Essence of Chaos

Most of us have seen the black-and-white symbol of Yin and Yang. For many, it holds no real meaning, it just looks cool. However, the concept of Yin and Yang is integral to Chinese philosophy. It depicts the interconnection of the black and the white, representing duality. If Yin is 0, Yang is 1. Both co-exist and are a part of a larger cycle of one’s life. Both oppose, yet complement. The bond and seamless existence of opposites is a common concept. Opposites attract.

The concept of duality transcends into many realms of morality and life. But my focus is going to be order and chaos. Granted that Yin and Yang oppose each other, they can also be used to depict order and chaos. Both co-exist. Rather, order arises from chaos. Chaos is the genesis of order, and existence consists of both. All systems exist on the lattice-work of chaos and order.

Chaos, in essence, is disorder. It is irregular, erratic and somewhat random. Order is the complete opposite. It is regular and systematic. If order keeps institutions stable and traditional, chaos breaks them down and rebuilds them. For the most part, chaos is the reason behind our existence in the first place. The Big Bang was chaotic, our evolution was chaotic, and societies were chaotic. Yet, amid the chaos, order is maintained, essential for sustained survival and rejuvenation.

Thoughts are chaotic, fleeting in and out of our minds. Chaos is everywhere. Water that fiercely springs out from the ground. Or a leaf falling from a tree. Or our life. Chaos is to be experienced and seen.

Human life is chaotic. Our life is never linear, going up or down in a straight line. Our lives are non-linear. They are complex. They don’t follow a set mathematical structure, they vary. If our lives were calculators, two and two wouldn’t always be four. It would fluctuate and randomise. Then, we self-organise.

We try to make sure that two and two are four, and to some extent, we succeed. But just when things seem to become normal, chaos ensues. And this cycle of chaos and order repeats until we transcend into the Hereafter.

The Butterfly Effect is a great way to understand chaos. A butterfly flapping its wing once leads to a fluctuation in the air, which eventually snowballs into a tornado. It shows how small differences have a great impact in the end. How a minute action may have unpredictable reactions. We can’t say for sure which butterfly caused the tornado, or whether any butterfly caused it in the first place, but that is the point. Small thing, big ripple effect.

The thing is, we don’t know. We don’t know how our actions can change the course of the world. Maybe they do affect everyone, maybe they don’t. And that is the essence of chaos. Simple, day-to-day activities that seem harmless now may prove catastrophic in future.

Chaos also leaves room for thinking. Most of the things that happen in our lives are not what they seem to be. They are a part of something bigger, something beyond our comprehension. A grave life situation may just be the result of a random butterfly. And our reactions fuel this cycle. It becomes a chain. A chain of implications. Many call it the will of God, and for some, it is determinism. Call it what you will, chaos is beautiful!

That brings me back to Yin and Yang. Not just two colours in a circle. But a way of understanding life. Maybe certain things aren’t meant to be understood yet. Life is such, things will make sense along the way. Or maybe, our ignorance keeps us from finding the answers. In any case, life is a tug of war, between chaos and order, Yin and Yang. And as they keep on pulling, we keep on living.

(The author is a student of Humanities at DPS Srinagar)