“If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?.” – George Carlin
“Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“It’s weird not to be weird.” – John Lennon
Before we jump into our list, a quick recap of the basics from yesterday:
1. A paradox is two contradictory opposites that are simultaneously true.
2. Reality is fundamentally paradoxical (as we’ll see below), so understanding paradox is a key to understanding reality.
3. The ability to understand paradox is a clear measure of internal development.
So here’s a master list of paradoxes that seem contradictory, but are ultimately true:
(I’ve added some hints and mental cues in brackets where I feel they might help)
…
Trying to enjoy the moment blocks your enjoyment of the moment.
Surrendering to the events of your life (“going with the flow”) improves your life. Taking control of your life (“making things happen”) also improves your life.
(can you surrender and take control simultaneously? look to surfing for a hint…)
Being emotionally attached to a goal makes it harder to achieve. Strong determination is also important for achieving the goal.
(can you be un-attached and determined at the same time?)
Repressing or avoiding an emotion strengthens it. Accepting and feeling the emotion resolves it.
The most talented individuals are often the worst teachers. The least talented are often the best teachers, because they had to figure it out from scratch rather than relying on their talent.
Allowing yourself to be open and vulnerable is necessary for deep relationships. Holding strong boundaries is also necessary in relationships.
(can you stay open while also staying strong in your boundaries?)
Helping others brings out the best in you. Trying to help yourself often brings out the worst. But helping yourself also makes you more capable of helping others.
(how will you balance helping yourself with helping others?)
Questioning everything makes you more intelligent. Having an open mind also makes you more intelligent.
(can you keep your mind open while questioning everything?)
Thinking deeply about your life improves your life. Getting out of your mind and into the present moment also improves your life.
(how will you balance thinking and contemplation with being present? Is it possible to do both at the same time?)
The more willing you are to fail, the greater the chance you will succeed.
Those who want power (ie. politicians, leaders, etc) are the least qualified for it, because they want power.
The more you think you know, the less you know. The more you really know, the less you think you know.
Accumulating more knowledge often leads to less real understanding. Knowledge is also important for understanding.
(think; memorizing textbooks vs self-directed learning combined with real-world experience)
The most religious individuals are often the least spiritual.
(for the same reason that accumulating knowledge leads to less understanding, and the more you think you know the less you know)
Our thoughts cannot be trusted, and it is critical not to trust your thoughts on this path. It is equally critical to trust yourself.
(what part of you can you trust, if you can’t trust your thoughts?)
Loving yourself exactly as you are leads to self-improvement. Noticing your weaknesses and working on them also leads to self-improvement.
(can you love yourself as you are while simultaneously working to improve yourself?)
The most profound wisdom is realized by the fewest people, so is more likely to be dismissed as foolishness by most people.
(example; so few people have experienced enlightenment that most think it is a myth)
The part of you that wants to be enlightened (the ego) can never be enlightened, because to reach enlightenment you must let go of the ego.
God is both everything and nothing simultaneously.
(only because God is nothing — ie. nothing specific — can God be everything. God can take any form because God has no specific form)
The world is sick and dysfunctional. It is also perfect and beautiful.
The seeker seeks that which he already is.
…
We could go on, but I think that’s a pretty solid list for now.
If you’d like to add any others, hit reply.
And hey:
Good work today.
Understanding paradox is not for the meek-minded.
If you felt yourself running into frustration, confusion, or any other type of tension while reading through these, perfect:
That means you’re pressing up against the limits of your mind, which is how we stretch our capacity.
Imagine what it will feel like once those limits disappear…
And, the even greater limits we will overcome further down the path.
– T
P.S. Quick reminder:
Our 2023 retreat recordings are almost ready.
But instead of releasing them in a package like we did for our 2022 recordings, we’re going to do something much, much better.
Stay tuned for details 🙂