## Resilient Koan 25 - Promote or Hide ### _Koan_: We have been looking at this one praxis question for some years. This is both generally, and specifically in apithology practice. The dilemma is between the desire to promote to grow - or to instead hide to refine. Each has their benefits and costs. The full dilemma goes something like this: 'A theory of generativity for thought involves establishing the conditions for this. However, to do so with  the distortions of noise, confusion and perplexivity that generates the need for these questions dissipates the effects gained even before beginning. Once established, generativity comes from more openness, inclusivity and transparency. But what happens to the potential actualised when opened to deconstructions of mind generally? How does one form these initially?' ### _Discussion_: Apithology as a theory of praxis is not an idea, a construction or a prescription - it is an injunction. It is 'done'. So the question is really about the practical implications of its doing. In reality, while this question in apithology praxis involves many nuances, an analogy is found in the example of someone learning to meditate. Essentially, apithology is humanity learning to meditate on its own mind. Like in meditation we might seek to find a dedicated space, time, conducive conditions and a community of practitioners to provide support. Over time the 'meditation break'  being the real world existence between meditation sessions _becomes_ the meditation. However, it is not so easy to start that way. The question of 'how when in' promotes the dilemma of distinction of separation. ### _Inquiry_; While noise, awarenesses from within the body, and continual adverse conditions initially are to be eliminated - this may lead in a maturity later to an active seeking and accepting of abrupt interactions - as reciprocations providing the instructions of  aversions, attachments and ignorances as loving distractions and interruptions. The noise is the practice. The interruption is, in response, the test of the injunction. ### _Insight_: We recognise then that comfort is not practice, as if a wider world is required to be lived in (i.e. humanity level dynamics) smallness is not conducive after its initial mastery and accomplishment. Yet the answer to the koan is not simply to have a dedicated safe place and then extend. It is a question of re-framing the question. Rather than promote or hide, or isolate then extend, the koan is really one of availability. People respect the entitlement to not be disturbed if asked to and provided with the awareness of the request. The neighbours may not know your time for meditation is the same as their time for metalwork and grinding. This is provided that the benefits are shared. That one lives in the world - and so is of the world. ### _Resolution_: I find (this day in the downtown industrial landscape of a large urban North American city) that instead the paradox is answered by the instruction for the injunction held in the phrase _Practice and Provide_. The dedicated space for conducive practice is first to be provided. What exclusions and conditions are needed - are needed. This is done, however, with the recognition that the doors are open, the space is of inclusion and the results of those reflections are 'provided' as opportunities for engagement. What we provide by our introspection is the provision for the capacity for greater invitation. This is done only for those asking similar questions - and never in projection. ### _Practice_: In this way, perhaps, over time nothing needs to be promoted and nothing is hidden - because the inside space for practicing practice, becomes the outside space of our practice practiced. We begin with the without in mind, and when the without comes in, our practice of the within - includes the all. In this way, and I suspect in this way only, the humanity 'in us' becomes our meditation on, and as, humanity 'as us'. --- 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.