Understanding Duality - Part 1 - Master List of 250+ Dualities

"Every stick has two ends." - Proverb

• Understanding Duality - Part 1 - Master List of Dualistic Cognition : Leo Gura delves into the essential nature of dualistic cognition, explaining that human understanding and communication inherently depend on creating dualities. He describes how dualistic structures like 'up vs. down' or 'success vs. failure' are fundamental to our interpretation of the universe and shape every intellectual activity, including science and philosophy.
• Creating vs Being Unaware of Dualities : Leo points out that while we constantly create dualities to comprehend the world, many remain unaware of their constructed nature, leading to misleading conceptions of reality. He notes that dualities such as 'man vs. woman' or 'progress vs. regress' appear to be absolutes, but in fact are temporary and prone to dissolution upon deeper examination because they are products of the human mind.
• Epistemological Law of Dualities : Leo introduces an epistemological principle stating that all dualities are untenable and destined to collapse due to the non-dual nature of reality. This principle challenges conventional thinking, revealing that perceived opposites are often a complex interplay of forces that become unified upon closer scrutiny.
• Collapse of Dualities Upon Deep Exploration : A key insight Leo shares is that when a duality such as 'man vs. machine' or 'progress vs. regress' is deeply explored, it inevitably circles back, demonstrating the unity between the opposites. This challenges our rigid notions and emphasizes the relativity and interdependency of dualistic categories.
• Consequences of Dogmatic Dualistic Beliefs : He emphasizes the societal and cultural challenges arising from clinging to dualistic beliefs, suggesting that these rigid boundaries will become increasingly blurred, particularly with technological advancements and changes in sociocultural norms.
• Issues with Carving Reality into Categories : Leo discusses the subjective nature of categorizing reality and the conflicts that arise from varying interpretations between individuals, such as defining outer space or what constitutes a heap of sand. He points out that disagreements stem from these subjective delimitations.
• Minds as Creators of Dualities : Leo stresses that dualities and categories do not exist in nature but are instead constructions of the human mind, tailored to fulfill individual or collective survival agendas. He rejects the notion of absolute categories, advocating for a recognition of their relative and self-imposed nature.
• Collapse of Dualities Is Threatening : Exploring dualities is viewed by Leo as unsettling for many because it challenges fundamental assumptions, threatens identity, and leads to potential existential crises. However, he encourages this deep exploration to understand the true non-dual nature of reality.
• Drawing Boundaries in Space : The perception of 'outer space' and where it begins is a human-made distinction without a clear boundary, exemplified by the ambiguity of whether a jumbo jet flying high or just being above the atmosphere qualifies as being in outer space.
• Living Cells and Human Identity : The determination of when molecules become a living cell or when a cluster of cells becomes a human is subjective and contentious, with significant implications for abortion rights and furthering the difficulty in defining human identity.
• Evolutionary Transitions : The challenge in pinpointing the exact moment an ape-like ancestor became human highlights the arbitrary nature of such distinctions, delving into the complexity of human evolution and identity.
• Defining Artificial Intelligence : Establishing the boundary between human intelligence and artificial intelligence is increasingly complex, suggesting future debates in computer science as AI advances.
• Thoughts and Emotions Intersection : The boundaries between thoughts and emotions are not distinct, as demonstrated by the interplay between thought patterns and feelings, particularly in relation to pain and suffering.
• Love and Hatred Duality : Love and hatred, commonly perceived as opposites, often merge, with hate stemming from a form of love, such as hating someone out of love for a person they hurt, challenging the simplicity of this duality.
• Resistance to Explore Dualities : Most people resist delving into dualities due to the existential threat posed by challenging fundamental constructs, which shape their worldview, self-perception, and practical life.
• Subversion of Dualities : Every duality is subject to eventual collapse, with human understanding being inherently biased and confused, leading to simplistic and dogmatic perceptions of reality.
• Categories Created by the Mind : The mind creates distinct categories to make sense of the world, then denies doing so, bringing forth ignorance and misunderstanding, reinforcing the idea that categories are not absolute but human constructs.
• Relativity of Directional Dualities : Dualities such as up versus down or left versus right are presented as inherently relative, contingent upon the observer's perspective and context, emphasizing the importance of considering different perspectives for deeper understanding.
• Limitation of Imagination Due to Categories : Rigid adherence to categories, such as even and odd numbers, can limit the scope of understanding, demonstrating the need for flexibility in cognitive processes to grasp more complex and nuanced truths.
• Relativity of "Shallow" and "Deep" : Leo discusses how someone's perception of depth in books or ideas changes as they progress on their personal development journey, illustrating how what is considered deep now may become shallow in the future.
• Relative Nature of Good vs Bad/Evil : Leo explains that the concepts of good and bad, or good and evil, are relative. What may be good for one person can be bad for another, demonstrating the dependency of these categories on individual circumstances and self-agendas.
