Beyond Binaries: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Identity

From my notebook: 1st February 2025

As I paused in yesterday’s quiet moments, I noticed how my mind resists routines yet yearns for ritual. Perhaps there’s wisdom in this paradox, a pattern emerging from the space between structure and flow.

I’m drawn to the Vedas and Upanishads (thank you for these gems, Anjuli). These ancient Sanskrit texts form the foundation of Hindu philosophy, speaking of consciousness and reality in ways that embrace paradox rather than reject it. Their teachings feel especially relevant as I think about recent conversations on identity, neurodivergence, and the markers society expects us to wear.

“You don't look neurodivergent,” they say. But what does neurodivergence look like?

Like consciousness itself, perhaps it exists in the embrace of paradox rather than the rejection of it. On/off. Male/female. Routine/chaos. Neurotypical/neurodivergent.

In tech, we build worlds of 1s and 0s, yet my lived experience, like these timeless teachings, suggests the deepest truths often emerge when we step into paradox rather than try to resolve it. As I navigate the intersection of ancient wisdom and emerging AI, I’m increasingly drawn to questions of non-dualism, not just in consciousness but in identity itself.

What truths about consciousness and ourselves might we discover when we learn to dance with paradox rather than hide from it?

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This reflection is part of my exploration for my forthcoming book (Wiley 2025) where I delve deeper into how ancient wisdom might guide our technological future.

Until next time,

Adah.

P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts on paradox in your own life. How do you navigate the spaces between either/or?