ASYMMETRY

At first glance, the yin and yang symbol seem to depict symmetry, but upon closet scrutiny, we see that each half depicts asymmetry where yin is greater than yang, and visa versa. This is a reflection of reality.

A human being, for instance, appears to exhibit bilateral symmetry, but the heart is off-center. We also have other examples of asymmetry, such as handedness and the different functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Look at the things we make. Most cars seem to have a symmetrical design, but within the car we see that the steering wheel and the fuel tank are not centrally located. The rider of a motorcycle does line up with the axis of symmetry, but the throttle and brakes are off to one side. In our existence overall, asymmetry seems to be the rule not the exception.

The Tao Today

Sometimes we mistakenly think of good and evil as being evenly matched. This is a human invention that looks reasonable at first and works well for action movies, but when we look at it more carefully, we see that the idea bears little resemblance to reality. In life, love really does conquer all; there really is no defense against kindness; and the harmonious really does triumph over the harmful.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin