Theory and Practice, by Vincent Horn

सिद्धांत और अभ्यास
- विन्सेंट हॉर्न (१८ जनवरी, २०१७)

यदि हम देखें कि सिद्धांत क्या है, तो यह अनिवार्य रूप से प्रत्यक्ष अनुभव की एक कल्पना मात्र, या प्रतिनिधित्व है। यह अपने विचारों के माध्यम से अपनी समझ को लेना और उसे किसी अन्य व्यक्ति को प्रसारित कर देने का एक रास्ता है। भाषा एक ऐसी ही महत्वपूर्ण नई खोज है, क्योंकि यह हमें ऐसा करने में मदद करती है।

क्योंकि सिद्धांत एक कल्पना मात्र या प्रतिनिधित्व है, बिना असल में उसका अनुभव किये, या वास्तव में यह समझे कि ये चीजें किस ओर संकेत कर रही हैं, कल्पनाएं केवल कल्पनाएं ही रह सकती हैं। हम सब ऐसे लोगों को जानते हैं जो गलती से वास्तविकता के बारे में होने वाली अवधारणाओं को वास्तविकता ही मान लेते हैं। जब अभ्यास से अधिक सिद्धांत पर ज़ोर दिया जाता है तो क्या होता है, इसका जीता-जागता उदाहरण देखने के लिए हमें केवल किसी ऐसे विद्वान्, जो सोचता है कि उसे सब मालुम है, या किसी पढ़ाकू के बारे में सोचने की ज़रूरत है।

अभ्यास से अधिक सिद्धांत पर ज़ोर देने का दूसरा पहलू, सिद्धांत से अधिक अभ्यास पर ज़ोर देने में है। कई लोगों का यह मानना है कि आपको केवल अभ्यास करने की आवश्यकता है और आप को सब कुछ अपने आप ही समझ आ जाएगा। लेकिन आप यह कैसे समझ पाएंगे कि आप अभ्यास क्यों कर रहे हैं या आपको अभ्यास करना सीखने की क्या आवश्यकता हैं?

अगर आप अभ्यास पर बहुत अधिक ज़ोर देते हैं तो जो तिब्बती ध्यान गुरु चोजयम जुंगपा ने कहा कि आपको “मूर्ख साधक" मिलते हैं - वो लोग जो ये नहीं जानते कि वो क्या कर रहे हैं और क्यों। उन्हें वास्तव में कभी वो मिला ही नहीं जिसे वो ढूंढ रहे थे, इसलिए वो साधना करने के अंतहीन चक्कर में घूमते रहते हैं, जो किसी दिलचस्प चीज़ तक तो पहुंच देता है, पर उस तक नहीं जो मिलना चाहिए था।

सिद्धांत को छोड़ देने का एक और ख़तरा यह है कि जो अनुभव हमें हुए हैं हमें उनको अपने जीवन में समाहित करने में मुश्किल होती है। हमें परेशानी इसलिए होती है क्योंकि हम सोचने वाले मन के महत्व को त्याग रहे हैं। हमारी जटिल मानसिक क्षमताऐं और अत्यधिक विकसित दिमाग ही हैं जो हमें साफ़ तौर पर मानव बना रहे हैं। जटिल विचारों के बिना यह संभव नहीं लगता कि हम अपने आप से महत्वपूर्ण आध्यात्मिक सवाल पूछने में सक्षम होंगे। होमो सेपियन लेटिन भाषा में "जानने वाले इंसान” या "बुद्धिमान आदमी" को कहते हैं। यह एक त्रासदी होगी अगर हम अपने विकासवादी विरासत से "बुद्धिमान" को हटा कर फेंक दें।

उत्साहजनक बात यह है कि अगर हम इन उपयोगी सिद्धांतों को व्यवहार में ला सकते हैं, उन्हें नक्शे के रूप में उपयोग करते हुए हमें हमारे रास्ते खोजने में मदद करने के लिए है, तो हम खुद प्रत्यक्ष अनुभवों को पाने लग जाते हैं। ऐसा करने से हम आंतरिक वैज्ञानिक बन जाते हैं, और इन सिद्धान्तों की पुष्टि, उन्हें अस्वीकार करना, और यहां तक कि जो सिद्धांत हमें सौंप दिये गए हैं, हम उन्हें और विकसित करने लगते हैं। जब हम उनकी वैधता का परीक्षण कर सकते हैं तो वो सिद्धांत जीवित हैं। वे अंत बिंदु नहीं बल्कि एक अविश्वसनीय यात्रा का प्रारंभिक बिंदु हैं।

विचार के लिए कुछ मूल प्रश्न: आप अपने जीवन में सिद्धांत और व्यवहार दोनों की ज़रूरत होने से क्या समझते हैं? क्या आप कोई व्यक्तिगत अनुभव बाँट सकते हैं जो सिद्धांत के महत्व को दिखाता हो? आप को अपने जीवन में सिद्धांतों की वैधता का परीक्षण करने के लिए क्या प्रेरित करता है?

