The differences between people can be described in terms of yin and yang.
Extrovert people are more yang and introvert people are more yin.
In general, the characteristics of yin are feminine, cold and still.
The problem occur when they ask a question such as ‘Is a cold man running on earth during the day yin or yang?’ The answer is both, as I will now explain.
Although the water is boiling, it is in a constant state of flux and therefore exhibits both yin and yang qualities, as do all things in the universe.
So the question arises ‘Is the bowl of warm water yin or yang?” Again the answer is both and totally dependent upon the point from which you perceive the bowl.
Comparing the cold water and warm water, the cold water is yin and warm water is yang.
Comparing the warm and the hot water, the warm water is now yin and hot water is yang.
Finally, comparing hot, cold and warm water, the hot water is yang, the cold water is yin and the warm water is the balance between the two.
Going back to our original question of the cold man running on the earth during the day, one can describe each of the aspects as yin or yang but one cannot compare non-related aspects such as coldness and maleness.
One can only describe them in terms of yin and yang separately.
Let us now look closely at some perspectives to further appreciate the principles of yin and yang.
Yin is centrifugal; yang is centripetal This means that yin things produce expansion, lightness, coolness, and that yang things produce compaction, weight and heat.
In terms of foods, fruit with its juiciness and cooling nature is considered yin, and root vegetables with their compactness and warming nature are considered yang.
With regards to our original experiment with the bowls of water, the hot bowl can be described as being most yang, the warm water can be described as having yin and yang in balance, and the cold water can be described as most yin.
Everything is always changing and therefore the yin and yang components in everything must be forever changing.
Returning once more to our experiment, the hot water can always be made hotter and therefore must always have a yin component.
Because everything is changing, perfect balance between yin and yang can never exist.
Everything is yang at its centre and yin at its periphery This naturally follows on from the number third point made above.
You can see that although yin and yang are simple, they are also infinitely complex.
Find Balance in your local area
