(Thanks to Tom for suggesting fractals as another example)
In ecosystems, and most other systems, the edges are often the most rich and fertile.
We have the land ecosystem, and then the ocean ecosystem, and at the edge between the two there are representatives for both, and for the edge as well. Instead of characteristics from only one system, there are three: one, the other, and whatever emerges uniquely in the intersection of the two.
And so it is with awakening as well.
We have one system which is the awakened one. Another, which is the deluded one (taking oneself as a separate self). And at the edge of the two, there are characteristics of one, the other, and the uniqueness of the edge.
We get to explore a rich landscape, spanning all three ecosystems.
(In systems language, the awakened and deluded situations are attractor states, habitual states the system falls into… but in in this ecosystem analogy, it fits better to think of them as different landscapes or systems.)
Another example of the richness of edges: In a fractal (such as the Mandelbrot set), it is the edge or boundary between inside and outside that is the beautiful and infinitely intricate transition between order and chaos, convergence and divergence, finite and infinite. (For more on this, google keywords integralscience mandelbrot)
Thanks again!
This also reminds me of some other ways the edge effect shows up in our life.
(a) At the edge of awakening, exploring the landscape that includes a sense of separate self and Big Mind awakened to itself. (As focused on in the post.)
(b) Being, mysteriously, finite & human and infinite & awake emptiness.
(c) And deepening into the exploration of both… into who we are as a human being, and what we are as awake emptiness and form absent of any separate self.
In each case, there is a both/and richness that goes beyond the either/or of (a) mistaken identification or awakened, (b) finite or infinite, and (c) human or awake emptiness.