विन्सेंट हॉर्न द्वारा लखित “इस पृष्ठ” के कुछ अंश।

by Vincent Horn, excerpted from this page.

Seed Questions for Reflection

How do you relate to the need for both theory and practice in our lives? Can you share a personal story that illustrates the importance of theory? What motivates you to test the validity of theories in your own life?

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Add Your Reflection

10 Past Reflections

Marnik

Apr 26, 2019

The first time i listen to an article! Great Job

best School in Whitefield

Oct 23, 2018

thanks for the project

jack

Mar 13, 2017

nice

Cynthia

Jan 17, 2017

I had trouble with this passage. After reading it a few times, I realize I must be one of those "dumb meditators." Feeling, observing, and moving through initial shame, I see it as a jumping-off point to learn more. As a result, I find a very helpful article at tricycle.org titled "Are You Practicing Stupid Meditation?" Much to chew on. Thank you.

Kate Sutherland

Jan 17, 2017

I'm very grateful for this wonderfully articulate statement about the importance of both theory and practice. I have loved the quote from Kurt Lewin: "There is nothing so practical as a good theory." I personally amend this to say, "There is nothing so practical as the interplay of several good theories." We get a more complete picture when the blind spots in one framework are illuminated by the different perspectives of other frameworks. In my work I share the gems from Appreciative Inquiry, Trust Theory, Chaordic Design, Integral Theory, Theory U, Process Oriented Psychology and many others "lenses". The theories help others to see more dimensions and nuances in any given situation, and therefore to navigate better. I also think exposure to these theories is a potent way to grow consciousness: Our perception can shift profoundly and quickly thanks to the pointers that are at the heart of any good theory: As in, "This distinction is important/helpful." "Look here." ... View full comment

Kristin Pedemonti

Jan 17, 2017

I love what Jagdish P Dave said, 'theory and practice are two wings of the bird of living." I agree we need both and that one is thought and one is action; we need them to move forward in understanding. However I would also point out there is a potential pitfall for many to become so attached to theory the action never comes or an action comes but without truly understanding human impact. I have witnessed this is my work at the World Bank where economists become so enraptured with their data and what they think the theory is that they do not always listen to the humans their work impacts to understand in *practice* what the outcome may be of their *theory* on paper. I hope this makes sense. In my own volunteer work in Belize, I leaped in without having all the theory behind what I was doing in training teachers to use their own cultural legends in their classrooms, this not knowing all the theory was a blessing in disguise as I was unaware that in theory it should not have... View full comment

Jagdish P Dave

Jan 14, 2017

According to my understanding theory and practice are two wings of the bird of living. Our thinking mind asks questions about what and why.Such explorations provide a theoretical foundations for application, action and practice. Without practice and experience, only theoretical knowledge or information does not have the taste of life. I am very particular and careful about what I am putting into my mouth. I know food is medicine. I need to know and want to know what is good, nutritional and wholesome food. And I want to know the benefits of such food. But unless I put such information in practice, what good does it do? My grandson and I took an online course on Plant-based nutritional whole food course. The course offered very valuable scientific information. We were convinced and made a few changes in our diet.The action has sharpened our appetite to know more about diet and nutrition. I am taking another online course on Science of Happiness. What is... View full comment

david doane

Jan 14, 2017

A theory is an idea, a possibility, a speculation. Practice is action. Theory encourages action to try out or test the theory, and practice provides action to support or dispute the theory. They work together well. My theory was that I could play basketball adequately well at 70 -- not as well as at 30, but still well. Long story short, I got into a basketball game with some guys in their 20s. After clumsily moving around on the court, missing passes and shots, falling over myself and injuring and probably breaking my big toe which still isn't completely healed after 6 months, data indicated clearly that my theory was inaccurate. Theory got me out on the court and got me playing. Practice put the theory to the test and woke me up to the reality that I'm not 30. I don't know whether my theories are true or false until I take action to test them. I can hear what others believe or learned, but I don't know for myself until I tes... View full comment

Rajesh

Jan 12, 2017

This passage feels so relevant. As someone who has read a lot of J.Krishnamurti, whose work is considered abstract by many, I know that its easy to go off into abstraction, without the slightest idea of what a particular concept might mean in practice in one's own daily life. In this context, direct experience of what is being communicated is key to learning. Without it, all the theory is just that.
I think a robust theoretical framework is very useful in spiritual endeavors. Given that there are so many teachers and practices out there, without a good understanding of the overall scheme of things, we are either likely to hang on to one practice or view and potentially become pedantic about it. With a robust framework that is malleable, flexible and open, one is free to examine new ideas, teachers and practices that one might come across. In fact, in my experience, the beauty of it is that you being to see the common foundation and threads across a spectrum of teachings.

me Jan 19, 2017

Amen and thank you for your thoughts!