 hints,