The Origin

Beyond Good and Bad

The Question of Origin

What is evil, and what is good? If yin and yang represent the separation of the origin, doesn't that mean the origin was a single principle before being divided into three: yin, yang, and wuji? If so, does evil or good exist?

The Case of Caring

Let's consider an example: what is caring? Caring exists between indifference and selfishness. Is it right to call this instance evil or good? No, based on my perspective, it's neither. It's the "blindness" of the middle path, the reason people are indifferent because they don't care, and the reason people are selfish because they care too much.

The Middle Path

So what is caring then? Simply, it's a combination of traits from the two extremes – not a perfect combination, but one that benefits everyone. This is why people call it good. Caring is the act of having concern for what's happening and helping while also accepting the unknown. This principle itself separates the two extremes and the middle ground.

The True Path

There is no inherent goodness or evilness from the beginning. It's the "blindness" of the middle path that allows the creation of the two extremes. However, if we combine the two extremes, it would lead back to the middle path. The origin itself was divided by our minds, and if we manage to let the two extremes resonate together, we return to the origin. No matter how divided it is, if combined well, we find that origin, or what is called Dao, Tao, the true path, and the righteous path.

Balance, though a daunting action to achieve, doesn't mean perfect equilibrium. Instead, it signifies understanding the spectrum between extremes and acting accordingly.

A Student's Contemplation

Hahaha, I'm sorry, it's just my contemplation. It's not backed up by any philosophy or school of thought, only my observation, experience, and wisdom as a student of Stoicism.