The Broken Among Us Teach Us
हमारे बीच जो टूटे हैं वो हमें सिखाते हैं - ब्रायन स्टीवेंसन के द्वारा
मुझे जो ज्ञान सहेजे रखता है वह यह है कि वास्तव में हमारे बीच में जो आहत या टूटा हुआ है वो पूर्ण और समान न्याय की हमारी खोज में बहुत योगदान दे सकता है। जब आप टूट जाते हैं, तो आप वास्तव में कुछ जानते हैं कि इंसान होने का क्या मतलब है। आप कृपा के बारे में कुछ जानते हैं। आपने दया के बारे में कुछ सीखा। आपने क्षमा के बारे में कुछ सीखा। यह हमारे बीच जो टूटे हुए है वो हमें कुछ चीजें सिखा सकते हैं। और यह ज्ञान कि आपको हमेशा सही और संपूर्ण नहीं होना है,आपको चुनौती से गुजरने का एक नया तरीका देता है जो कि कठिन होता यदि आपको लगता है कि ऐसा कुछ संभव नहीं है।
और इसलिए मैं अपने युवा कर्मचारियों से कहता हूं कि ऐसा नहीं हो सकता कि आप ऐसी दर्दनाक जगहों पर हो या आप उन बच्चों जिनके साथ दुर्व्यवहार हुआ हो, उन्हें संभल रहे हो, और उससे प्रभावित न हो। आप कुछ आँसू बहाने जा रहे हैं । और आप अभिभूत होने वाले हैं, आप थकने वाले हैं, आप नीचे धकेले जा रहे हैं - वे सभी चीजें होने जा रही हैं, और इसका मतलब यह नहीं है कि आप कमजोर हैं। इसका मतलब यह नहीं है कि आप कार्य करने के लिए तैयार नहीं हैं। इसका मतलब यह नहीं है कि आप अक्षम या अयोग्य हैं। इसका मतलब है कि आप एक इंसान हैं। और यही मैं चाहता हूं: मैं इंसान चाहता हूं।
और इसलिए जो कुछ मुझे सहेजे रखता है, वह आंशिक रूप से, यह ज्ञान है कि मैं हमेशा आश्वस्त और स्पष्ट महसूस नहीं कर सकता; और ऐसे भी मौके आएंगे जब यह अनिश्चित हो जाए कि आगे क्या होने वाला है। और मैंने इस ज्ञान की सराहना करने की कोशिश की है।
और कई बार, वह लोग जिन्होंने इससे बहुत अधिक सहा है, वह मुझे प्रेरित करते हैं। जॉन लुईस की मृत्यु से कुछ समय पहले मैंने उनसे बात की, और उनको केवल जानना ही मेरे लिए बहुत बड़ा सम्मान था। और मैं उससे सिर्फ इतना कह रहा था, "आपने जो कुछ किया, उसके परिणामस्वरूप मुझे बहुत अच्छा लग रहा है।" और मैंने उससे कहा, “मेरे भी कठिन दिन देखे हैं; मुझे मौत की धमकियाँ मिलती हैं। लेकिन मुझे कभी यह नहीं कहना पड़ा, 'मेरा सिर लहूलुहान है, लेकिन झुका नहीं है', जैसे आपने कहा।” और जब हमें एहसास होता है कि आपकी उन चोटों ने ही ऐसी जगहें बनाईं जो थोड़ी कम हिंसक थीं, और जिनमें से कुछ पर हम कब्जा कर सकते हैं, हम सराहना करने लगते हैं कि हम क्या कर सकते हैं।
मनन के लिए प्रश्न: आप इस धारणा से कैसे सम्बद्ध हैं कि हमारे बीच में जो लोगे टूटे हैं वह हमें सिखा सकता है कि इंसान होने का क्या मतलब है? क्या आप उस समय की व्यक्तिगत कहानी साझा कर सकते हैं जब आप खुले दिल से अपूर्णता को गले लगाने में सक्षम थे? अनिश्चितता का स्वागत करने में आपको क्या मदद करता है?
Bryan Stevenson is the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Above excerpted from On Being.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion that the broken among us can teach us what it means to be human? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to embrace imperfection with an open heart? What helps you welcome uncertainty?