• Introduction to Absolutes : Leo introduces a deeper concept called "the absolute" or "transcendent" which is a level of consciousness that recognizes and transcends dualistic categories. It is not relative but exists without an opposite.
• Absolute Good Transcends Relative Dualities : He elaborates on "absolute good" (with a capital "G"), which includes both lowercase 'g' good and lowercase 'b' bad, transcending the duality and creating a unified concept of good that recognizes no opposite.

• Understanding of Absolute Right and Positive : Similarly, Leo mentions the concept of "absolute Right" and "absolute Positive," which negate the existence of their opposites, asserting that everything is ultimately 'right' and 'positive' when viewed from an absolute perspective.
• Moral vs Immoral as Relative Concepts : Leo contends that moral and immoral are relative concepts, differing across cultures and times, and cautions against absolutist cognition that treats these as universal truths instead of individual or societal constructs.
• Conflating Relative and Absolute Dualities : He warns against the mistake of treating relative dualities as absolutes, as this confusion impedes access to true absolutes like absolute truth or absolute good.
• True vs False, Should vs Shouldn't Dichotomies : Leo covers additional dualities such as true vs false, and should vs shouldn't, proposing that everything that happens is what should happen, thereby eliminating dichotomous tensions.
• Transcending Good vs Evil : Leo talks about transcending the duality of good vs evil, suggesting that this leads to a more liberated state of existence, albeit one that can be intimidating to consider.
• Tug of War in Life : He addresses the persistent tug of war within politics, religion, and personal conflicts, suggesting that recognizing absolute truths can dissolve conflicts.
• Ultimate Solution to Duality : Leo concludes by hinting at the idea of awakening or waking up from the dualistic dream as an ultimate solution to the never-ending stream of problems created by the mind's dualistic thinking.
• Happiness vs Sadness : Leo examines the common pursuit of happiness in personal development and its inherent connection to sadness, as efforts to achieve success, relationships, or wealth inadvertently cultivate as much sadness as happiness. He suggests that seeking "true happiness" can lead to the discovery of an Absolute Happiness beyond these emotions.
• Old vs New : Leo explores how quickly something considered new becomes old, such as technology or fashion, highlighting the relativity and context dependence of these concepts. He questions the existence of true newness or oldness in the universe, suggesting everything's age is relative.
• Useful vs Useless : Leo discusses usefulness as relative to individual goals and needs, illustrating how changing one’s goals from money to love can shift perceptions of what is useful, and how usefulness can become uselessness, or even a detriment, depending on new objectives.
• Boring vs Exciting : Leo presents the relativity of boredom and excitement, observing how a video game or meditation can fluctuate between exciting and dull based on personal mental states. He raises the possibility of transcending boredom to always be 'exciting with a capital E.'
• Rich vs Poor : Leo reflects on wealth, noting that even the poorest in modern society live more comfortably than historical figures considered wealthy. He also delves into the relativity of wealth among social peers, suggesting it's your comparative financial status that influences your perception of richness or poverty.
• Normal vs Weird : Leo discusses society's pressure to conform to 'normal' and avoid being 'weird,' considering how these labels vary across time and cultures. He encourages embracing authenticity, transcending the duality between normal and weird to be authentically oneself.
• Black vs White : Leo challenges racial categorizations, explaining that genetic differences may not align with our socially constructed racial classes. He argues that acknowledging these constructs as such can lead to changing outdated survival paradigms that no longer serve us.
• Questioning Fixed Dualities : Leo urges viewers to question and challenge the categories they encounter, recognizing their fluid nature and self-made constructions, allowing for a better interaction with an evolving reality and a transformative approach to life.
• Race and Identity : Leo discusses the duality of racial identity, such as being African or European, and how individuals can become trapped in this duality, creating tension and conflict. To transcend race, he suggests that one must move beyond the notion that they are a particular race, species, or even a creature. This transcendence is part of awakening to the absolute identity, which encompasses all.
• Nested Web of Belief : Leo explains that reality is an elaborate construct of nested categories, with certain fundamental categories at the base that, if questioned, could dissolve one's entire perception of life, including the sense of having a body. He advocates for radical open-mindedness to contemplate the possibility that these constructs might not be as solid as they seem.
• Flawed vs. Perfect : The concepts of flawed and perfect are described as relative, with Leo suggesting a perception shift to see everything as inherently perfect, regardless of apparent imperfections. This view could considerably change one's outlook on life and is seen as a profound shift in consciousness.
• Clean vs. Dirty : Leo uses the example of fecal matter to illustrate the relativity of what is considered clean or dirty, explaining that these categories are human-made based on survival instincts and do not exist as absolutes in the universe.
