A product of mindfulness, contrarily an implication of what is taught and not experienced, self-awareness and self-understanding in Pakistan have always run a rather peculiar course. Mindfulness is inculcated in each one of us in different ways, be it Buddha’s way of life, praying and fasting within Islam, or Jon Kabbat Zin’s scientific philosophy of Mindfulness Meditation for theists and atheists alike. So why is it that at times we treat it as textbook knowledge?
In my community, the way of life guided by parents, schools, mentors, and policy makers is rooted in the intricate interaction of socio-cultural South Asian values and the code of conduct defined by Islam, the predominant religion of my society. Our socio-cultural values promote actions that are characterized by wisdom, where wisdom connotes an individual’s ability to place a buffer between the action and reaction in interpersonal interaction. It is interesting to note that this specifically echoes Viktor E. Frankle’s words of wisdom, which read “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Our society is collectivistic, so it is more about learning from friends, family, and school. It is different for individualistic societies (mostly the developed western world) where being unique and differentiating oneself is encouraged as part of self-awareness. This is not so in our world, which is characterized by conformity.
Further, fortunately or unfortunately, self-awareness and self-understanding for members of our society, whether they be Muslims or not, are defined by the code of conduct given by the “Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” What are these? Largely, they are the same as those of any other society, but with the flavor of spirituality and religiously. The essence of prayer five times a day is to not just get in touch with God but also to get in touch with oneself, to introspect on one’s deeds and direct oneself toward good deeds, making this an intrinsic effort toward self-awareness in terms of conduct.
Conclusively, where self-understanding and self-awareness are subjective and individualistic in nature, in my community they are an amalgamation of collectivistic values which mostly suggest finding consolation in education, the wisdom of elders, indulging in an eclectic range of interests, and experiencing intellectual growth with as much social interaction as you’re permitted. Although this may seem problematic, and it might well be, you will always find us persevering.