Living Like Water: Daoism and our Rivers

Living Like Water: Daoism and our Rivers

Kelly Hines, Biology

Recently, we had Dr. Bein in the Philosophy department present to us the theory that we could and should live out Daoist lifestyles, more specifically how we may be successful and at peace living like water.

Prior to this lecture a fellow River Steward, Carter Spires, had leant me the book The Dharma Bums. Both the book and the lecture spoke to me in very different ways, but they also both echoed the call to recognize life and all of it’s challenges and details in new and significant ways. The presentation on Daoism seemed to have called me to be more mindful of challenges in how I act in response to them, not just how they react to me. A lot of time and energy can be wasted by focusing on what you can’t do versus what you can. The book Dharma Bums has introduced this new way of mindful living for me, one that draws me to look more closely not only at how I live but at how others live the ways that they do. I think that being more contemplative about not only what I take part in, but what I view around me has changed my perspective and helped me to focus my outlook on the beauty in which we live in. 

 

 

Reflecting back on several events I have taken part in with River Stewards, I can more closely identify with the impactful community members we have met. Most significantly, I really connect with the ideals and the mission that Chad from Living Lands and Waters holds. It is so neat how a guy suddenly decided one day to get up and clean a river, let alone continue this mission throughout the rest of his life up until now. I think that it is interesting to recognize how his life is full of so much meaning, how his daily actions are fulfilling. He is making a difference in ways that many people aren’t brave enough to and I feel as though I myself do not recognize that quality in enough people. We are all brave in different ways, Chad is just brave in a way that connects him not only with the river, but with communities and people. If life is a summation of our connections, then the way in which we live should be centered the way that Chad’s is, making positive connections with whoever he encounters. I see ideals from both the Daoism seminar, and the book when I reflect on how he has come to live the life he leads. I hope for all of us that we can be as brave, and as impactful as Chad was.