• Wild vs. Tame : By discussing experiments with breeding foxes for tameness, Leo demonstrates the relative and gradual nature of these categories and suggests that with enough modification, what is considered wild can become tame to varying degrees.
• Simple vs. Complex and Other Dualities : He goes on to name other dualities such as simple vs. complex, wet vs. dry, and fair vs. unfair, explaining that people's perception of unfairness in life is a result of not transcending this duality to realize the absolute fairness where every being experiences all perspectives.
• Winning vs. Losing and Success vs. Failure : Leo emphasizes how the relative nature of winning, losing, success, and failure can entrap individuals' identities and affect their mental health significantly, leading to depression or a skewed perspective on life's purpose.
• Fake vs. Genuine : He questions the distinction between fake and genuine, suggesting that if a fake is indistinguishable from the real thing, it may cease to be fake, much like how sometimes fiction can contain more truth than nonfiction.
• Cowardice vs. Bravery : The line between cowardice and bravery is presented as thin, with the understanding that brave actions are often carried out despite fear and that bravery can be context-dependent.
• Master vs. Slave : Leo illustrates how the duality of master and slave is interconnected, with the master being enslaved to the paradigm of owning slaves, thus neither truly free.
• Superficial vs. Profound : He discusses the relative nature of superficiality and profundity and how the most profound understanding can often come from previous experiences of perceived arrogance.
• Arrogance vs. Humility : Arrogance, especially in youth, often leads to humbling experiences later in life. As individuals mature, they recognize their arrogance and grow to find it distasteful, leading to the development of humility.
• Violence vs. Peace : Leo suggests the controversial idea that peace can be achieved through acts of violence and war. He distinguishes lowercase 'peace,' commonly seen as the absence of war, from uppercase 'Peace,' the ultimate harmony of the universe, which includes and transcends war.
• Personal vs. Impersonal Universe : The universe is paradoxically both deeply personal and utterly impersonal. This duality underscores the profound nature of existence and the diversity of human experience.
• Innocent vs. Guilty : Discussions about guilt, innocence, and blame become dualistic traps, leading to complex ethical debates without clear resolutions.
• Past vs. Future : The future always becomes the past, and the past was once the future; this highlights the fluid nature of time and the continuum of experiences.
• Political Ideologies : Labels such as capitalism, socialism, communism, conservatism, and liberalism are relative and evolve over time, making their exact definitions and boundaries difficult to pin down.
• Legal vs. Illegal and Criminal Categories : These concepts are culturally and personally relative, leading to the insight that even those who enforce laws (like the police) can engage in criminal behavior, depending on one's perspective.
• Terrorist vs. Non-Terrorist : Leo touches on the subjectivity and danger of labeling someone as a terrorist without due process and how this can lead to serious miscarriages of justice and policy.
• Hero vs. Villain : Good storytelling blurs the lines between heroes and villains; the best characters embody both good and bad traits, reflecting real psychological complexity.
• Journey vs. Destination : People often focus on destinations but fail to appreciate that the journey and destination are inextricably linked.
• Ugly vs. Beautiful : Leo suggests that one can transcend this duality and see everything as beautiful, understanding that apparent ugliness is also part of a broader definition of beauty.
• Art vs. Non-Art and Harmony vs. Discord : These concepts, like so many others, are relative and subjective, always existing in relation to each other and dependent on individual perspective.
• Masturbation vs. Sex : In a consciousness where oneness is realized, all sex is seen as a form of self-love, highlighting the non-duality of the two activities.
• Student vs. Teacher : The best teachers remain students at heart, and the act of teaching can be one of the best ways to learn, demonstrating a dynamic relationship between the roles.
• Child vs. Parent : Every adult is also a child to someone else, and adults can sometimes be less mature than children, showing the fluidity of these roles.
• Healthy vs. Unhealthy : This duality is like many others—subjective and often dependent on perspective rather than absolute criteria.
• Product Development vs. Marketing : In business, the successful integration of product development with marketing is crucial, illustrating the interdependence of these aspects in the marketplace.
• Academic Departments : The separation of academic disciplines into different departments is an artificial construct. Many significant advancements occur at the intersection of disciplines, where rigid categorizations are transcended.
• Civilized vs. Uncivilized : What is considered civilized in one culture may be considered uncivilized in another—but wisdom and sophistication can exist in all cultures, regardless of these labels.
• Spirituality vs. Politics : While separation of church and state is important, Leo points out that politics benefits from spirituality, as it brings a deeper wisdom and values to the decision-making process. However, combining the two requires a delicate balance to prevent the corruption of genuine spirituality.
• Separation of Church and State : Leo highlights that organized religion is often mired in dogma and not true spirituality; hence, separation of church and state is essential to prevent dogmatic beliefs from influencing governance.