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11 Past Reflections
On Sep 1, 2023 Jaya wrote :
its been long, but when i recall...Kishan a child living on the street would narrate a story n laugh clear and loud.
how another little boy ganesh, sitting on the tracks among rats and human fecas burning with fever said " i am fine, no i have money for food, but no medicine didi".
how another little boy ganesh, sitting on the tracks among rats and human fecas burning with fever said " i am fine, no i have money for food, but no medicine didi".
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On Jan 14, 2021 Guru Raj wrote :
The context or focus of this piece is on change-agents gathering themselves in the face of difficult odds and persevering despite their all too human reactions engendering some dis-empowerment. It is quite inspiring and true.
When "broken-ness" is taken out to a wider context, it occurred to me that the abusive boss, the megalomaniac leader, the rapacious businessman or any person in power in various situations behaving unconsciously - are too all "broken" in a way. The only difference is that they acquire or get to keep some material or psychological advantage over the other "broken" persons. Most of us will find ourselves switching between these positions - oppressor and the oppressed - in small ways.
I have found it valuable to see this dynamic and keep working to get an acceptance and equanimity and in-the-moment awareness and responsiveness. It is a long scale of evolution and much patience is needed.
When "broken-ness" is taken out to a wider context, it occurred to me that the abusive boss, the megalomaniac leader, the rapacious businessman or any person in power in various situations behaving unconsciously - are too all "broken" in a way. The only difference is that they acquire or get to keep some material or psychological advantage over the other "broken" persons. Most of us will find ourselves switching between these positions - oppressor and the oppressed - in small ways.
I have found it valuable to see this dynamic and keep working to get an acceptance and equanimity and in-the-moment awareness and responsiveness. It is a long scale of evolution and much patience is needed.
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On Jan 13, 2021 Ragunath Padmanbhan wrote :
Well, The Broken Among Us has a static-truth to it. Yet, to think that they can contribute more than the yet-to-be broken is a reactive perspective. It is skillful to share this perspective with the broken among us for a limited time until they rebuild and come stronger out of their brokenness. To hold space for that rebuilding to happen is more important than continuing to amplify the advantages of the brokenness which goes in the same direction as glorifying poverty or any other inequality. The mere experience of suffering does not automatically make a person wise. Yes, it makes the quest for wisdom more urgent. But for that quest to make progress, wholesome people and spaces are inevitable.
I am reminded of what Bo Lozoff said (as a guest speaker at Chromite) in response to someone asking him where he thought the world was heading. He said, "It is all going to get much worse. When that happens, it is places like this (Awakin) and the people in it who will become the refuge for... [View Full Comment]
2 replies: Manoj, Guru | Post Your Reply
On Jan 9, 2021 David Doane wrote :
We're all broken and wounded, some minimally and some very much. People can gain valuable and deep wisdom from being broken and wounded, and we can learn from their experience. Having worked with broken for years, I agree you can't not be impacted -- it's important also to have clear boundaries and take care of yourself or you're not of much good to the other and will likely burn out quickly. I embrace imperfection with an open heart when I care and relate to what is present and not to assumptions, expectations, prejudices, predictions, or preconceptions about what is present. What helps me welcome uncertainty is knowing that uncertainty is all there is. We live in uncertainty. It is always uncertain what is going to happen, and I am more content accepting that than fighting or denying it.
1 reply: Beverly | Post Your Reply
On Jan 8, 2021 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
We as human beings are imperfect and we all have gone through trying and hard times. Life is not always a bed of roses. It has also sharp thorns. It hurts. There have been times when my heart has been broken. My dreams were shattered. I have learned the value of wholeness from my brokenness. Heart breaks have taught me how to heal my wounds, recover myself, and lift myself up from the falls.Suffering is human. How do we face it and what do we learn from it is up to us.
I have gone through many difficult situations and have learned lessons from them. There were times when I felt heavy weight of emotional pain. Where there was a little light and I did not know how to walk on the the dark lanes of my life. Being with people who have endured hard times in theirlives and their empathic understanding, supportand kindness helpedme emerge from the blinding darkness. Going through difficult times in my life made me understand my own suffering and suffering of others. The words of John Lewis ar... [View Full Comment]