The Universe is symmetrical. What does it mean?
It means the Universe has a property of “change in form without change in nature.”
When we say “X=Y” is symmetrical or X and Y are equal, we mean that when X=Y is transformed or when X and Y switch places, it changes its form from “X=Y” to “Y=X” – but without changing its nature, that is, X and Y are equal.
While the Universe is symmetrical, human consciousness or the human mind or the human heart can be symmetrical and asymmetrical.
In fact, it is due to the asymmetrical part of human consciousness that we discover and understand knowledge such as logic, mathematics and physics.
Our consciousness of time is in the asymmetrical form of “before versus after” or “past versus future” with “now or present” being the reference point. If t is present, we consider {t before present} the past and {t after present} the future.
Our consciousness of substance and space is in the asymmetrical form of “something versus nothing.” Our consciousness of causality, logic, mathematics and physics is in the asymmetrical form of “true versus false.” What is at the root of the asymmetrical consciousness is our differentiating, discriminating heart, or asymmetry and duality which is Fen Bie Xin (分别心) in Chinese.
One aspect of our consciousness that is symmetrical is our consciousness or conscience of empathy and sympathy in which we see “self” and “other” as equal and the relationship between “self” and “other” symmetrical.
For detail, please see Table 3-2.