• Relativity of Importance and Significance : Leo discusses the subjective nature of concepts like importance, using the example of how 'mother' and 'father' may hold different meanings for someone raised by a same-sex couple.
• Democracy and Tyranny : He explores how democracy can give rise to tyranny, as evidenced by historical cases like Hitler's rise to power, challenging the clear-cut distinction between these political systems.
• Sober vs Intoxicated Awakening : Discussing the legitimacy of awakenings, Leo claims that both sober and psychedelic experiences can be genuine, even suggesting that some psychedelic experiences may access deeper truths.
• Duality of Need and Want : Leo examines the fluidity between needs and wants, illustrating that our perceptions of necessity are often based on personal feelings rather than absolutes.
• Pain and Pleasure Spectrum : Leo challenges the opposition of pain versus pleasure, proposing the possibility of enjoying both and the potential to transcend this duality to a state of joy that surpasses the incessant tug-of-war.
• Individualism vs Collectivism : Leo explains the importance of balancing individual and collective interests within a society, criticizing both extreme libertarian individualism and excessive collectivism.
• Theistic vs Atheistic Perspectives : Leo indicates that theism and atheism are not strict opposites and can be transcended, revealing a more profound level of understanding that can incorporate aspects of both views.
• Status Quo vs Change : Leo argues for a balanced approach to change and the status quo in politics, emphasizing the need for both incremental and revolutionary changes in government and personal life.
• Dominant vs Submissive and Other Dynamic Dualities : He elaborates on several dualities, including dominant versus submissive, popular versus niche, and temporary versus eternal, underscoring the necessity for balance and the possibility of transcending the temporary.
• Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Numbers : Using mathematical rules as a metaphor, Leo illustrates how positive and negative interactions in dualities can yield unexpected outcomes, suggesting counterintuitive overlaps.
• Work and Play Dichotomy : Leo postulates that work and play's distinction is not fixed, but can shift depending on one's passion and level of engagement.
• Content and Context : He discusses the intricate relationship between content and context in dualities, noting the nested nature of context within content and vice versa.
• Emotions and Rationality : Leo points out the false dichotomy between being emotional versus rational, emphasizing that emotions often underpin rational decisions.
• Private vs Public Life : Leo reflects on the interconnectedness of one's private and public lives, noting that actions in one sphere affect the other and the challenge of maintaining a balance.
• Competition and Cooperation : He highlights how cooperation can coexist with competition, even within the same team or project, showing the complex dynamics within dualities.
• Competitive vs Cooperative Dynamics : Leo discusses the paradox of needing to compete for promotions while also being required to cooperate with colleagues. This balancing act is complex, as cooperation and competitiveness often appear as opposing forces within a work environment.
• Danger vs Safety Balance : Balancing the need for safety with the potential benefits of danger is complicated, as seen in debates on topics such as gun control or the controlled use of psychedelics. Leo notes that while there are dangers associated with psychedelics, the risks have been over-emphasized, limiting their therapeutic use for conditions like PTSD and depression.
• Cultural Mainstream vs Cults : Leo considers the thin line separating cults from mainstream culture and observes that certain aspects of politics have adopted a cult-like psychology, challenging the distinction between what's perceived as ordinary culture and a cult.
• Transcending Ordinary : Leo suggests transcending the ordinary to experience an absolute state he describes as extraordinary with a capital 'E', where nothing seems ordinary anymore.
• Serious vs Playful Approach : He recognizes that humor is a coping mechanism in serious circumstances, with playfulness serving a vital role even in the face of trauma or significant challenges.
• Masculine vs Feminine : Leo goes in-depth about cultural trends and reactions towards femininity and feminism, articulating the red pill and 'men going their own way' movements as examples of a desire for hyper-masculinity. He identifies the questioning of gender norms and the normalization of homosexuality, yet there's resistance born from an inability to accept one's feminine side, culminating in homophobia.
• Nature of Gender Roles : The societal constructs of 'man' and 'woman', according to Leo, are mental categories imbued with enormous practical significance and associations beyond the biological. He notes that edge cases in biology challenge the binary view and elucidates that these mental constructs significantly influence identity, perceptions, and societal behaviors.
• Transcendence through Non-Duality : Leo argues that deep spiritual work enables the transcending of binary gender roles and the realization of an absolute state, where one embodies both masculine and feminine qualities harmoniously.

• Approaching Future Technology : Leo posits that technological advancements, including genetic engineering, will further challenge traditional categories and encourages openness to these changes for greater integration in the future.
• Cat vs Dog - Biology and Technology : Leo uses the hybrid of a cat and dog, as imagined in a cartoon, to illustrate how future genetic engineering might disrupt current biological categorizations. He stresses the importance of mentally preparing for radical future developments that will blend human, animal, and machine elements.