## Resilient Koan 22 - Retreat and Advance ### Koan: How can you be sure you are advancing, even if you choose retreat? ### Discussion: Linear models or cultures of development would have us believe that all forward movement is an 'advance' e.g. a staff person moving up the hierarchy of power and responsibility in a workplace, or moving from an economy based on hunting and gathering towards a 'knowledge economy'. I recognise the same mentality in myself as I aim to improve my typing speed, or the rate at which I can process, manage and complete tasks in the worksplace - surely faster is better? Even in some interpretations of psychological/social developmental models, the drive is not to be more kind, aware, healthy, integrated or to make a more authentic contribution, rather the focus becomes on accelerating 'vertical' development. In contrast there are movements such as voluntary simplicity, downshifting, Transition Towns or 'Energy Descent' where people with (generally) post-modern values see the wisdom and attraction in ways that those interested in continuous forward progress would see as 'going backwards'. In these cases, 'retreat' to growing your own vegetables, reducing your working hours and spending more time 'around the campfire' talking is promoted as an 'advance' towards (ecological) sustainability and a more wise and wealthy culture. ### Inquiry: How can you be sure that a move to the forward or to the rear is actually an advance? 'Getting more things done' or 'doing less' can both be seen as retreats or advances in different contexts. In martial interactions or relationships where the goal is victory or simply positive interactions, retreat and yielding can be more of an advance than attack or forcing. So, rather than simple 'direction' is true advancement more qualitative and about the increasing health, contribution, capability or capacity? ### Insight: There is something here about: 1. the experience of the doer, 2. the changing quality of their interactions and relationship with their context, 3. their capacity, capability and actual contribution to the health of the system of which they are a part, and 4. timing \[Oh, I just realised that is the classic 3: I, We, It + time! Ha Ha Ha Ha haaaaa.\] Note \*\* ### Resolution: True advance or retreat is a non-linear concept that needs to be assessed in at least four dimensions. * Has the experience of the being/doer evolved? Does the change lead to a more nuanced, complex, pleasing, enlightened, blissful way of being? * Is the tone, posture and interaction in the inter-subjective space more fluid, beautiful, healthy? * As observed from afar, has their skill increased? Are they now making a more effective and generative contribution to the development of the systems of which they are part? * Does the timing of all this sing? Does it make music? From all three perspectives previously mentioned, does everything mesh together as an advancing whole? The music, the movement, the advancement may NOT be linear (even though it would be so easy to think that this follows that, and so that is how it should go), so this timing really requires a lot of attention. ### Practice: Pay attention, in at least four dimensions, for signals as to whether you, we, it are advancing or retreating. This requires a substantial expansion in awareness: an increase in the capability to see, and an increase in the capacity to discern and comprehend what is happening. Such a practice is definitely an ADVANCE, and may be best developed through a meditation RETREAT ; ) Note \*\* Perhaps the judgement about advancement and retreat is further complicated by the relationship between what IS, and what ISN'T, and the role of the observer. In terms of the role of the observer, from any position a) there are an infinite number of moves (like 4D chess) to some undefined position b). While there are broad patterns of development that would increase the probability of where b) might be, there is perhaps something almost 'quantum physics' about the role of the observer in determining where b) is (which is one step beyond just whether the location b) is seen as and advance or retreat from a)! ). In terms of what ISN'T playing a role, I guess there is this fundamental position from which directionality is not particularly meaningful. Where advance and retreat don't make sense in a place of no-time, no-context, no-doer and non-relativity... --- 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.