Jain Spirit 2003 03 No 14

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 36

YOUTH
YOU NEVER STEP INTO THE SAME RIVER TWICE
YOU NEVER STEP INTO THE
SAME RIVER TWICE Inspired by his baby niece, Rupesh Shah invites you to conduct an experiment in self-reflection, which is an important element in walking the
Jain path of spiritual progression.
we perceive things. The following diagram seeks to describe how.
regard our lives as being in continuous f low. I think this view opens up some wonderful opportunities for difference, discovery and change.
Framesildeas
Actions
Outcomes
JAGDISH AGARWAL WWW.DINODIA
In the last 18 months my sister has
blessed our family with a baby girl LOne of the many things that my niece has demonstrated to me is how to live with doubt, uncertainty and novelty - and how to do this by being open to learning about oneself through experimentation.
Although she cannot yet talk, she always seems to be asking the world "questions about what is going on around her. From the occasionally painful experiments that she conducts with her body in order to learn about gravity, to the new ways she conjures up to play around with mum and dad, she seems to be always approaching her world with a question mark in her mouth. As she conducts these investigations, she is increasing her awareness of her "self' and her relationships with the world around her.
In contrast, I've noticed that it is very hard for me to keep myself open to change. I tend to get stuck in my peculiar ways of acting and reacting. Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher said "you can never step into the same river twice", the idea being that a river is in continuous flow and therefore from one millisecond to the next is a different, and hence 'new', river.
The metaphor reminds me that I tend to focus on the apparently neat shape and form that my life exhibits. In the same way that a map allows me to perceive a river as a static thing surrounded by other static objects, my everyday brain finds it easier to concentrate upon the seemingly unmoving aspects of my relationships with others and of my own actions.
However, the changing river metaphor hints that it is also possible to
We should stay open to new ideas and beliefs
So I wonder if we can ask questions more often? Can we wonder about our relationships with one another, the non-human environment and the universe? Can we question whether our actions match our own expectations and values?
I find slowing down difficult enough and finding good space to develop this self-reflection is tricky in a world that moves so rapidly. However, there are techniques and tools that we can use to open ourselves up to change.
One of these simple techniques is to merely try to notice the ways that we understand the world. For instance, on occasion I try to increase my attention towards the ways in which I frame things. These 'frames of reference' can be huge things like 'gravity works on everything' or 'a woman's place is in the kitchen' or something small like 'I don't like green vegetables'. Whilst on the one hand frames are important for allowing us to make sense of our worlds, they can also restrict the way
The diagram suggests that whenever we do something, our actions are based upon the ways that we think about, understand or 'frame the world. Our actions lead to certain outcomes, which we use to inform our
ideas about how the world works. 3 Importantly, we tend to interpret the outcomes in ways that confirm our initial ideas and frames.
So for example, if I have a frame of reference, which is my friends are neglecting me', then this frame will neglecting m tend to affect the actions and language I use and lead to certain outcomes - perhaps a decision to not meet up. Unless I increase my attention to my frames, I'll tend to interpret this outcome in a way that confirms my original frame.
The model can also help us to slow down and investigate ourselves. Perhaps you could conduct a little experiment sometime this week in honour of my niece and the flowing river). Try to notice one instance in which your original ideas or frames have affected the way you have acted towards someone or something. You don't need to do anything else - just try to notice the event - either whilst it is happening or afterwards - and see what happens. 2
Rupesh Shah conducts experiments in ecologically grounded and peoplecentred forms of development through research, education and activism. He can be contacted at rupesh99@fsmail.net
March - May 2003. Jain Spirit
43