Yin and Yang

The blog Yoga Originel

Summary: This text explores the duality between the inner and outer worlds through the lens of meditation and personal experience. The author recounts his awakening to consciousness in 1974, sparked by the writings of Lanza del Vasto and a pivotal life shift when the age of majority was lowered to 18. The central theme is the dissolving of the boundary between the "self" and the environment:

• Breathing as Synergy: The cycle of inhalation and exhalation is presented as concrete proof of the Yin and Yang harmony, where outer air and inner space constantly merge.

• Consciousness vs. Ego: Suffering and duality arise when the individual places themselves at the center of everything. Inner peace is found by accepting one's immersion in the whole, much like a sponge in the ocean.

• Practice and Reality: The goal of meditation is not an artificial calm, but an improvement in the quality of consciousness. It involves accepting one's true nature (whether energetic or calm) and knowing how to return to balance after any disturbance.

The core idea is that happiness and harmony are not the absence of emotions (such as annoyance), but the ability to remain connected to one's deep source despite the ups and downs of daily life.

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This idea of inner and outer worlds is truly a milestone in the evolution of consciousness. After spending so much time focused on the outside, often ignoring the inner world, you rediscover your inner "self" when you take an interest in your true "self"—your deep self.

I remember when this happened to me at the age of nineteen, in 1974. I was beginning to take an interest in meditation after reading a book by Lanza del Vasto: Approches de la Vie Intérieure (1962). I had such a deep thirst for inner connection!

During my childhood as an orphan, contemplation went hand in hand with boredom. Among the farmers I was placed with, there was no TV, no radio—obviously, in 1959—no smartphone, and no computer! Then life sped up when I reached my new legal majority at eighteen, in 1974, and I was "expelled" from the home where I lived and thrown onto the street overnight, one evening as I was returning from high school.

Later, when I rediscovered contemplation and the source of peace within me, I clung to this inner peace that gave me so much courage.

Over Time, the Boundary Fades

With regular practice, you begin to care less about the division between the inner and the outer, and you realize there is no real difference between the two. What does that mean? Imagine yourself sitting in front of a sunset, a symphony of light and color. You are there, savoring the moment, and waves of serenity rise within you.

This landscape pulls you into your inner world. The inner and the outer become one. But when you start placing yourself at the center of your attention again, duality returns, and with it, peace vanishes.

Yin and Yang

The symbol of Yin and Yang captures exactly that! When you breathe, you experience this perfect interaction, this synergy of yin and yang. As you inhale, you absorb the yin from outside of you, and that yin penetrates the inner yang of your lungs. If you focus on this moment, you turn inward. When you exhale, the air from your lungs—the yang—rejoins the yin outside.

This constant movement between the outer and the inner, which is breathing, is Yin and Yang in action. It is the tangible expression of the harmony that gives you life and, after every exhale, offers you a new inspiration.

Imagine if it were otherwise—if at the end of your exhale you could not inhale: your exhale would be your last breath! The inner gives to the outer, and the outer draws you back inward. You need both; there is no divide, only complementarity.

The inner and the outer are united; they are part of the same reality. It is perfection—it is life, a continuous interplay between the outer and the inner. The notion of an "inner" self comes from the importance you give yourself, an importance you don't actually have. Imagine a sponge claiming the ocean is inside it just because water flows through it.

It is the same for humans. As long as you see yourself as the center of everything, you will distinguish the inner from the outer, feeding an antagonistic duality and confusion. Only harmony can give you the peace you aspire to, and harmony, if it is everywhere, is first and foremost within you.

Don’t Be Afraid

At the start of discovering meditation, when you are going through a difficult period, you tend to withdraw inward. This is natural and it is only the beginning. You are a bit afraid of the outer world, fearing you might lose yourself in it. But with time, that fear fades.

You have preconceived ideas about the world: that it is aggressive, noisy, disruptive, and seems to disturb the peace of harmony. It is true that some things in life are frustrating and can pull you out of inner peace. But you cannot stay this way your whole life; you must open up!

You know, plenty of things in life irritate me. I don’t stop myself from feeling annoyed just because I want to remain at peace. When something bugs me, it bugs me! But that doesn't force me to return to my past suffering, nor does it prevent me from smiling or feeling the deep harmony of life.

The goal of meditation is not just to make you calm. The goal is to help you live your best life. Meditation allows you to refine the quality of your consciousness.

Some people are naturally calm, others are energetic. I have always been energetic. Should I spend my time trying to change my true nature? You cannot fight your nature—it always comes back.

The Clouds Pass

Do your best and relax: getting upset is not a big deal; what is worse is not returning to the calm of harmony. Every day, you take on this challenge; do not feel guilty if you still fall into agitation, annoyance, anger, or misunderstanding.

The dark clouds pass; they always move on. The sun, however, remains, even when you cannot see it. Hunker down, do your best, and wait; things always work out in the end.

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