## Resilient Koan 03 - Consciousness and Conversions In looking at the ethics of distortion, particularly that which occurs across levels of consciousness, we realise that conceptual truths are often innocently (or obviously) re-framed to make sense to those who hear them. From our discussions: * This may involve a simplification.  * It can also involve a gross distortion.  * Often it will perpetuate or amplify the very problem the truth was created to resolve. ### Examples: The increasingly frequent example is the re-frame of 'resilience'. This complex system of dynamics in multi-temporal cross-scalar spans to increase the variability of state responses of a system - becomes a desire to create static stability of form in response to external shocks, increasing a community's vulnerability. ### Effect: The call to 'sustainability' or 'resilience' becomes, despite the best intentions of their proponents, the direction to our demise. The paradox of 'sustaining decline' and 'perverse resilience' may result. ### Question: Recognising that levels of consciousness will re-frame for sense making at appropriate levels of complexity, in deciding how to convert complexity to simplicity - "_Can you ever work other than with the consciousness that is_?" ### Meditation: The act of seeing does not satisfy communicating. To communicate, one must speak clearly and be received. The mind of the receiver is the medium for the message. Surely the message's validity can only be determined by that mind? (... [more](http://icarus-falling.blogspot.com/2010/02/karmic-distortion.html) thoughts) ### Suggestion: From a generativity perspective, when caring for not only what is, but what will be: _Are you not always working with the consciousness that is about to be .. and this includes your own?_ ### Practice: The mind of the naive inquirer, leading by being with, in new questions, with new thinking and new ways of being, respecting how we are now and moving to a place just outside of this, goes a long way to gently opening space and span for the development (and integration) of greater systems of care. --- This is one in a series of 25 'Resilient Koans' documenting "an apithologue into the koans of practice discovered while creating resilient sustainable communities", in 2010.