WHICH WAY?

If the yin and yang symbol spins eternally, then which way does it turn? Does it rotate clockwise or counterclockwise? Some students of the Tao have argued that clockwise is the “right” way to spin. To support that assertion, they point to clocks and watches all over the world. Others, using more obscure theological concepts, argue for the opposite.

The answer is that both camps are right. This may not seem to make sense, but it actually does. Think about how the hands of Big Ben always move clockwise, but if you were looking at the hands from inside the clock tower, you would see that the movement is counterclockwise. The same is true of all analog clocks and watches. If they were made of transparent material, it would be easy to see the truth: the direction of rotation depends on the way you look at it.

The same applies to all heavenly bodies: planets, satellites, stars galaxies and so on. Do they rotate clockwise or counterclockwise?

The answer is yes.

The Tao Today

Keep this in mind when you observe the world. No matter what is you are looking at, ask yourself: What does it look like from the back, or from a different direction?

Sometimes, it is also appropriate to ask: How does it look from the inside? “Insight” is simply the view from within. An internal perspective may reveal surprising answers that are simply not available when you rely solely on the external appearance.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin