As a former Kalamazoo multidisciplinarian (or am I?), I found the following article on
kōans quite entertaining.
And I wonder, what does a Kiva Friend sound like?
The Use of Kōans for Insight Evaluation Approach TrainingCraig Russon, Karen RussonJournal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation, Vol 6, No 14 (2010)
Sample Kōans and ResponsesThe Nature of Change. Adapted from the kōan:
Not the wind; not the flag Two evaluators were discussing a project. One said: “The project results occurred because of the intervention.” The other said: “No, the project results occurred because of the natural cycles of change.” Another evaluator happened to be passing by. He told them: “Not the intervention, not natural cycles of change; it is you who are changing.”
Possible response: People see the world not as it is, but as they are. – Al Lee
The Best Project. Adapted from the kōan:
Everything is Best An evaluator is speaking with a program officer. He asks, “What is the best project?” “All the projects in this program are the best,” replied the program officer. “You cannot find here any project that is not the best.” At these words, the evaluator became enlightened.
Possible response: Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.
The Unsuccessful Project. Adapted from the kōan:
The Short Staff An evaluator submitted her report and said, “If you call this project unsuccessful, you oppose its reality. If you do not call the project unsuccessful, you ignore the fact. Now, what do you wish to call it?”
Possible response: Be careful how you interpret the world: it is like that. – Erich Heller
Inside or Outside. Adapted from the kōan:
Manjusri Enters the Gate One day as the evaluator stood outside the program he was to evaluate, the program director called to him, “Why do you not enter?” The evaluator replied, “I do not see myself as outside. Why enter?”
Possible response: It all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves. – Carl Jung
The Defunded Project. Adapted from the kōan:
Nothing Exists An evaluator visiting with a program officer exclaimed, “There is no reality. It is all an illusion. There should be no judgment.” “If there is no judgment,” responded the program officer, “why did I defund the project?”
Possible response: The reverse side also has a reverse side. – Japanese Proverb
Springtime in Kalamazoo. Adapted from the kōan:
Without Words, Without Silence An evaluation student asked his teacher: “Without speaking, without silence, how can an evaluation report express the truth?” The teacher observed: “I always remember spring-time in Kalamazoo. The birds sing among innumerable kinds of fragrant flowers.”
Possible response: The only source of knowledge is experience. – Albert Einstein
Who Evaluates? Possible response: Who does not evaluate?
Reveal the True Nature of the Universe While Doing Evaluation. Possible response: As [an evaluator] you take responsibility for holding the balance between light and dark within you and, by extension, the world around you, and ultimately when you go deep enough, the universe. – Barefoot Doctor
Report the Findings of an Evaluation Without Words. Possible response: The fish trap exists because of the fish. Once you've gotten the fish you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit. Once you've gotten the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning. Once you've gotten the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can talk with him? – Chuang Tzu
Conclusion There will come a time when you believe everything is finished; that will be the beginning. – Lous L’amore
