Inside & Outside
"The fundamental, ultimate mystery - the only thing you need to know to understand the deepest metaphysical secrets - is this: that for every outside there is an inside and for every inside there is an outside, and although they are different, they go together." - Alan Watts
In this quote, Alan Watts is pointing out a fundamental concept that applies to many aspects of our existence. He's emphasizing the duality of existence where everything that exists has an inner aspect and an outer aspect that are distinct yet interconnected.
For instance, we can think of a human being as having an outer body and an inner mind. Similarly, a tree has an outer bark and an inner core. This duality is present in everything that exists, from the smallest particles to the most complex systems.
Watts is suggesting that this concept is key to understanding the deepest mysteries of metaphysics because it implies that everything is connected and interdependent. It also implies that we cannot fully understand something by only looking at its outer aspect; we must also consider its inner aspect and how they are related.
Ultimately, this quote is a reminder that everything we perceive is just one aspect of a larger whole, and to truly understand the mysteries of existence, we must be willing to explore both the inner and outer aspects of everything around us.