A Meditation on Light and Dark
In the northern sky, dark clouds roil in strangely contorted patterns, intermingling with and embracing the wind currents. They weep tears that do not fall to the ground. This is called virga by meteorologists, and it most often appears as sheets of moisture falling out of a cloud bank with fingers of rain reaching toward the earth, but never touching it. On this day, these particular clouds are close, and the fingers of rain seem a bit upset.
To the south, barely a wisp of condensation obscures a bright sun. So, I am standing between light and dark, as if the weather gods are undecided what to do with this unseasonably warm mid-winter day. It is 52 degrees, and I need to strip off a couple of layers. I remember my younger years when I only wore a coat and a T-shirt. I was often too hot or too cold; no layers between. The changeable weather invites us to be flexible with our insulation.
As I stop to adjust my body temperature, I look up into the contradictory sky. On one side, dark wind-whipped clouds hover ominously, and on the other, a nearly clear blue sky with a bright golden disk illuminates the landscape. They exist simultaneously like a celestial yin-yang symbol. Standing between the two, I experience the inherent union of both.
This mirrors the way my mind alternates most of the time. I observe the appearances of light and dark thoughts constantly oscillating, like pulsations of the heart; contracting and expanding. Both need to happen, or we would not be alive. Buddha awoke to this mental dance and recognized it as the infighting of the dualistic mind. He noticed thoughts only duel if we prefer one over the other; the old attachment and aversion game. When thoughts intermingle like clouds and sky, there is no conflict—just natural awareness permeating and resting within the fluidity of change.
In this moment, the blue sky seems to be winning the game, but the dark clouds will have their day. Either way, the interplay of light and dark maintains the balance of our natural world—and our natural mind. If allowed, dualistic ideals born from thoughts that vie for top prize will surrender and merge into the pulsing rhythms of nature. Watch this pulse effortlessly occur. It is the revelation of a meditative mind.