Duality – A "Jugalbandi" of Light and Darkness
- Anuja Nair
- Oct 13
- 5 min read
Light unfolds in contrast, light and dark, joy and sorrow, truth and illusion. As we live through these polarities, we begin to see that both are teachers guiding us home to balance, to love and to the quiet knowing that beyond all opposites, we are whole.
Note: In Indian classical performance, Jugalbandi is a duet between two artists (musicians or dancers) engaging in a playful, competitive and impromptu exchange This dialogue of rhythm and melody embodies mutual respect, understanding and creative mastery. Jugalbandi translates to “entwined twins” or “tied together”.
What is duality?
Our world is intricately woven with countless threads of duality, and everything in between. Day and night. Truth and lies. Joy and sorrow. Friends and foes. Anger and compassion. Care and neglect. Together and alone. Loneliness and oneness. Satisfaction and disappointment.
It is an endless play of opposites, coexisting, shaping one another and forming the very fabric of life. Much of our human journey is directed by this concept of duality often framed within good vs bad and right vs wrong. Every decision and every choice subtly lead toward what each one of us believe to be the “better” side and that which is “right”.
Each pole seems to want to outshine the other or even erase the other!
Duality through my eyes
Growing up I firmly stood for qualities like honesty, obedience, and rightfulness because they belonged to what I thought was the right and good way of living. But many of these good and right choices often backfired.
In 7th standard, when we studied the Experiments of Truth by MK Gandhi, one idea stayed with me: truth is relative.
What feels right to one person may not feel right to another. Perspective and circumstances change everything.
Later in college, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity affirmed the same idea scientifically.
As life unfolded through its dramas and traumas, I saw the same event viewed differently by different people. What we felt drawn towards emotionally became our truth eventually. So, each one had their own “right and good versions” of the same story!
Duality often leads to inner and outer conflicts, compelling us to take sides, defend a viewpoint or prove a point. But in time I began to sense that this pull itself revealed that the source of this conflict could indeed be within me.
During moments of heightened dramas, I started stepping back, not taking sides – not even my side – and retreating to a quiet neutrality within me. As I rested in my inner space, there was surrender. Torrents of emotions – mild, heavy and uncomfortable. Deep release of the need to control, to be right or even to be good.
As layers shed, I discovered a soft power within – love. Along with it came a knowing that I had always been right and good at my core. There was never a need to prove it. The many Past Life Regressions that I had experienced reiterated that everything I had endured, everything I am experiencing and everything that I will encounter are my soul’s desire to indulge in the dual game. There are no judgements or brownie points awaiting me at the end of my life. Just realizations and lessons in love.
This acceptance began to extend outward too, towards others, especially in their moments of darkness and wrongness. In some cases, like Life Coaching, it was easy and in others like close connections, I am still a work-in-progress.
This peace in my heart did not arrive easily. I had to shed beliefs, conditioning and conclusions. Sometimes not quite mine, but those that were followed by family of origin.
But in the end, I knew that truth was existence itself, life is an experience, desires are the fuel for life and choices are passages of progress.
The power to create rests in us. We have the right and the ability to weave our lives as we choose, right or wrong, good or bad. Judgement has no real place here, neither towards others nor towards us.
The Real Reason for Duality
Over time I came to see that Earth and the entire Time-Space reality, was designed as a field to experience limitation. From vast infinite consciousness we descended into physical forms and contrasts, to feel what it is like to seemingly separate from Source. To deepen this experience, Consciousness expressed itself in polarity – dividing itself into masculine and feminine – Divine Duality.
Every aspect of life followed suit, taking on the dance of duality – the jugalbandi.
Souls came to experience both ends of this dual spectrum, some diving deeply into the shadows, while others striving towards the light. One is not better than the other, because the one exploring light must have explored the darkness to have a yearning for light. No matter what, we are all learning and evolving.
One thing common in all of us is the presence of the all-encompassing infinite intelligence which we are either aware of or not, depending on the stage of our evolution. In our highest consciousness we are neither masculine nor feminine, but energy and awareness with infinite intelligence.
We are not puppets of destiny, but creators who are awakening to our innate power.
When we begin to view life, not as a battle of good and bad, right and wrong, but as a playful experience of the game of life, we begin to see life from a higher vantage – through the eyes of our Soul, Source and Love.
Duality as a jugalbandi of Light and Shadow
As we evolve, we gradually reach a stage where the pull of opposites no longer throws us off balance. This is where Advaita – non-duality - begins to blossom within us. We start to unhook from roles, identities and fixed views, allowing the wisdom of our soul to guide us. Discernment replaces judgement, compassion replaces reactivity. In extreme situation where negativity is deep and dominant, transformation becomes the path forward.
Take for instance, the Hawaiian healing method of Ho’opponopono a practice of forgiveness, once used by a psychologist in a ward of mentally ill criminals, transformed many lives. Read about it here. Education, therapy and rehabilitation are widely used in prisons and mental wards to echo the power of transformation.
Every saint has a dark past that he must embrace, and every sinner has a future that he can be proud of.
Ways to rise above duality.
Rising above limitations means shifting from personal and societal viewpoint to allow our soul’s perspective.
Meditation and conscious breathing can help us soften our inner tug-of-war and connect with our higher self.
When we trust the unfolding of life, we learn to stay centered and grounded in the present moment.
Positive self-talk, gratitude and presence gradually rewire the mind to choose peace.
Consistently releasing the emotions and beliefs that trap us in duality brings relief.
Intention to enjoy harmony opens unseen doors to liberation.
Presence in the moment becomes the purest form of healing with awareness and emotional honesty.
As more of us rise above duality’s grip, we begin to sense the beauty and harmony already present in the Universe. The push and pull fade, replaced by a quiet steadiness.
In conclusion
Duality is not our enemy; it is our guide to greater freedom. It is the thread with which the tapestry of our human stories is woven. The contrasts bind us into a story that we no longer enjoy until one day we release the need to struggle and choose liberation instead in every aspect of our life. No stone is left unturned, and every area of our life is scrutinized in depth.
Beyond the yin and yang lies the golden thread of Source Consciousness that weaves everything into one living whole.
This helps us see duality as complementary forces essential for the beautiful equilibrium in our world.
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