(o)

Your mind can be broken down into two types of processes, an emotional process[^n] and a logical process[^n]. Many people already hold these associations, they just label them as Mind and Heart. The Modest Mouse song, “Heart Cooks Brain” depicts the emotional process fueling the mind. The song goes on to say things such as “My brains the burger and my mind’s the coal,” then goes on to say “I’m trying to get my head clear, I push things out through my mouth and i get refilled through my ears,” which is one example of these associations on the mind. These associations, like all things, can be related directly to yin and yang. So, if you associate Yin with emptiness and Yang with fullness, then which process would be empty and which full?

Yin is most often associated with emptiness. Emptiness is a very helpful tool, for why is a bowl so useful? Because it is empty. Yin is a starting point, because before anything can be anywhere, that space must first be empty. Yin is often related to light, or daytime. >>extend explanation<<

Yang is the counter part to Yin, so yang would be associated with fullness. With Yang you’re at the ending point. Completion. Yang is also the point from which you must transition back to a new entry point. It often represents death, or loss, because when you switch from the exit point to a new entry point, you’re done with what you’re leaving.

Understand both of these ideas gives purpose to every situation. With knowledge of both yin and yang you’re given a map to everything that occurs in your environment. Using this information you are able to discern what is by knowing what isn’t, deductive reasoning. The Yang is presence, but knowing where Yang is, you also know what Yin is. Such as this o. You’re only able to recognize the empty space because of the presence of the circle around it[^n]. For example many of the people I’ve know to take psychedelic drugs are able to clearly how confused we are. By altering their reality, they’re able to perceive things from a perspective that has lost many of the norms they would normally be conditioned to. So by entering a public place, they’re able to better observe the way that people scurry about on business that seems to have them completely engrossed, but are based on ideals that have no real meaning in real life.

Your logical thought process is very clear, through which you’re able to see truth easier. Your logical process is completely rational, but by using only this process you’ll find that people tend to feel indifferent towards you, often times you’ll be viewed as insincere, or think that you’re hiding your true feelings. However, the main problem that i’ve found when trying to live in complete logical mind, is loss of the ability to communicate with people that don’t understand your intent.

Your emotional thought process is a powerful tool. Emotion can easily fuel you into being able to do things that you wouldn’t normally be able to do(an adrenaline shot helps as well) using just your logical process. Think about any time you’ve ever been overrun by rage, depression, happiness, or any other type of emotive process. It’s a complete head change. If you consider a time you were angry, your mind rushes through a bunch of thoughts you would not have conceived were you not angry, let alone make an attempt to make those ideas reality. So let’s say you were angry with someone and your mind rushes through how mad you are about it. It’s constantly haunting all your thoughts, so in retaliation you decide on revenge. At that point is there any point in continuing an act of revenge if later you will just regret it? You may be able to convince yourself that you don’t care of the consequences, but why make things harder? Everything is a state of mind. Your mind can be whatever you wish it to be. So next time you’re in a situation where you mind starts racing, think about removing the emotion from your thoughts[^n], even if just for an experiment, and what will you be left with? Truth

One thing to understand is that the goal is not to remove emotion from your thought processes, the goal is to reach the middle ground, balanced. Yin and Yang together create a complete balance, which is also described as being centered. To achieve this you must be completely empty. This information is valuable, but should not be taken incorrectly. If you don’t realize that Yin and Yang are directly related, then you don’t realize they must work together. So when your stuck with way too much emotion, your logical mind will try to create a sort of dam(bottling up effect)[^n] to hold the emotion at bay. And by contrast you feel much better, your thoughts are clear and you’ve felt angry so long that it feels good to suddenly not care. In which case you’d be left with a dam trying to hold something pressurized and growing, until it blows through(bottle bursting effect) and what you’re left with what remains from your wrath. Not to mention that the dam builds up weaker and more pressurized with each cycle(mood disorders).

To be able to achieve full emptiness I’d suggest starting sitting or laying meditation. During meditation don’t try to think of nothing, simply remove your thoughts until your mind is empty[^n]. When first attempting meditation, try feeling your body. Feel each pump of your heart go through your entire body. See what it feels like to breathe in, feel the air run through your throat, fill your lungs, and escape the way it came in. Try doing this through the entire day. Always remember that whenever moving into a situation, remain empty. Any problem that arises, treat as if you don’t care about the outcome, just go from problem -> solution. You must also keep your awareness keen to the emotional side of every person involved for the proper outcome(emotion and logic working together). You must also be able to adapt to every situation as it comes, but to do this you’ll need to be empty so you will always be able to be filled with every new environment.
Another thing to take into account is that there is no such thing as good or bad, just Truth or absence of Truth. The idea of good and bad is something that’s definition changes based on perspective. What happens most often is people will mark things as bad because they felt negative emotions during the process, yet the overall effects were necessary. Once you understand that there is no such thing as good or bad, just situations and changes, then when will you have a problem? Without considering something good or bad you’ll find that you lose reasons to lie, because the reasons for lying are usually fueled by emotion. You may feel the urge to prolong the process by lying because the situation may be awkward or difficult, but that does not make sense when you can get it over with one simple cut, hence the indifference some people feel, and move on.

While removing the learned associations of good a bad, you can’t be mistaken, there are still such things as mishaps and setbacks, these things are elements of situations, they are set, not something that’s definition can be changed by altered perspectives. Now I asked in the beginning which thought processes would be yin and which would be yang, if you haven’t already, ponder a bit and see logically which makes sense, but don’t obscure your thoughts by trying too hard to find an answer. Answers will come with less thought. So, during your entire day start viewing the natural relationships that all things have with each other, and soon everything will make much more sense.

[^n]: (o )
[^n]: ( o)
[^n]: Based on discussion with Matt, Joe, and John
[^n]: Another thing to take into account is how much the elements of the situation matter. Once the emotion is removed, your priorities change a lot.
[^n]: Any form of art is literally an expression of self. Such as the things addressed here are directly related to me. There are also so many instances of drug use, why is a bowl so useful, psychedelic users,
[^n]: See chapter 25 of Tao Te Ching, Emptiness The tao te ching says that with emptiness, you’re opening yourself to an energy, the same energy that created the earth. When you allow yourself to attain this energy through emptiness you’ll be able to achieve wisdom and greatness.