Beyond Social Frameworks

During my school days, I was part of the football team. In our inaugural inter-school league tournament, we were the fresh-faced newcomers up against teams with years of experience. Positioned in the midfield by our coach, I felt under-confident. The team put up a disastrous performance, leading to a disheartening 7-0 defeat. The following day, our coach gathered us for a huddle during lunch. While we were expecting a harsh reprimand and bracing for the worst, we were taken aback by his approach. Instead of focusing on our crushing loss, he concentrated on what we could improve for the next match, never once mentioning our defeat.

I was almost certain he would bench me for the next game, but to my surprise, he repositioned me to defence. He changed the position of a couple of other team members as well. His strategic adjustments proved effective. Our opponents, anticipating an easy win, were met with a formidable challenge. We went on to win our next four matches. Even though we did not go too far in the tournament, our performance was appreciated by all and we secured a promotion to the next league level. Throughout that season, our coach never labelled us as good or bad players. In his eyes, we were talented individuals continuously learning and evolving with each game. The outcome of a match or our performance on the field didn't alter his perception of us. That season, he taught me invaluable lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life.

Winning and losing are phenomena to be experienced, not identities to be assumed. There are moments where we find ourselves winning or losing, but we must have the wisdom to understand that these are merely events and do not define our true essence. The true experiencer within us must transcend these superficial labels, observing wins and losses from a place of detachment, unaffected by the transient nature of these outcomes.

In this world of dualities, a select group of humans who are deemed to be “intelligent,” have constructed a so-called “intelligent” system. This system is designed to identify and elevate those who fit within its narrow parameters of intelligence. Replace "intelligent" with any other attribute such as "smart" “competitive” or "creative," and the essence remains the same. This human-made construct has led people to mistakenly equate their self-worth with the system's outcomes. 

Consequently, many of us become entangled in this confined, artificial framework. Within this framework, humans have imposed arbitrary qualifications, creating an environment where only a select few are deemed worthy of certain opportunities. This inherently implies that others do not qualify, fostering a divisive mindset. The concept of a single winner necessitates the existence of losers, perpetuating a cycle of comparison and competition. While the “intelligent,” “smart,” or “creative” individuals are engrossed in maintaining and thriving within this fabricated world, the rest strive to fit into it, often at the cost of their true selves.

Few pause to critically examine this human-made system, recognising it as a construct rather than the absolute reality. Even fewer view it from a higher perspective, seeing it for the arbitrary and limiting structure that it is. The profound truth is that we humans exist beyond these constructs of intelligence, success, and failure. We are inherently whole and untouched by the outcomes of any human-made system. The experiencer is the witness, the silent observer of the ebb and flow of life’s circumstances, standing apart from the fleeting triumphs and setbacks that define the external world.

To truly embrace this understanding is to step outside the confines of societal constructs and reclaim one’s inherent freedom and authenticity. It is to recognise that while one may participate in the world’s systems and structures, one’s true self remains ever free, ever whole, and ever transcendent.