Lessons at the Lake Awasa: A Taste IS Not A Meal – Causing No Harm Yesterday, I was reminded of the ignorance of the privilege. When I speak of privilege I am not only speaking about those who have financial wealth, but also those who have a level of access beyond those who have limited or no access. I guess as some level I am speaking to those of us who do not live in poverty. And yes, of course, the more wealth and access we have the further away we are from what is and the less we are able to see the impact of our possible intentions and actions on others. When we live our lives on one plane of existences and then periodically enter another plane while maintaining our own beliefs and experiences in an eco-system that is foreign to us – what we think we know or are bringing into this new plane to “help or support” change at a rate that is outside were people and the community are at, it is possible unwittingly we are causing harm and not realizing harm is being done. Even when we borrow a template or model that appears to have a proven success in one area or region without analyzing both the model’s strengths and weaknesses and compensating for these impacts before introducing a new model, we will cause harm. It is like “cutting the foot to fit the shoe, instead of, cutting the shoe to fit the foot”. When we implement these sort of processes we prohibit the opportunity for diversity outside of the model being introduce. Yes, there maybe variations of the model that will eventually arise, but it will be just that – a variation. So, how do we find a balance between our intentions and our reduction of causing harm. First, listen. Deeply and intently listen to the chatter within oneself. Examine your intentions. Are your intentions to create sameness or are they to correct injustice and/or to prevent harm? Ask questions. internal and external questions of oneself. Probe deeply to see if there is an inner pride, attachment, or personal values/beliefs buried beneath your intentions? Observe. How will your model have an impact both positive and negative? They are both the opposite sides of the same coin. Is your model or intention foreign to the eco-system and if so how will it displace or disrupt the existing system? Or will it provide diversity and opportunity? Observe how the current eco-system works well and where it does not. Determine what resources will be needed, where these resources will come from, and how these resources will maintain a level of balance. Asked questions. Deep probing of the systems you are introducing your model and then listen carefully to the answers. Be Still. Wait... Till there is clarity absent of desire Plan for change, and let go of expectations - let things organically unfold and allow for diversity to blossom. Be humble. Our privilege although seemingly provides us with a wider perspective of what we believe how things are or should be, it is this same privilege which creates blinders that limit us from seeing the minute details. The mastery of causing no harm is truly in the details. Reflect. Not only internally, but ask others outside your experience what their reflections and observations are. Then once more listen deeply with your mind-heart – listening beyond the words and your experience. Remember: A taste is not a meal. In our privilege we must provide a proper context of what it really is we are offering. If they or we have no knowledge of the possible long term impact and cost associated to what we believe is a simple taste of something outside of sphere of experience or evolution of a community or biosphere. The taste may only stimulate such an hunger we are unable or unwilling to evaluate the long term cost – yet, when the bill is due the price may be too high. Where in our hast something new and different we loose the things we thought the full meal would provide for us. In our apparently simple offering without providing all of the ingredients, insight, knowledge, wisdom, and resources to modify this meal, we may very well cause long term harm through our own unintentional ignorance, greed, and privilege.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 07:06:28 +0000
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