Every Truth is a Paradox

In 'Light on the Path,' we are advised to “kill out ambition, but work as those who are ambitious.”

In the 'Tao Te Ching,' we are advised to “Act by not acting, do by not doing.”

We thirst for knowledge, yet as we acquire it, we find ourselves grappling with more suffering and challenges. It's as if the pursuit of wisdom opens our eyes to a world replete with problems that demand our attention.

These examples illustrate the paradoxical nature of wisdom found in ancient teachings, where advice often takes seemingly contradictory turns.

"Much of the occult truth is written in the form of paradox," as Yogi Ramacharaka wisely explains. "This aligns with nature's plan. All statements of truth are but partial statements—there are two good sides to every argument. Any bit of truth is but a half-truth. Diligently seek, and you will find the opposite half—everything 'is and it isn't.' Any full statement of truth must, by necessity, be paradoxical. This is because our finite perspective restricts us to seeing only one side of a subject at a time. From the viewpoint of the infinite, all sides are visible simultaneously, with all points of a globe accessible to the infinite seer, who can also see through and around it."

The key to understanding these, and all truths lies in the ability to distinguish between the relative or lower perspective and the absolute or higher one. Explore every facet of life, approach every challenge with an open mind, and try looking at things from different perspectives. In doing so, you'll uncover profound insights hidden within apparently contradictory viewpoints.

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