"Everything is nothing, and nothing is everything" Any thoughts?

[champak97]

"Everything is nothing, and nothing is everything". Recently, read this quote which had me pondering. When you say 'silence' it breaks any silence that already exists, kind of similar to the above quote.

[vicogden]

I agree with the latter portion of the statement ("nothing is everything"), but disagree with the first part ("evertything is nothing"). 

[falcon9]

I agree with the latter portion of the statement ("nothing is everything"), but disagree with the first part ("evertything is nothing"). 

The pseudo-koan is symetrically-reciprocal, (balanced inversion).  It isn't rational to agree with one half of the 'koan' while simultaneously disgreeing with the inverted other half.

[ckaliszewski]

Everything is nothing, meaning that having everything in the world means nothing.
Nothing is everything, meaning that having nothing means everything.
Well, I do a lot of volunteer work and I find it much more satisfying than working jobs for money.

[Irmarie]

Everything is nothing, meaning that having everything in the world means nothing.
Nothing is everything, meaning that having nothing means everything.
Well, I do a lot of volunteer work and I find it much more satisfying than working jobs for money.

[ro901]

It's true. It is what it is.

[sherryinutah]

It's true. It is what it is.

I like that.

Everything is nothing and nothing is everything...In my mind, it suggests that...

being materialistic is not all that it's cracked up to be. 

I like to keep things simple by not having too much stuff.  I like what I have to be
manageable.

[queenofnines]

I interpret this quote to mean that all of the mundane things that make the world go 'round are ultimately pointless.  At the same time, the pointlessness is everything when it's all we have.

[falcon9]

I interpret this quote to mean that all of the mundane things that make the world go 'round are ultimately pointless.  At the same time, the pointlessness is everything when it's all we have.

That's sublimely zen-like.

[sgerman]

In this world everything- if you "have it all" means nothing because it won't necessarily make you happy.  Even if you have nothing you can still be happy by having a sense of purpose and passion in life.

[brenspencer]

Everything is nothing, meaning that having everything in the world means nothing.
Nothing is everything, meaning that having nothing means everything.
Well, I do a lot of volunteer work and I find it much more satisfying than working jobs for money.

I agree with you on this to make an impact in someones life is so much better than getting paid to do something you dont enjoy.

[Tresbn00]

I think that everything can be  a burden anchoring you to whatever it is that you own.  I look arund my study that needs to be dusted/cleaned once a week, all the clothes that need to be washed/dry cleaned each week, my car that needs to washed weekly/filled up weekly/oil changed monthly/tuned up yearly...I get somewhat sickened at the time and money wasted on these items. My joy derives from watching my children advance, my well-trained dogs, people's smiles. I have started to get rid of some of my belongings on  Amazon and Ebay because they are doing nothing while sitting on my shelves and the money could go towards earning more smiles from my children and wife.