Significance of Pairs of opposite
Pairs of opposites are fundamental concepts across various philosophical and spiritual frameworks, illustrating the balance and duality present in life. In Hindu architecture, they symbolize structural balance. In spiritual contexts, pairs such as pleasure and pain, success and failure, represent contrasting experiences that bind individuals in cycles of suffering. Transcending these dualities is essential for achieving spiritual liberation and understanding. From Vastushastra to Vedanta, the idea emphasizes overcoming feelings like joy and sorrow or desire and aversion for higher consciousness.
Synonyms: Opposites, Adversaries, Rivals, Polarities, Dichotomies
In Dutch: Paren van tegengestelde; In Finnish: Vastakkaiset parit; In Spanish: Pares de opuestos; In German: Paare von Gegenteilen; In Swedish: Par av motsatta; In Malay: Pasangan yang bertentangan; In French: Paires d'oppos茅s
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Pairs of opposite'
In Buddhism, Pairs of opposite signify contrasting elements, like 'coming' and 'going', emphasizing interdependence, while also indicating concepts that obstruct clear perception and hinder the attainment of true understanding.
From: The 6th Patriarch Platform Sutra
(1) Thirty-six contrasting elements such as 'coming' and 'going', used in preaching to highlight the interdependence of concepts in Buddhist thought.[1] (2) Concepts that should be discarded to attain true understanding; these notions hinder clear perception of reality.[2]
Hindu concept of 'Pairs of opposite'
In Hinduism, "Pairs of opposite" signifies dualities like pleasure and pain that individuals experience in life, which they must transcend through spiritual practice to attain equanimity, clarity, and ultimately liberation from the cycle of existence.
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) The dualities of desire and aversion that can bond individuals to worldly actions, which wise individuals seek to be free from.[3] (2) Refers to conflicting states such as desire and aversion that lead to confusion and delusion during a being's life.[4] (3) The contrasting concepts in the material world that one must transcend to achieve liberation and unity with all creatures.[5] (4) The dualities (e.g., pleasure-pain, success-failure) experienced by creatures within the cycle of existence.[6] (5) The dual nature of existence, illustrated by contrasting experiences such as pleasure and pain, that influence creatures' lives based on Time.[7]
From: Anugita (English translation)
(1) Contrasting elements or experiences encountered throughout life, emphasizing the duality inherent in existence.[8] (2) Contrasting dualities that the Brahman transcends, indicating a higher spiritual state.[9] (3) Contrasting qualities or experiences that can bind individuals to their desires and fears.[10] (4) A state of being free from the pairs of opposites is depicted as a characteristic of the Kshetrajna.[11] (5) Nature is said to abound in these pairs and is constituted of qualities.[12]
From: Bhagavadgita
(1) The contrasting forces of desire and aversion that create delusions and complications in the human experience.[13] (2) Contrasting concepts or feelings that create dualities, such as pleasure and pain.[14] (3) The dualities of pleasure and pain, success and failure, which one should remain above to achieve equanimity.[15] (4) Refers to the dualities of pleasure and pain that those who are free from pride and delusion transcend, allowing them to attain a higher understanding.[16]
From: Garuda Purana
(1) The conflicting dualities such as good and evil, anger and passion, that bind individuals in a state of ignorance.[17]
From: Bhagavad-gita-rahasya (or Karma-yoga Shastra)
(1) Concepts such as pleasure and pain or desire and aversion used to describe the dual nature of experiences to be transcended.[18]
From: Yoga-sutras (with Vyasa and Vachaspati Mishra)
(1) Contrasting desires and experiences that must be endured for the purpose of achieving balance, such as hunger and thirst.[19] (2) Contrasting elements such as heat and cold that create disturbances in one's experience.[20]
From: Yoga-sutras (Vedanta Commentaries)
(1) A concept referring to the dual nature of experiences such as good/bad, hot/cold, and happy/unhappy, highlighting the contradictions inherent in human experience.[21]
From: Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja鈥檚 Rajamartanda)
(1) Contrasting elements or experiences that a practitioner must conquer to achieve mental stability and focus.[22]
From: Ashtavakra Gita
(1) Contrasting concepts like merit and demerit, or desire and aversion, which the mind must transcend to attain freedom from suffering.[23] (2) Concepts like pleasure and pain, which become irrelevant to a yogi who transcends dualistic perceptions.[24]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika
(1) Contrasting experiences or entities, such as pleasure and pain or heat and cold, that individuals commonly face.[25]
From: Thirty minor Upanishads
(1) Contrasting experiences such as pleasure and pain or honor and dishonor, which a sannyasin must navigate while maintaining equanimity.[26]
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) The dualities such as pleasure and pain, which arise from both good and bad actions.[27] (2) Concepts or states that are mutually contradictory, such as Pleasure-Pain, which are used to illustrate the consequences of various actions.[28]
From: Vastu-shastra (Introduction to Indian architecture)
(1) Concepts essential to understanding Hindu architecture, representing balance and structure within the design philosophy.[29]
The concept of Pairs of opposite in local and regional sources
"Pairs of opposite" encompasses concepts that categorize human experiences, highlighting the need to transcend dualities like good and bad, pain and pleasure, ultimately guiding individuals toward self-awareness and spiritual realization.
From: Triveni Journal
(1) Contrasting concepts such as good-and-evil and right-and-wrong that can create division and disturbance in life.[30] (2) Contrasting concepts or dualities that one becomes aware of in their journey towards self-awareness.[31] (3) The dualistic concepts of experience such as pain and pleasure, which Mansoor transcended through his spiritual realization, exemplifying the idea of 'Equality' or Samata.[32] (4) The fundamental contrasts such as reality and unreality that disappear from the devotee's mind when turning towards God.[33] (5) Concepts such as good and bad that people typically use to categorize experiences but which should be transcended.[34]
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) This refers to a concept related to the attainment of a specific spiritual state, as referenced in the Gita, indicating a framework for understanding spiritual progress.[35] (2) Pairs of opposites represent a concept beyond which realization exists, and these are things that are beyond virtue and vice, as well as beyond future and past.[36]