Duality is the essence of the human experience. The push and pull of opposing poles of the same energy drives us to seek balance. While comfortable with certain expressions of energy, we are disturbed by others. Often suffering unnecessarily, we also feel conflicted by the presence of seemingly opposite emotions within ourselves. Certain emotions trigger self-loathing when we judge ourselves to be bad for having thoughts and feelings that challenge our beliefs about ourselves. Anger arising in one who believes himself/herself to be an accepting, compassionate, and loving person can create inner turmoil; for those who view themselves as strong, believing that strength is exemplified by keeping emotions under wraps, their crying when in pain (be it of physical or emotional origin) can bring about an inner crisis due to their personal definition of strength. Clearly, belief is at the core of one’s perception of and reaction to life events.
Source is a field of at-oneness. When connected to Source, we feel at one with All That Is; we are in a state of union where duality and separation do not exist. As human beings focused in physical reality, our awareness of our connection to Source is inconstant. While ever longing for that paradisiacal state of oneness, we live in a dualistic world in which we must constantly choose: Is something/someone good or bad? Are we for it or against it? Are we a force of Light or a force of Darkness? No matter our choice, we feel conflicted when thoughts, actions, and emotions do not sync with our perception of who we are. Instead of the serenity and bliss of the unmanifested state to which we aspire, we are faced with an unending barrage of choices.
Duality is the clothing of this earthly world: It’s you against me, light in contrast with darkness, love versus fear. A choice is either right or wrong, good or bad. There is a constant awareness of opposites and the tension that is necessary to maintain that state. The desire to be free of conflict, tension, and dis-ease drives us toward release. Though our connection with Source is ever-present and access to the peaceful state of oneness is always available to us, as human beings, the choice to experience that state is ours alone. The manner in which we do so is also up to us.
Many ways to achieve union with Source exist in our mortal world. One is through creative expression of any variety, which comes about via inspiration: The breath of God moves through the artist, engendering a state of bliss, and an expression of Source is made manifest in earthly form. Those who seek to know God through meditation or prayer have found an additional vehicle for experiencing the stillness born of at-oneness. This experience occurs for others while in communion with Nature or performing acts of kindness. At times, we search outside of ourselves to relieve the tension of having to choose by numbing our human bodies, thoughts, and emotions with drugs, alcohol, and/or addictive behaviors of all kinds. In this world of dualities, the choice to numb ourselves in this way utilizes the opposite pole of the same energy that is experienced through union with Source.
Duality yields choice; choice is a condition of the world in which we reside. When choice brings about internal conflict, it is wise to examine our beliefs; it is there that we encounter the sum total of the mortal self in a dualistic world governed by time and limitations. Access to the at-oneness that encompasses All That Is is always present. We can use the choice available in dualistic reality to know the bliss of union with Source. “…Divinity’s bestowment lies in a single moment….”