The Contrast of Ocean Waves: A Reflection on the Duality of Life

The Power and Rhythm of the Ocean

The waves crashed hard, and the submerged rocks rumbled and growled as they rolled painfully over the packed sandy bottom.

They were subjugated to the wave, which created their force, and the backwash of the pounding wave pulled the rocks and debris towards the open sea, giving warning of yet another incoming wave.

As I stood ankle deep in the ocean water during my recent trip to the sunny south, I contemplated my cautious entry into the syncopated rhythm of the oncoming waves.

I counted them out – every third or fourth swell quietly built a force greater than its predecessor.

I knew what I had to do to prevent being violently toppled like a rolling aquatic tumbleweed in its wake.

I inhaled deeply as the fifth wave drew near, its hypnotic force evident, and then dove into its core beneath the surface tension.

I was cast out on the lee side of the wave’s foamy, swirling turbulence to the calm aftermath of undulating water, once again inviting me to relish its healing offering.

 

Waves as a Metaphor for Life’s Duality

Ocean waves serve as a compelling illustration of life’s inherent duality.

One moment the ocean exuded a sense of warmth and hospitality, presenting gentle waves that appeared inviting. And the next moment, a formidable three-foot surge advanced steadily towards me.

If I was ahead of its building momentum, I could hop and float over the top of the wave, windmilling my legs over the surge.

However, if my timing was off, I would need to dive below the wave’s surface tension to avoid its turbulent whitewash and surface again through the rushing afterglow into its brief calm remains – at least until the next roller.

 

The Meditative State and Personal Reflection

It’s a hypnotic, meditative moment.

My involuntary breath pauses, waiting and wondering which will it be – a hop or a dive?

Decision made, I dove into the wave’s submerged energy: powerful, turbulent, and explosive, to be spit out into the calm aftermath of its violent crest.

And as I hovered in the wave’s smooth, gentle swells and blinked the water from my eyes, the duality in nature, and the duality of life, did not escape me.

At this point, I was urged to look inward at my own daily dualities – the ones which awaken me, asking which side of the duality equation do I choose?

 

Understanding Duality Through Examples

Calm/chaotic, peaceful/exhilarating, considerate/insensitive, visible/hidden, growth/decline, hope/despair, adventurous/cautious, welcoming/standoffish, kindhearted/cruel, and the list goes on.

Duality as a concept or condition has been discussed and deconstructed by many insightful thinkers.

And while each duality exists as one, each side is contrasting and opposing in one sense, but complementary at the same time.

In other words, one side of a duality cannot exist without the other.

A child’s gasp at an oncoming wave is sensory and therefore concrete. They can see that the wave can be big, scary, and dangerous one minute as it crashes loudly and then quiet, calm, and peaceful as it settles.

But they don’t question or understand the interrelationship between the two.

Why does one come after the other?

A child’s first experience on a roller coaster, for instance, reveals a duality of emotion: fear and delight – feeling terrified yet wanting more of the same excitement.

 

The Adult Perspective: Metaphor and Meaning

To an adult, the wave is more abstract, and it can be used to interpret one’s life.

It’s not only concrete – something we physically experience – but it takes on meaning.

A metaphor of struggle and chaos in one’s life followed by relief and renewal. One doesn’t exist without the other, just as the wave’s gentleness cannot exist without some turbulence.

The concept that “Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction,” which was expressed by Pablo Picasso, suggests that to create something new, existing structures and habits must be broken down.

This philosophy implies that destruction is not an end, but rather a necessary threshold and opportunity for growth, transformation, and innovation.

Adults can connect the wave’s duality to these larger ideas about life, such as how turmoil can prepare us for renewal, how effort gives meaning to rest, or how danger and beauty can coexist within the same experience.

For instance, Lao Tzu discussed the balance between effort and stillness, suggesting rest has meaning because of action.

 

Nature’s Reminders and the Need for Vigilance

Climbing in the mountains offers breathtaking views while holding potential dangers that may be only steps away, offering a perfect example of the duality of life.

While these kinds of experiences can be scary, such dualities enrich our lives, allowing new growth while keeping us on our toes, despite the beauty.

In any case, we must stay aware of the dark side of life’s duality, for it can send us spiraling deeper into its underbelly.

A breaking wave can hide unexpected dangers like undertows, surges, and currents.

Even in life, we don’t always anticipate the power of the dark side of our dualities until we are swept away or engulfed by them.

So, one needs to stay vigilant of the duality of life, and all its tempting adventures.

The ocean and the mountains remind us that while nature offers us the gift of magnificence, it can also carry risk, which we relish but must also respect.

 

Personal Reflection

If you’ve made it this far, I’d like you to take a moment to reflect on what the duality of life means to you.

In doing so, you might want to answer the following questions:

• How does duality shape your life?
• Which duality presents itself to you today?
• Which side of its equation will you choose?

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