Awakening to the Flow of Life
Embracing the Journey from Interbeing to Inter-becoming
In an era where the fabric of our global society is increasingly interwoven, the concepts of interbeing and inter-becoming, as elucidated by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and further expanded by thinker Indy Johar, offer a transformative lens through which to view our interconnected existence. This perspective, akin to the wave-particle duality of quantum mechanics, invites us to recognize that we are both distinct entities and integral parts of a vast, dynamic cosmos.
Interbeing, a term coined by Thich Nhat Hanh, posits that to exist is to co-exist. This concept is beautifully illustrated through the metaphor of a flower, which embodies not just its own essence but the entirety of the cosmos — sunshine, rain, clouds, soil, insects and even human consciousness. This interconnectedness extends to us, suggesting that our very being is defined not by isolation but by our relationships within an integrated flow of existence. Just as in quantum mechanics, where entities exhibit dual aspects of being particles and waves, interbeing invites us to see ourselves as both unique and inseparably connected to the whole.
Building on this foundation, Indy Johar’s insights on inter-becoming urge us to reimagine our world from a place of static assets to a dynamic community of agents in continuous interaction. Johar challenges us to envision a “great emancipation,” where enfranchisement extends to all entities — humans, machines, and ecological systems — recognizing them as agents rather than resources. This reimagining requires us to redefine our human identity as a verb process, constantly evolving in relationship with other verb processes, and to foster a global society rooted in care and mutual respect.
Johar’s vision moves us beyond mere interconnectedness to actively engage in inter-becoming, acknowledging our entanglements and embracing our role as participants in a collective journey of transformation. This shift from seeing the world as a collection of objects to viewing it as a living network of relationships aligns with indigenous worldviews and offers a blueprint for creating institutional frameworks that support this perspective on a planetary scale.
As we contemplate this paradigm shift, we are called to build a new kind of capability to interact with both ecological and machine systems, envisioning a future where even inanimate objects participate in relationships of care. This radical redefinition of human relationships, grounded in the recognition of our developmental, rather than static, connections, marks a significant departure from traditional notions of existence.
In essence, the journey from interbeing to inter-becoming encapsulates a profound reevaluation of our place in the universe. It challenges us to move from a passive acknowledgment of our interconnectedness to active engagement with the world as agents of change. By embracing these principles, we can forge a path toward a more inclusive, compassionate, and dynamic global community.
This journey offers not just a new way of seeing the world but a hopeful and revolutionary framework for living in it.
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