(The principal of a large school in Bombay gave us a list of frequently asked questions by 13 year old children in her school and asked us whether we can prepare answers in the light of a spiritual perspective. When we looked at the question we found that they are not mere “kid-stuff.” Most of them are either fundamental and existential questions related to world and God or psychological problems faced by most of us. This series is an attempt to answer these questions from the children’s perspective in the light of a spiritual vision of life. We don’t know how far we have succeeded in communicating to the children. Nevertheless, we hope these answer may be of some help to teachers and parents who have to deal with children. There are around thirty questions with answers given in the light of a spiritual vision of life. We will post these questions at regular intervals.)
Why there is two genders?
The two genders represent an eternal and universal Principles of Creation. According to most of the wisdom-traditions of the world, this universe or creation is sustained by the two poles of Nature or the Divine. In the Indian and Chinese tradition, they are described interms of masculine and feminine principles: Shiva and Shakthi or Yin and Yang. In the Indian thought, the Masculine principle is the static and passive principle which conceives and supports the creation and the Feminine is the dynamic principle which executes what the masculine principle conceives. For example I have the capacity to think, conceive and generate idea. And you have the capacity to execute the idea, which means convert the abstract idea into a concrete material reality. If you and I can join together and work in perfect cooperation, combining our capacities we can create something great and powerful. The Indian concept of Siva and Sakthi is something like this. In Chinese thought the Yin and Yang are the two poles of nature like that of the North and South poles of a magnet. In the magnet north and south are not opposites, but complementing principles which in their mutually combined action generates the magnetic flux or energy. In the same way Yin and Yang are complementary principles by their combined mutual action sustains change and transformation in the energies of Nature. In us, human beings, the two genders are the expression f this cosmic principle.
What are the practical consequences of this Indian or Chinese idea? The Man and Woman should not enter into conflict. They have to complement each other for their own growth and for the progress of the world.
