The loss of Innocence / Die verlies van onskuld

Picture source

“As children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.”

Patrick Rothfuss

I hope you took full notice of Patrick’s words. Today I will focus on the term “innocence” and the loss thereof, especially in regard to the loss of our inner child and the stage in our lives when you literally became disillusioned and disenchanted. Let me quickly say something with regards to our picture above. This is actually a sculpture by Alexander Milov, who says that the sculpture, among other things, demonstrates the conflict between the outer and inner expression of human nature. The transparent children represent the inner selves, a symbol of purity and sincerity that brings people together and gives a chance of making up when the dark time arrives. The adult world can bring us to our knees, but in such times, it is the innocence of the inner child that reaches out to others (and to ourselves). Now, when you become disillusioned and disenchanted, does that imply that we inevitably lose our innocence? There are varying theories regarding the stages and circumstances of having, keeping and losing your innocence. I will not get into that. I do however want to say that innocence should not be confused with naivety. Anatole France says that innocence is a good fortune, while Jean Baudrillard considers innocence to be the aphrodisiac par-excellence. It is still, according to me, something that we should not lose. If we did, then we should try to get it back, to rekindle it. The ancient Confusion book of Changes, known as the “I Ching”, urges us to regain our innocence by practicing it. Henry David Thoreau also thinks that we should regain our innocence, saying that it is through our own recovered innocence that we can discern the innocence of our neighbours. The question some ask is whether we can truly regain the innocence lost. Some say you cannot, but the point I want to make is that the loss of one’s innocence is actually the loss of an open heart. If you want your innocence back, if you want your open heart back, then return to that inner child. Don’t lock him/her up in a dungeon while you try to be all grown up. Be silly, be childlike (not childish) and open yourself up for moments of wonder. We stop to grow the day we die, only then can you snuff the inner child…

The singer Enya and the I Ching,
urges us to “return to innocence”.

In this world, there is enough evidence

Of how much joy our inner child can bring.

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“As kinders dink ons selde aan die toekoms. Hierdie onskuldigheid laat ons vry om onsself te geniet. Die dag wat ons begin om ons oor die toekoms te kwel, is die dag wat on sons innerlike kind agterlaat.”

Patrick Rothfuss

Ek hoop regtig dat jy ten volle notisie geneem het van Patrick se woorde. Vandag wil ek bietjie die kollig plaas op die term “onskuld” en kyk na die verlies daarvan, veral in terme van die verlies van die innerlike kind en die stadia in ons lewens waar ons letterlik ontnugter en ontgogel word. Kom ons kyk net gou weer na die prentjie hierbo. Dit is ‘n prentjie van die beeldhouwerk deur Alexander Milov. Volgens hom reflekteer die kunswerk, onder andere, die konflik tussen die uiterlike en innerlike uitdrukking van die menslike natuur. Die deursigtige kinders verteenwoordig die innerlike self, ‘n simbool van suiwerheid en opregtheid wat mense saambring en ‘n kans daar stel om op te maak vir wanneer dinge swaar raak. Die volwasse wêreld kan ons soms tot ons knieë dwing, maar dit is die innerlike kind wie in sulke tye kan uitreik na andere en na jouself. Hoe gaan dit wees as jy jou innerlike kind uitdoof? Nou kan ons onsself die vraag afvra: as (wanneer) jy ontnugter en ontgogel word, beteken dit dat jy outomaties jou onskuld verloor? Daar is konflikterende opinies rakende die stadiums en omstandighede waaronder jy jou onskuld behou en verloor. Vir die doeleindes van ons bespreking sal ek nie daarop ingaan nie. Wat ek egter wel sal sê is dat ons nie onskuld moet verwar met naïwiteit nie. Anatole France sê dat onskuld goeie geluk is; Jean Baudrillard dink weer dat onskuld by uitstek ‘n afrodisiak is. Dit is steeds, aldus myself, iets wat ons nie moet verloor nie. As jy dit wel verloor het, is dit tyd om dit terug te vind. Die antieke Confusiaanse boek van veranderinge, bekend as die “I Ching”, moedig ons aan om ons onskuld te herwin deur dit te beoefen. Henry David Thoreau dink ook dat ons ons onskuld moet herwin, want dit is deur ons eie herwonne onskuld dat ons die onskuld van ons bure kan onderskei. Kan ons regtig ons verlore onskuld herwin? Sommiges dink nie so nie, maar onthou wat die “I Ching” ons aanmoedig, dat ons dit kan herwin deur dit net weer te beoefen. Onthou, die verlies van jou onskuld is die verlies van ‘n oop hart. As jy jou onskuld wil herwin, keer dan terug na jou innerlike kind. Moet hom/haar nie opsluit in ‘n kelder in jou proses om volwasse te word en volwasse te bly nie. Wees laf, wees kinderlik (nie kinderagtig nie) en maak jouself oop vir oomblike van verwondering. Ons hou op om te groei die dag wat ons sterf, slegs dan kan jy die innerlike kind uitdoof…

Enya en die I Ching vra,
dat ons moet “terugkeer na onskuld”,

want daarsonder is die lewenspad een steil bult.

maar daarmee kan ons baie laste dra.