Rule of Opposites

The Concept of the "Rule of Opposites"

It is believed to be more important for a person to look beyond SURFACE VALUE, such as right and wrong or good and bad, in order to seek what is TRUE.

In my Traditional Way, understanding of the Rule of Opposites facilitates the recognition of MEANING AND TRUTH, which provides a means of Walking a Path of Life, seeking Purpose and Direction in Life.

There are grave differences between an approch emphasizing THIS AND THAT and the approach emphasizing THIS OR THAT. It is the nature of the latter that can result in bad feeling, thoughts and actions.

I speak about the importance of INTENTION or ATTITUDE, and how this can make a difference in Life Experiences - the idea that "Attitude is Everything". In my Traditions, INTENTION is critical. It is considered to be as significant as, if not more important than, the act itself because in the Teachings of the Grandfathers, INTENT IS THE ACT ITSELF.

There is no such thing as keeping the Mountains and getting rid of the Valleys; they are one and the same, and THEY EXIST BECAUSE OF ONE ANOTHER.

The Nature of Opposites are, that both opposites are true. For every right, there is a wrong. The only TRUE DIFFERENCE between these positions lies in the unique PERSPECTIVE of the individual. One person looks at a situation and sees right, while another person looks at the same situation and sees wrong. However, both are TRUE; both persons are CORRECT in their perceptions. Right and wrong are not really opposite poles, but rather thay exist in a Circle, where one is the extension of the other, where one begins the other leaves off.

The question, "Who Am I"? Automatically implies the opposite question, "Who Am I Not"? Opposites are thus an inherent part of any given experience.

Because many people are not consciously aware of the existence of Opposites, they may make Choices that create disharmony. Conflict seems to be an ever-present part of the Human condition. My Traditional Way, the idea of conflict is in itself an ILLUSION. As the Grandfather puts it, "All is vibration or energy and what has the appearance of conflict is best understood as discord, energies seeking resolution in harmony."

All things are made up of energy. Thoughts and Feelings, are nothing more than energy. Through the Choices you make, your thoughts and feelings, and even your actions, take on a distinctive nature according to your perceptions of right and worng.

Feelings of Joy or Sadness, Opposites, are nothing more than energy of a particular magnitude. It is not until a Choice is made that the energies make up the feeling of joy or sadness and the tears that flow from either. In actuality these Opposite Feelings are ONE AND THE SAME, nothing more than energy that has been assigned a direction through Choice.

YOU CHOOSE the opposites that become the source of your "problems". You may not be aware that you often have more Choices available to you than you realize, you make Choices that may not prove to be useful or constructive. As your perceptions change, hindsight may reveal that a greater array of Choices were possible. The challenge is to achieve a greater range of Perception. It is never the Energies themselves that are the source of your problems, but rather, your understanding and use of these Energies.

The following is a commomly posed question that reflects ones' outlook on Life: "Is the glass half-empty or half-full?" This question suggests that the answer can be only one of two possibilities. However, the Rules of Opposites, as the Grandfather explained, poses a different question altogether: "Is the glass the right size?" After all, it might be too big or too small. This is just one example of the way in which you limit yourself through your perception of Choice.

1. Opposites are extensions of themselves, one opposite IMPLIES the other.
2. You choose your own Opposites where you are the TRUE SOURCE of the difficulty you experience.
3. Everything that happens in Life, happens because YOU ALLOW it to happen.
4. Everything serves a MEANINGFUL AND IMPORTANT function in your Life.
5. Asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS, instead of asking for the RIGHT ANSWERS, allows you to know the FUNCTION rather than the EFFECT of your Choice.
6. Questioning your assumptions allows you to recognize underlying MEANINGS AND TRUTHS and the relative VALUE of Choices made.
7. Understanding underlying TURTHS eliminate any need for DISCORD in your Life.
8. Through Choice of PERSPECTIVE and appropriate action, you are free to BALANCE yourself as you see fit.

The Rule of Opposites provides a reminder to clarify your assumptions by asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS rather than seeking the RIGHT ANSWERS.

When faced with a decision between the UNACCEPTABLE and the UNDESIRABLE, you may often focus on the Choice between what seems to be the "lesser of two evils". A change in perception may focus on a different question. Ask yourself, "Does this situation represent a deeper TRUTH or LESSON than I perceive right now"?

Rather than understanding the situation as a LIMITATION, you could be helped to see an OPPORTUNITY. Looking at DECISIONS with the Rule of Opposites, may lead to a better understanding of the question, the TRUE meaning of the SITUATION or EXPERIENCE. Being angry you may invest considerable energy in defending why someone made you upset. An alternate course of action would be to EXAMINE the energy of your DISCORD and to CLARIFY the UNDERLYING MEANING of your feelings. Question the FUNCTION rather than the EFFECT of the Choice to be angry.

In the Traditional Way of my People, everyone and everything is believed to posses Universal Purpose, each having a place in the Circle of Life. Because of this conception, it is important to seek the UNDERLYING MEANINGS of experiences rather than make SURFACE JUDGMENTS that may cloud your perceptions. As a Human Being, you possess the ABILITY TO REFLECT on your feelings, thoughts and actions. You are able to view circumstances from multiple frames of reference, you may sometimes fail to do so.

When you ask a question, you need to include in your focus both the OPPOSITE of that question and turn your focus to what is TRUE, rather than what is RIGHT or WRONG, GOOD or BAD. The question, "What did I say?" implies the opposite question, "What did I not say?" These are both equally important questions, and part of the same TRUTH. An alternate question is required to REVEAL the Choice that was made and the VALUE of the Choice. "How did I come to make this Choice?" or "What it means to me?" Are questions that seek to CLARIFY the UNDERLYING TRUTH more than the OUTCOME or CAUSE of a decision or action.

You are sometimes faced with a decision between your concept of right and wrong. This is a natural part of living. Every decision requires you to consider many complicated factors and carefully weigh your options. You may come in contact with people that will always "yes, but" you. For every positive statement or resolution, they have a "yes, but". They always have a reason not to do something or not to see something another way. They end up spending a lot of time and energy being UNPRODUCTIVE. It is important to remender, in their defense, THAT CHANGE CAN BE VERY FRIGHTENING FOR ALL OF US.

Opposites, you choose.

White Crow May 1948